10 MY SHRUBS 
and China respectively. They flower in the fall, but have no great 
value or charm. 
Of the dwarf Abies, a delightful, little neat conifer is A. hudsonica 
and the varieties of A. sub-alpina are also good for your miniature 
forest. General mention of the natural dwarfs is made else- 
where. 
Abutilon is akin to Malva. They are showy things, and make 
great plants against a wall, with flowers white and _ yellow, 
crimson and chocolate; but best I like A. witifolium, the vine- 
leaved abutilon, whose foliage is always beautiful, and whose 
porcelain blue, or pure white, flowers plentifully cover the shrub 
in May. A. vitifolium attains to a great size, and is as hardy in 
Devonshire as most other Chilians. I find half shade suits them 
best—a rule for Chilians in general. In full sun this shrub is apt 
to drop its flower-buds unexpanded. A. megapotamicum—* the 
big river ” abutilon—a brilliant and cheerful gem from Rio Grande 
with blossoms of red, yellow, and brown—is worth a wall. 
With Acacia I have failed. ‘The various species tried all made 
fine plants, and for ten years A. dealbata regularly covered her 
feathery limbs with dense inflorescence ; but once only did the 
weather suffer a fine display. With February too often comes 
frost, to ruin the promise of splendour at a critical moment when 
the flower is opening. In more sheltered gardens this and other 
varieties do well. I should like to try Rice’s wattle from ‘Tasmania 
if I knew where to get it. , 
Of Acer, I have only a few examples. The little Japanese 
dwarf maples make fine colour with their purple and rosy foliage on 
arockery. ‘The dark-leaved sorts are the hardiest, and those with 
the beautiful variegated foliage often fail me. They are perfect 
