DARTj'iys liATmr.iniv. 3 



Tliis l)arl)eny was iiitrodueed to cnu- yavdeiis liy those 

 eniineiit lienefactors, the JNIessrs. Veitrh, thimiijh tlieir 

 very successful collector, Mr. Lol^b, \vhi)S(> name o'oes 

 tlowu to posterity with Tropt/'u/ imi Ldlj/jidinun. As 

 regards its hardiness, it appears iu all the sduthcni 

 counties to have survived unhurt the two dwadtul winters 

 of lS7'.i-8l» and lsSO-81. In its native forests it o-i'ows 

 near the limit of the summer line of snow, Ijut it is 

 less hardy here than there, liecause here it lias to con- 

 tend with dry east winds in sprin«-, and with hitter frosts 

 suddenly succeeding sultry weather — circumstances un- 

 known to it in its own humid, C([uahlc idiniate. But i1 is 

 so hardy, so thrifty, so accommodating, that we will say 110 

 more of its peculiarities, lest it slKJuld appear to need mucli, 

 when in truth it needs but little. 



The fruits of the earth do not oljtain any special atten- 

 tion in these pages, for they rarely present themselves as 

 piroper subjects. But we have now to say tliat Dar\A-in's 

 barberry presents a must beautiful appearance \\\\e\\ liiadcd 

 with its grape-like fruits, ami that these are much used iu 

 Devonshire in the ]>reparatioii of a brisk flavoured conserve. 



A barberry garden has been mentioned above. The 

 barberries may with advantage be scattered over a ]dace, 

 but they are peculiarly well adapted for planting in groups. 

 Ours are in a series of large circular beds of peat, on a moist, 

 partially-shaded lawn near the house, where interesting 

 evergreen shrubs are })eculiarly suitaldc. The centres of 

 the beds are occupied with the noble B. jupoiiicd, B. Biuil'i, 

 and B. i nier media. Around them are such as B. ihilc'i^, 

 B. sleiiojjJii/lld, B. fascicnlarift, and B. Asi alien. The mar- 

 ginal jalanting comprises B. Hookeri , B. (jlinnneea , B. repens, 

 and a lovely variety of the oomnion holly- leaved berberis, 



