320 PLANT CULTURE 



along about the first part of May. This plant is capable of being 

 used as a hedge subject, as it stands clipping well. The other two 

 kinds are more profuse bloomers, especially the double, which is the 

 strongest growing of the three. It is seldom without flowers all 

 during the Summer and Fall. It has a charming Winter effect be- 

 cause of its green branches. 



Propagation. The plants are best propagated from ripe 

 growths during the latter part of August, indoors. 



KCELREUTERIA. One of the very best small sized deciduous 

 trees in cultivation, K. paniculata is such a tree as florists are often 

 called upon to suggest for small gardens and in places unsuitable or 

 too small for the development of forest trees. The Koelreuteria was 

 certainly not named by anyone having its popularity in view; 

 the long name is responsible for the plant not being more common. 

 There is not a generally popular name under which the species is 

 known, the commonest name being the Varnish Tree. The leaves 

 are compound; the flowers yellow, in immense panicles, well above 

 the leaves; they are produced in June and July. 



Propagation. The seed, which is somewhat like that of the 

 Canna, if sown in the Fall will germinate the following Spring. 

 Stock is also got up readily from root cuttings. 



LABURNUM. L. alpinutn, the Scotch Laburnum, is the hardiest 

 species. Where it does well it is a most beautiful shrub or small 

 tree. The flowers are bright yellow, in long racemes. L. anagyroides. 

 Golden Chain, bears racemes of bright yellow flowers 8 inches long 

 in the Spring. 



Propagation. Seeds sown in May, or grafting upon seedhngs 

 are the commoner methods of propagation. 



LAGERSTRGEMIA (Crape Myrtle). Northern nurserymen, 

 as a rule, do not handle this plant, owing to its being tender 

 in the North. However, it is hardy enough to stand zero weather; 

 but when the mercury gets much lower the plant is apt to be killed 

 to the ground. In the Southern States the Crape Myrtle is perhaps 

 the best known of all the flowering shrubs, as there are few, if any, 

 which exceed in beauty a well developed specimen in full bloom. 

 The flowers of L. indica are bright pink and are arranged in im- 

 mense heads, even on one-year-old plants from seed. Large speci- 

 mens grown in tubs, and kept in a cool greenhouse, can be made to 

 flower two or three times during the year by cutting back the 

 flowering branches. L. i. alba has pure white flowers, others are 

 bright and pale shades of purple, rose and red. It is hardy in this 



