GOOD TREES AND SHRUBS 239 



shoots should be removed altogether, and if a top dressing of manure 

 can be given in summer additional strength will be given to the plants. 

 The flowers are white and borne in dense panicles about a foot long afid 

 remain attractive for about two months, eventually dying off a reddish- 

 brown colour. H. radiata (H. nivea) is an ornamental-leaved American 

 species, with bright green leaves, the under sides being covered with 

 white torn en turn. It is grown more for its attractive leaves than for its 

 flowers. Good loamy soil and thorough drainage are essential for these 

 shrubs. 



Hypericum (St. John's Wort). Some of these are old garden 

 favourites, well adapted for a variety of purposes, and succeed in ordi- 

 nary soil. Those here mentioned comprise a few (by no means all) 

 of the best for general planting. H. hookerianum, known also as H. 

 oblongifolium, is the most attractive of the vigorous growing evergreen 

 species, and towards the close of summer bears large, substantial, beauti- 

 fully-shaped, deep yellow blossoms about the size of a crown piece. It 

 is a Himalayan species of erect habit and excellent for grouping. H. 

 patulum is rather uncommon and very beautiful. It produces slender 

 arching shoots, with deep green leaves and medium-sized flowers. H. 

 calycinum (Rose of Sharon) is a spreading half-evergreen shrub, and 

 succeeds under the shade and drip of trees, for which purpose we advise 

 it to be planted. It is a splendid carpet plant and delights in a cool soil. 

 H. moserianum, a cross between H. calycinum and H. patulum, bears 

 large, rich, yellow flowers of great substance. It is bushy, dwarf, very 

 free-flowering, and the best of the later additions to the St. John's Worts. 

 H. andros&mum, H. uralum, and H. hircinum are good kinds too. 



Idesia polycarpa. A remarkably handsome Japanese deciduous 

 tree, very rare and quite hardy, but liable to get injured from cold winds 

 in spring, unless a sheltered place can be found for it. It is of sturdy 

 growth in deep rich naturally drained soil, and its vigorous branches, 

 with large, bright green, heart-shaped leaves, and crimson petioles, are 

 quite distinct from those of any other hardy tree. Its small yellowish 

 green flowers are in pendulous racemes, and very fragrant. 



Ilex Aquifolium (The Common Prickly-leaved Holly) and its numer- 

 ous varieties are in the front rank of evergreen shrubs and small trees. 

 As a hedge plant the Holly is unrivalled, and is used extensively in all 

 parts of the country, as it succeeds in various kinds of soil. The winter 

 effect of a large tree of the Common Holly standing alone in the pleasure- 

 ground is very beautiful, either with or without its rich scarlet berries. 

 In addition to the green-leaved forms, some have silver and golden- 

 coloured leaves, and a few are of decidedly weeping habit, all of which 

 may be advantageously used even in small gardens. It is a good plan 

 to frequently transplant Hollies during the first few years of their growth 

 to encourage the production of fibrous roots. Early autumn and late 

 spring are the best times for lifting Hollies. Propagation may be effected 

 by seed, which should be mixed with sand immediately it is gathered and 

 laid by in a heap until spring, the whole being turned over three or four 

 times in the interval. Sow in drills, or in well-drained beds, just covering 



