60 MY SHRUBS 



pretty well in autumn. But, of the shrubby hypericums, I have 

 sent mine into the world to please those who appreciate them. 

 H. fragilis is very beautiful upon the rockery, and, of course, H. 

 repens. The new H. Iceve-rubrum is orange-scarlet, very striking, 

 and doubtfully hardy. 



One would dearly like to grow Ilex in all its admirable forms ; 

 but for these most interesting shrubs I have no room on a generous 

 scale. A few common varieties occur, where scraps of original 

 shrubbery have not been cleared, but of hollies interesting to a 

 collector I can show only the delightful dwarfs, /. Mariesi and /. 

 Pernyi. The former is spineless, and has small leathery leaves and 

 a neat habit. It flowers abundantly, but must be dioecious. To 

 see it in berry would be a noble experience. /. Pernyi is a little 

 Chinese holly of dense habit and foliage, after the usual prickly 

 pattern. /. " Taraio" from Japan, now within your reach, must 

 be a very splendid variety of the species. The whole race has 

 great interest, and I think all hollies are hardy. They tried to grow 

 them at the Cape once, and kept them in shade with ice to their 

 foreheads ; but it was useless : none survived a Cape summer. 



Illicium anistum is dull, though sacred in Japan. They decorate 

 the tombs of their loved dead with it. The anise-scented species 

 should have some care in winter, but is of no great worth. /. 

 floridanum sounds rather more attractive, but I have not attempted 

 this species. 



Indigqfera is not very hardy ; but /. gerardiana stands well in 

 the open, and would probably thrive anywhere, though of Indian 

 blood. Given a wall, it makes a very handsome bush, with fern- 

 like foliage and rosy-pink blossoms. /. decora, from China, is even 

 better, but not quite so robust. 



