228 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



The Coluteas (Bladder Sennas) are very accommodating shrubs, as 

 there is scarcely a position in which they refuse to grow. No soil, how- 

 ever poor, comes amiss to them, as they grow freely and flower profusely 

 in wet as well as in dry situations. They are also excellent shrubs for 

 smoky districts. It is a good plan to cut them hard back every spring, 

 as vigorous growth follows close pruning. There is a profusion of 

 bladder-like seed-pods, at first red, then changing to orange-yellow in 

 autumn. 



The Dogwoods (Cornus) are deciduous shrubs of free growth. They 

 comprise silver, gold, and green-leaved forms, and some, like C. florida 

 and C. Kousa, are valuable flowering shrubs, and C. alba is one of the 

 most effective of red stemmed shrubs in winter ; it is an excellent kind 

 for planting along the water margin, as the reflection of the bark in the 

 water in winter makes warm colouring in the garden. Sibirica is a good 

 variety. Spcethii is a brilliant golden-leaved shrub, and does not burn 

 in hot suns as in the case of the majority of yellow-leaved shrubs. Its 

 delicate pale green leaves are marked with yellow and irregularly bordered 

 with a deeper shade. C. macrophylla has bright green leaves, which in 

 autumn are heavily shaded with red. It is conspicuous in early summer 

 when bearing its large clusters of white flowers. The Cornelian Cherry 

 (C. Mas) is a small growing tree of erect bushy habit with slender branches, 

 and in February bears clusters of small yellow flowers. It grows freely in 

 dry soil. C. Nuttallii, a native of California, forms a large tree which is 

 conspicuous by reason of the six large white bracts which surround each 

 flower head and by the brilliant colour of its foliage in autumn. It is 

 only known as a bush in this country. 



The genus Corylopsis contains several uncommon deciduous shrubs 

 of much merit ; they are quite hardy, dwarf, and delightfully free, well 

 deserving a place against a west wall, as the flowers are seen there to 

 better advantage than when on plants in the open shrubbery. They do 

 well in almost any properly- drained soil. C. spicata, a Japanese shrub, 

 is the choicest member of the genus, and in February carries sweet- 

 scented yellowish flowers in drooping spikes. C. himalayana is taller 

 and more vigorous than the last named, and C. pauciflora is not, as its 

 name leads one to suppose, shy flowering. It is a welcome free- 

 flowering shrub. 



Cotoneasters. Here we have a group of useful trees and shrubs, 

 thoroughly hardy, free in growth, and charming when laden with their 

 clusters of richly-coloured berries in autumn. Ordinary soil suits them. 

 The vigorous C. buxifolia has small deep green Box-like leaves, bears an 

 abundance of white flowers, and bright red berries in autumn. C. rotundi- 

 folia, a Himalayan species, grows about four feet high, is rather slow in 

 growth, free in blossom, and retains its richly-coloured berries through- 

 out the winter. C. microphylla, also from the Himalayas, is a close 

 growing evergreen shrub of excellent habit, and the best of the Coton- 

 easters for clothing ugly walls. Its leaves are small, very deep green, and 

 its delicate blush white flowers are succeeded by attractive berries. C. 

 frigida is very pleasing in flower as well as in fruit. It forms a small tree. 



