HARDY SHRUBS 315 



H. quercifolia, the Oak-leaved Hydrangea, from the Southern 

 States, opens its large pyramidal heads of flowers late in the season 

 and is valuable on that account alone; but the handsome foliage and 

 its spreading, graceful habit combined make it a most desirable 

 shrub. It will thrive either in partial shade or full sun. 



Propagation. Green cuttings may be taken during the first 

 part of July. Select a dull day for the operation. Take those 

 shoots which are not too robust and only the ends; shorten back 

 the leaves one-third and put in sand, in a cool, humid atmosphere. 

 Cuttings of the dormant wood may be made 8 or 10 inches long and 

 inserted, either in the Fall, or kept heeled in, or buried in a cold- 

 frame during Winter, putting them in rows in the open as soon as 

 weather will permit. Cover thinly with spent hops, or old manure, 

 in either case. 



In propagating H. quercifolia, the smallest of the ripened shoots 

 should be taken with the leaves attached, placing the stems deep in 

 the sand bed of the cool propagating house. If put in about the 

 middle of October, most of them will root by the end of February. 

 Suckers, with small roots attached, may be lifted and potted in 

 Spring. The most certain method is to layer the lower branches, 

 allowing them to remain at least a year before removing. Seeds 

 are not always obtainable, but they germinate readily in sandy 

 soil covered with finely screened sphagnum moss. 



HYPERICUM (St. John's Wort), H. Kalmianum is the 

 species most commonly seen in cultivation; it thrives in almost any 

 soil and in a sunny position. H. patulum, a Japanese species, forms 

 a bush from 4 to 6 feet in height, in favorable situations. H. 

 Moserianum is not so tall as H. palulum, but the flowers are larger; 

 both of them are apt to be hurt in Winter in exposed situations. 

 n. calycinum is one of the handsomest and most useful of the dwarf 

 evergreen shrubs. It forms dense clumps of growths, not over a foot 

 high, with very large, bright, orange yellow flowers; much used for 

 the front portions of shrubberies. In parts of the country where 

 the Winters are too severe it is easily protected by branches of 

 evergreens, or rough stable litter. 



Propagation. Most sorts root readily from Summer cuttings; 

 the creeping sorts such as H. calycinum increase easily by division. 

 Seeds also grow readily. 



ILEX (Holly). I. Aquifolium, the English Holly, is, unfor- 

 tunately, tender in the Northern States. Philadelphia is said to be 

 the northern limit of its hardiness. Around Washington it is per- 



