GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 231 



welcome during winter and early spring than the Mezereon (D. Mezereum), 

 when its sturdy leafless branches are crowded with small clusters of rosy- 

 purple, deliciously-scented flowers. It is a good shrub for grouping, and 

 flowers most freely in an open spot shielded from the sun in the hottest 

 part of the day. There is a variety with white flowers (alba), and another 

 with red flowers (autumnalis). The last named is a good garden shrub, 

 not only for its richly-coloured flowers,, but because they are produced 

 over such a long period. It is not unusual for it to keep up a succession 

 of bloom for about four months. D. Genkwa, from Japan, should be 

 planted extensively, as its hardiness is thoroughly established, and its 

 flowers are of distinct colour. It forms a loose, bushy, free-growing shrub, 

 with slender branches, and when laden with its delicate lilac-shaded 

 flowers is very handsome. One of the most dainty of evergreen Daphnes 

 is undoubtedly D. blagayana, introduced nearly forty years ago from 

 Syria. Notwithstanding its hardiness, freedom, and the fact that its 

 sweet-scented, ivory-white flowers appear in March, it is by no means 

 common. D. alpina is a charming little plant from the European Alps, 

 and quite at home in the rock-garden. It is neat in growth, and bears 

 pinkish-white blossoms in early spring. The Garland Flower (D. Cneo- 

 rum) is another fine rock-garden Daphne ; it is dwarf, compact, free in 

 growth, and has delightful blossoms. Few flowering shrubs of similar 

 growth create a better effect than the Garland Flower when displaying its 

 rose-coloured fragrant blossoms at the ends of the growths, and these 

 remain fresh and attractive for a considerable time. D. Laureola 

 (Spurge Laurel) and D. pontica are valuable principally because they 

 flourish under the drip of trees. The flowers of both species are greenish- 

 yellow and fragrant. D. sericea, known also as D. collina, is a distinct 

 and beautiful species of dwarf habit, with deep green leaves and large 

 clusters of sweet-scented, rose-coloured flowers. 



Desfontainea spinosa should have a place against a warm wall, 

 as it is not sufficiently hardy to endure open-air culture in all parts of 

 the British Isles. It is a sturdy, holly-like shrub from Chili, and when 

 planted in rich soil and well supplied with water in spring produces a 

 wealth of drooping scarlet and yellow flowers. 



Deutzias. These are ornamental deciduous shrubs with, as a rule, 

 white flowers. They are quite hardy, free in growth, floriferous, and 

 useful for forcing as well as for giving variety to the shrubbery border. 

 D. gmcilis, a slender-growing shrub two feet or so high, is in great demand 

 for forcing, as its flowers readily respond to gentle heat. Its variety 

 Lemoinei is of erect sturdier growth, and its pure white flowers appear 

 in neat trusses. D. corymbiflora should be included in a select list of 

 Deutzias. It is a distinct kind, with large graceful panicles of snow- 

 white flowers. D. crenata, erroneously known as D. scabra, is vigorous 

 and very handsome. Its pure white flowers are borne in racemes freely 

 and it grows about eight feet high. The variety punctata is very showy, 

 has variegated foliage ; and the double-flowered form, named flore pleno, 

 is heavily shaded with reddish-purple. Pride of Rochester is another 

 excellent variety with double flowers, but in this case they are pure 



