MY SHRUBS 1s 
Aristolochia stpho, the tube-bearing birthwort, all men know 
as a genial climber whose straggling limbs hang forth their “‘ Dutch- 
man’s pipes ” in June, and whose foliage turns bright gold before 
it falls ; while for the stove, though I pretend to no knowledge of 
the myriad precious shrubs that are grown there, one may be 
heartily commended : A. elegans. This noble aristolochia hangs 
out its shell-shaped flowers of white spattered with purple by 
hundreds through the summer, and never fails to win applause 
for its somewhat sinister beauty. A woman once said that she 
thought the flower all innocence and dimity ; but no: there is 
nothing of dimity or innocence about A. elegans. The plant 
comes freely from seed, and is easy to manage ; few things in any 
stove are more splendid. 
Aristotelia Macqu from Chili is a familiar, handsome and hardy 
evergreen, with small green flowers and black berries to follow. 
The foliage is very fine. 
Asimina triloba pursues its even way under a warm wall, but 
this papaw from Pennsylvania proves a slow grower, and I have not 
as yet seen its chocolate-coloured flower, or tasted its yellow fruit. 
It takes its own time, and whether its ultimate performances will 
synchronise with my power to applaud them remains to be seen. 
Probably not. 
As for Athrotaxis doniana, this excellent little Tasmanian 
conifer is happy here, and its appearance delights me. It is good 
for twenty feet, but at present stands no more than two. It 
suggests a juniper with a style of its own. Alragene alpina 
loves a wall in half shade. The most beautiful variety is blue 
and white. Mine came from a great prosperous piece that 
showers over the natural rocks in the little botanical garden of 
