60 MY SHRUBS 
pretty well in autumn. But, of the shrubby hAypericums, I have 
sent mine into the world to please those who appreciate them. 
H. fragilis is very beautiful upon the rockery, and, of course, H. 
repens. The new H. leve-rubrum is orange-scarlet, very striking, 
and doubtfully hardy. 
One would dearly like to grow J/ex in all its admirable forms ; 
but for these most interesting shrubs I have no room on a generous 
scale. A few common varieties occur, where scraps of original 
shrubbery have not been cleared, but of hollies interesting to a 
collector I can show only the delightful dwarfs, J. Mariest and I. 
Pernyi. ‘The former is spineless, and has small leathery leaves and 
a neat habit. It flowers abundantly, but must be dicecious. To 
see it in berry would be a noble experience. J. Pernyt is a little 
Chinese holly of dense habit and foliage, after the usual prickly 
pattern. JI.“ Taraio,” from Japan, now within your reach, must 
be a very splendid variety of the species. The whole race has 
great interest, and I think all hollies are hardy. They tried to grow 
them at the Cape once, and kept them in shade with ice to their 
foreheads ; but it was useless : none survived a Cape summer. 
Illictum anistum is dull, though sacred in Japan. 'They decorate 
the tombs of their loved dead with it. The anise-scented species 
should have some care in winter, but is of no great worth. J. 
floridanum sounds rather more attractive, but I have not attempted 
this species. 
Indigofera is not very hardy ; but J. gerardiana stands well in 
the open, and would probably thrive anywhere, though of Indian 
blood. Given a wall, it makes a very handsome bush, with fern- 
like foliage and rosy-pink blossoms. J. decora, from China, is even 
better, but not quite so robust. 
