226 



Hardy Shrubs* 



ABELIA RUPESTRIS (Rock Abelia). This is one of the most pleasing 

 and satisfactory of all flowering shrubs. It is not reliably hardy north 

 of Washington, but for the Southern States it is equally as desirable as 

 the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia). In Washington, during the very 

 severe Winter of 1898 and 1899, the Abelia escaped with only the ends 

 of the branches killed. It blooms from midsummer till frost. The 

 flowers are usually to be seen on the plants up to the end of November. 

 It propagates freely from cuttings put in during October and November. 

 Select them from the tips of the shoots; make them about 4 inches in 

 length, put them close together in boxes of sand; place in the coolest 

 house and shade from bright sunshine. By the beginning of January 

 the batch should be gone over, as by that time many of the cuttings will 

 have rooted. Those which have a sufficient number of roots may be put 

 In thumb pots in the usual way, but in cases where only one or two 

 roots appear the plants are best placed in the sides of the pots, as in that 

 position they make roots more freely than wj?en in the center. In a 

 short time they will have made growth enough to be shifted into 3- 

 inch pots, and before the time comes when the houses are crowded with 

 Spring stock they may be transferred to the cold frame. This shrub, it 

 may be added, is one of the very best for planting in cemeteries. Where 

 the weather is not too severe it is evergreen; grows only to a moderate 

 height and bears white flowers in great abundance. 



ACER PALMATUM and A. JAPONICUM (Japanese Maples). Most of 

 the Japanese Maples have very handsomely cut leaves, and especially 

 during Spring and early Summer they are very highly colored. The 

 specimens usually seen are from 3 to 8 feet high. The species from 

 which the varieties have sprung attain a height of 20 feet. All of them 

 are very hardy, and should be planted in sunny positions so that they 

 have freedom to develop into symmetrical specimens. They should not 

 be planted in shade, or even partial shade, on account of losing their 

 color early in the season. Some of the varieties known as A. palmatum 

 atropurpureum, A. p. dissectum and A. p. sanguineum set seeds freely 

 and produce plants like the parents; these seedlings are much more vig- 

 orous than grafted plants. From old plants of A. palmatum seedlings 

 are raised on which the finer varieties are grafted. Veneer grafting is 

 the system most commonly employed. 



AMORPHA FRUTICOSA (Bastard Indigo). A pretty and interesting 

 shrub. The leaves are pinnate and at a distance have a feathery ap- 

 pearance. The flowers, arranged in spikes, are very dark purple. It is 

 propagated by seeds, also by green or hard wood cuttings. 



ARALIA JAPONICA (Angelica Tree). This with A. Mandshurica and 

 A. spinosa, have very large bi pinnate leaves and stout prickly stems. 

 They are useful for permanent positions where a sub-tropical effect is 

 desired. They are propagated by taking roots and cutting them into 



