216 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



hardy-flowering, vigorous trees for the pleasure-ground. Its beauty 

 at flowering time is proverbial. It has been planted extensively in 

 some parts of the country, and is an excellent avenue tree. Its native 

 country is supposed to be Greece, whence it was brought to this 

 country so long ago as 1629. Although it succeeds in most soils, it 

 seems to delight in a rich, light loam. There are varieties with double 

 flowers, others with beautifully cut leaves, and some have golden 

 variegated foliage, all of which are ornamental. M. indica, well known 

 as the Indian Horse Chestnut, is a free-growing tree, with numerous 

 branches and great quantities of white flowers marked with red and 

 yellow. It blossoms in July. The one named rubicunda or carnea, 

 as it is now recognised, deserves greater popularity. It grows upwards 

 of twenty feet in height, and comes from North America. Its showy 

 scarlet flowers, borne on substantial spikes, remain in beauty for several 

 weeks. Brioti is a variety of the last named, and certainly quite as free 

 in blossom ; the large rose-coloured flowers carried on long erect spikes 

 are quite distinct and lasting. It is a grand tree. M. californica (Pavia 

 calif ornica) is a spreading tree a dozen feet or so in height, and in July 

 white, flushed pink flowers appear in profusion. It is very uncommon, 

 perfectly hardy, attractive, and valuable for its lateness. J. parviflora 

 (Pavia macrostachya), indigenous to North America, is a superb kind, 

 and exceptionally free-flowering. Its sweet-scented white flowers appear 

 about the end of July and early part of August, and are borne on long 

 racemes with conspicuous stamens and red-tipped anthers, give addi- 

 tional beauty to the bush. It does not grow to tree form like most 

 other kinds. M. flava (Sweet Buckeye), also known under the names 

 of Pavia bicolor and P. ftava, bears pale yellow flowers. It grows up- 

 wards of twenty feet in height. 



Ailanthus glandules a (Tree of Heaven) is one of the most desirable 

 of vigorous trees, but requires plenty of light, space, and air to bring 

 out its real value. It produces a straight trunk, from which are given 

 off numerous long branches clothed with much divided leaves, four and 

 sometimes five feet long. By no means particular as to soil, it makes 

 the best growth in deep, well-drained loam, and in autumn, when bear- 

 ing its great clusters of brown-winged fruits, it is one of the most conspic- 

 uous of trees. It is valuable, too, for the sub-tropical garden under 

 certain treatment, and for this purpose it should be grown on the single- 

 stem system and cut hard back every year. The growths that follow this 

 treatment are vigorous, and the leaves larger than those of uncut trees. 



Akebia quinata is an uncommon Chinese evergreen climber of 

 free growth, with glossy green leaves divided into several leaflets. In 

 April and May it produces small, dull purple flowers in short axillary 

 racemes, and although not individually conspicuous they are very 

 fragrant, especially at night. A deep, moist, well-drained soil is 

 necessary, and a position where it is not exposed to biting winds, as 

 these check young shoots, and sometimes, especially when accompanied 

 by late spring frosts, kill the tender growths outright. It is a beautiful 

 plant for clambering amongst the branches of old trees and hiding 



