150 GARDENS PAST AND PRESENT 



an aftermath of rich autumn tints. Beware, how- 

 ever, of the gorgeous but wicked poison oak (Rhus 

 toxicodendron), a venomous Californian under- 

 shrub, which has avenged itself many a time on 

 the unwary fingers that have handled it, perhaps 

 for the innocent purpose of harvest thanksgiving 

 decoration. In spite of fair colours it is a deadly 

 danger, and safer never to be admitted into any 

 garden. 



Some of the most beautiful of flowering shrubs 

 belong to the heaths, from the tall white Mediter- 

 ranean heath to the lowly winter-flowering Erica 

 carnea. For these the soil would have to be more 

 or less of sandy peat, which could be managed 

 easily enough in such an occasional sheltered 

 bay as has been already suggested. Zenobia pul- 

 verulenta, for instance, belonging to this alliance, 

 fine though it be, is seldom met with. It is some- 

 times called the lily of the valley tree, from its 

 lovely sprays of large white bells. Andromedas, 

 again, and Gaultherias, all of which have the urn- 

 shaped flowers of Arbutus, are also most desirable 

 both in flower and foliage, and when once estab- 

 lished take good care of themselves. Gaultheria 

 Shallon may be singled out as one of the most 

 charming amongst the better known of these heath 

 allies, with its sprays of white waxy bells on red 

 stems which last for weeks in perfection and are 

 followed by purple berries if only the birds will 

 let them ripen. The vivid green of the young 

 shoots is in striking contrast to the deep tone of 

 the last season's growth. 



These are but a few of the fine trees of moderate 



