248 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



remarkably pretty pure white-flowered Peach, and the first of the group 

 to flower. It is of upright growth, and is so white that one is reminded 

 of a snowdrift when it is in flower. P. Simoni also bears white flowers 

 in great profusion about the middle of February. 



The purple-leaved Plum, P. cerasifera atropurpurea, better known 

 as P. Pissardi, gives colour to the shrubbery with its deep purple leaves. 

 It grows freely and bears blush-coloured flowers. P. divaricata is a 

 favourite tree for the lawn ; it is of graceful outline, and bears small 

 pure white flowers in the early part of the year. For clothing walls of 

 medium height P. triloba flore -plena, from China, can be well recommended. 

 It is perfectly hardy and free in every way ; in fact, so thick are the 

 flowers in March and April that the shoots upon which they are borne 

 are completely wreathed. Their colour is rose passing to delicate pink. 

 Although recommended for wall culture it does not need protection ; 

 but when grown thus the flowers are more protected than in the open 

 shrubbery. P. pensylvanica is exceedingly graceful, and in May carries 

 clusters of small white flowers. P. Cham&cerasus , a European species, 

 is rarely seen in gardens, notwithstanding its undoubted beauty. It is 

 of elegant habit and quite distinct ; flowers white. 



The double white-flowered form of the Gean (P. Avium) is one of the 

 loveliest of vigorous ornamental Cherries, the pure white flowers hanging 

 in great clusters, and lasting long in beauty. P. japonica flore plena, 

 known also as P. sinensis flore plena, is a neat shrub, conspicuous for its 

 abundance of small perfectly double white flowers. An excellent shrub 

 for flowering under glass in winter. P. serrulata is often represented by 

 its double white-flowered form, but it has many varieties, of which James 

 H. Veitch is particularly useful, as it flowers later than the type, and on 

 this account should be planted to prolong the season. The large flowers 

 are considerably deeper in colour than those of the last-named, and 

 carried in drooping clusters, the leaves of a pleasing bronze-green. Two 

 other useful varieties are Watereri, with double rose-pink flowers, and flare 

 luteo plena, with yellowish blossoms. P. Mahaleb (the Mahaleb Cherry) 

 is a lovely small white-flowered Cherry for the lawn. It is thoroughly 

 hardy, and of elegant growth. P. Padus (the European Bird Cherry) 

 is a pretty tree at flowering time. Its racemes of white flowers load the 

 woodland with an almost unpleasantly strong odour ; it is very strong, 

 and grows to a considerable height. 



Pyrus. Few groups of hardy shrubs and small trees are more 

 beautiful in flower and fruit than the different forms of Pyrus. Be- 

 yond protection from cold winds, they need no special soil or culture. 

 P. japonica (the Japanese Quince), better known, perhaps, in gardens as 

 Cydonia japonica, is an old-fashioned garden shrub. It grows into a 

 large bush, and its long, strong shoots are pretty in early spring. The 

 flowers are scarlet, almost crimson, and appear in advance of the leaves. 

 In addition to its value for the shrubbery, it may be (and is in some 

 places) planted against a wall. Of this accommodating shrub there are 

 several excellent varieties, differing in the size and colour of the flowers. 

 For instance, one bears the name of cardinalis, and has larger, brighter, 



