86 MY SHRUBS 



doubtful hardiness. In its New Zealand home it attains to the 

 size of a tree, but such energies are not likely to be displayed in 

 England. 



Ononis rotundifolia is a bright little shrubby pea from South 

 Europe. The flowers are pink, and it will thank you for full sun 

 and very light, sandy soil. O. jruticosa has purple flowers and less 

 charm. These have vanished from my garden patch, but they 

 used to smile here of old. O. Natrix, too, I had a yellow Rest- 

 harrow but that made only a short stay. 



The hardy Opuntias have been welcomed and received with 

 hospitality in arid rocky corners having full sun and perfect drain- 

 age ; but they can make little of our wet winters and moisture- 

 laden air. All have passed to their rest, and not one ever opened 

 a flower during the most promising summers. 



Origanum Dictamnus, from Crete, is a delightful sub-shrub for 

 the sunny rockery. A shower of dull pink blossoms covers the 

 Dittany in late summer, and after flowering, it is best to cut it 

 back hard. 



Osmanthus aquifolium looks like a dark-leaved holly with un- 

 usually graceful and sinuous habit. This beautiful evergreen 

 comes from Japan, is perfectly hardy and very effective. After a 

 fine summer, tufts of very fragrant little snow-white flowers peep 

 from among the leaves, but some hot sunshine in July and August 

 is needed to summon the November bloom. O. ilicifolia, often 

 given as a synonym of the above-named species, is in reality of 

 different habit and foliage. O. myrtifolia is a beautiful little 

 dwarf species ; while, of comparative novelties, the splendid 

 O. Delavayi, a Chinese hardy shrub with small neat foliage and 

 sweet flowers in April, cannot be excluded. It is a generous 



