MY SHRUBS 57 
congeners. I fancy these Australians can easily be drowned in 
our wet winters, and possibly need as much protection from rain 
as frost. 
Halesia tetraptera is a familiar North American, but H. hispida 
seems not so common. This Japanese variety is very beautiful, 
with pendulous racemes of pure white flowers. H. corymbosa, as 
seen at Kew on a wall, is a grand subject. Here, however, one 
passes it without emotion. 
Halimodendron argenteum, the salt tree of Siberia, I have had, 
grafted on laburnum, for a good many years. It prospers and 
seems healthy, but its blossoms ought, I understand, to be rosy 
purple, whereas they come yellow. I have only seen them figured 
in the “ Botanical Magazine”’ (under Robinia halimodendron), and 
they indicate a beautiful flower. I thought the stock must have 
dominated the scion, but this is not so. What, then, have I got 
instead of Halimodendron ? 
Of Hamamelis, the witch-hazel, I grow three species, and all 
are kindly and quick to lighten February with their countless 
yellow stars on naked boughs. H. mollis, from Japan, a really 
splendid hardy shrub, with handsome foliage, is the first to flower; 
and this year sparkled brilliantly through January. The blossoms 
are like golden spiders with purple bodies. H. zuccariniana is 
smaller and of paler inflorescence, while H. arborea differs little 
save in size from the last-named, and flowers before it. ‘These 
admirable plants are too uncommon. 
Hedera minima is a neat, little upright ivy for the rock-work. 
It refuses to climb or creep, and its frutescent habit justifies me in 
naming it here. I have not seen it flower. 
The legions of Helianthemum need only to be named with 
H 
