246 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



with full exposure to the sun, and an abundance of water in spring and 

 early summer. The varieties here mentioned are all of bushy habit, 

 and the berries are of various sizes and colours alba, blush-white ; atro- 

 coccinea, dark scarlet ; carnea lilacina, pale pinkish-lilac ; rosea lilacina, 

 rose-lilac ; rosea major, bright rose ; rosea purpurea, rose and purple ; 

 atrosanguinea, rich crimson ; carnea, flesh-coloured ; purpurea, bright 

 purple ; atro-lilacina, dark lilac ; coccinea, rich scarlet. 



Philadelphuses (Mock Oranges) are white-flowered shrubs of the 

 simplest culture. The type, P. coronarius, was at one time planted ex- 

 tensively, but of late years considerable attention has been paid to the 

 family by the hybridist, with the result that many beautiful varieties 

 have been grown, and the old forms planted more sparingly. The silver- 

 leaved variety, foliis argenteo-variegatis, keeps its distinctive character 

 provided it is not planted within the shade of trees or in very wet soil, 

 and few golden-leaved shrubs of dwarf habit are more conspicuous on 

 warm soils than a group of P. c. foliis aureis. It is very bushy, of free 

 growth, and the bright yellow leaves are attractive from spring to autumn. 

 P. grandiflorus bears large, pure white, very fragrant flowers in abun- 

 dance. P. gordonianus should be planted freely as it blossoms late in 

 the season, usually about July. It is vigorous, and its pure white flowers 

 are not too strongly scented, which, of course, is a point worth remember- 

 ing, as some people consider the fragrance of Mock Oranges overpowering. 

 P. microphyllus, from Mexico, is the smallest of the group, and may be 

 planted in the front of the shrubbery as well as in the rock-garden. It 

 is bushy, between two feet and three feet in height, with twiggy branches, 

 tiny leaves, and small white flowers. Between this and P. coronarius 

 there are several excellent hybrids, the undermentioned being the best : 

 Lemoinei, the first of the set, quickly followed by L. erectus, Gerbe de 

 Neige, Boule d' Argent (semi-double), Mont Blanc, and Candelabre. 

 Lemoinei is as pretty as any. 



Phillyrsea. All the Phillyraeas mentioned are thoroughly hardy, of 

 easy culture, and very ornamental, evergreen shrubs, suitable for plant- 

 ing under large trees. The Laurel-leaved (P. decora), known in nurseries 

 as P. vilmoriniana, is conspicuous for its long, leathery, bright green 

 leaves the largest of all the Phillyrseas. It is a fine foliage shrub, of 

 spreading habit, and its small, white, sweet-scented flowers remind one 

 of those of Hawthorn ; they are borne in clusters in the axils of the leaves, 

 and are succeeded by round black berries in summer. The shrub when in 

 berry must be netted or birds will soon relieve the bushes of their burden. 

 P. angustifolia, a narrow-leaved kind, grows well ; and P. media is a 

 shrub of pretty habit, and a success in cold situations. 



Pieris. These evergreen shrubs are ornamental, hardy, and succeed 

 best in peaty soil and positions shielded from cold winds. P. japonica 

 (Andromeda japonica) blossoms early, its pure white, pendulous racemes 

 appearing in great profusion on medium-sized plants. Of this there is 

 an attractive variegated variety, with well-defined silver leaves. It is 

 not so vigorous as the type, and is well worth a place in the rock-garden. 

 The white Lily of the Valley-like flowers of P. floribunda, also known as 



