202 Ornamental Shrubs. 



plant is at its best late in June or early in July, when its 

 blossoms are in perfection. 



A. canescens — Lead plant. — This is a much smaller 

 plant, seldom rising more than three feet. According to 

 the older botanists, it was introduced to English gardens as 

 long ago as 1812, and was received with considerable favor, 

 and somewhat freely employed in decorative horticulture. 

 But it is now seldom found in gardens on either continent, 

 having been crowded out by the multitude of new and 

 more rare, but not always better, sorts. Still it is named 

 in several of the nurserymen's catalogues, especially on the 

 European continent. It is worthy of a restoration to pop- 

 ular favor, and will doubtless again see better days. It 

 takes its name from the color of the foliage, which in both 

 stems and leaves is of a whitish or lead-colored cast. The 

 flowers are much the same as in the larger species, and 

 are also produced in terminal, clustered spikes several 

 inches long. They are deep purple, and do not usually 

 make their appearance until the first of August, thus 

 affording color at a time when flowering shrubs are not 

 supposed to be at their best. It is a native of Missouri, 

 where it is still found growing wild. 



Each of these amorphas has given off several varieties, 

 which, however, do not appear to be especial improvements 

 on the type. 



OSMANTHUS. 



THE name of this genus was applied because of the 

 peculiar and agreeable fragrance of its blossoms, 

 and is made up from osme, signifying perfume, 

 and anthos, flower. It belongs to the olive family, and is 



