258 GARDENING FOR BEGINNERS 



raised principally from S. vulgaris, the common Lilac. S. persica is a 

 neat-growing species of slender habit, and bears a profusion of small 

 lilac-coloured flowers. Of garden varieties the following is a good selec- 

 tion : Double-flowered sorts : Michael Buchner, large truss delicate, 

 lavender, edged with pale rose ; Virginite, blush pink ; *Mme. Lemoine, 

 cream-white passing to pure white, large and substantial ; Mme. Jules 

 Finger, pale rose, large, and very fragrant ; La Tour d'Auvergne, violet- 

 purple, sweet scented ; Alphonse Lavallee, pale blue, touched with violet. 

 Single-flowered sorts : *Alba grandiflora, large pure white flowers, borne 

 in handsome trusses ; Marie Legray, another excellent white-flowered 

 kind not quite so vigorous in growth as the last named ; *Souvenir de 

 L. Spath, purple ; Charles X., rosy purple. President Grevy, Louis 

 Van Houtte, and Princess Marie are good sorts, too. Those marked with 

 an asterisk should be chosen first. 



Tamarix can be thoroughly recommended for the sea-coast. They 

 are of free growth in sandy soil, and bear slender spikes of small flowers 

 in great abundance towards early autumn. T. gallica is very feathery 

 and graceful. In favourable positions it grows at least a dozen feet 

 high, and the flowers appear like veils of misty pink. T. Pallasii rosea 

 is a delightful kind. It forms growths three feet high during summer, 

 which throughout late July and August are covered with pretty rose- 

 coloured flowers. It must be pruned hard back in February each 

 year. 



Tecoma grandiflora, sometimes met with as Bignonia grandiflora, 

 a native of China and Japan, deserves generous treatment, as its flowers 

 are very handsome, appear in great terminal clusters, and the colour is 

 rich orange-red. In very cold localities it needs the protection of a wall, 

 and must have well-drained rather light soil. T. radicans (Bignonia 

 radicans) is better known than the first named, and a much older in- 

 habitant of our gardens. It is a midsummer flowering climber, vigorous, 

 quite distinct, and highly attractive. It is serviceable for training 

 against walls, up old trees, pergolas, &c., and the tubular-shaped 

 orange-red flowers are borne in great profusion. 



Tilia. The Limes are noble trees. All are perfectly hardy, and 

 delight in moist rich soil, and a position screened from cold winds. The 

 Common Lime is an excellent avenue tree, and bears quantities of de- 

 lightfully fragrant yellowish- white flowers. The Silver-leaved Lime is 

 vigorous, and exceedingly ornamental. Its bold bright green leaves are 

 covered with white tomentum on the under sides. 



Ulex (Gorse, Furze, or Whin). The type is a native shrub and well 

 known, but the double-flowered variety is less frequently planted. Its 

 double yellow flowers are very bright, and remain a long time in fresh 

 condition. U. nanus is welcome, as its flowers appear in early autumn, 

 and a succession of blossom is maintained until December. It grows 

 about fifteen inches high. Furze plants dislike much interference at the 

 roots. They succeed in poor soils and exposed situations, and are readily 

 propagated by cuttings planted in sandy soil on a shady border, or by 

 Strong seedlings are very reasonable in price. No shrub is more 



