Rosacece Prunus. 141 



published by our nurserymen, including weeping varieties of 

 the Almond, Peach, and Bird Cherry, and a variegated variety 

 of P. Mahaleb, a species with fragrant flowers, extensively em- 

 ployed as a stock for grafting cherries upon. A few of the 

 more ornamental species cultivated in gardens we will arrange 

 according to their affinities. 



Evergreen Species. 



1. P. Laurocerasus. Cherry Laurel or Common Laurel. 

 The common form is too well known to need description here, 

 but there are some of the varieties, notably the Caucasian 

 Laurel, P. L. Caucdsica, superior to it not only in appearance, 

 but also in hardiness. This variety has very rich dark green 

 glossy foliage, the broadest part of the leaf being above the 

 middle. It is, moreover, a vigorous grower, and when better 

 known will doubtless supersede all others for general purposes. 

 The Versailles Laurel, P. L. latifolia, differs from the ordinary 

 form in having larger leaves. The Colchican Laurel, P. L. Col- 

 chica, is also of a hardy type, and quite distinct in habit and 

 foliage. It is a dwarf spreading bush with narrow sharply 

 serrated pale green leaves. Besides the above there is a 

 variety called rotUndifolia, of recent introduction, with short 

 broad leaves ; another, termed the Grecian, with very narrow 

 leaves ; and a third with very small leaves known as the 

 Alexandrian : none of these, however, are desirable in small 

 gardens. The variety with variegated leaves scarcely deserves 

 notice. 



2. P. Lusitdnica. Portugal Laurel. This is perhaps the 

 most valuable of all our hardy evergreens. There is a variety, 

 myrtifolia, of compact habit with smaller narrow leaves, worthy 

 of a place where the ordinary form would be too large. There 

 is also a variegated variety of no particular merit. The 

 variety Azorica is of recent introduction, and probably not so 

 hardy as the Continental form. 



Deciduous Species. 



3. P. Padus. Bird Cherry. A handsome small tree, 

 occurring wild in several parts of Britain. Leaves oblong 

 or obovate, doubly serrate, unequally cordate at the base. 

 Flowers white, in terminal or axillary racemes, appearing in 

 May. 



