136 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



however, into a formal shape (neither should this be 

 done with any shrubs), but reduce its dimensions 

 by a careful thinninrj process. The scarlet, pink, 

 and white-flowering varieties of Hawthorn (both 

 single and double forms) are always welcome in the 

 spring ; these should be selected as standards on 

 clean and straight stems ; in which way they will 

 not occupy so much room. The Chinese and Siberian 

 Crabs also produce their flowers freely in the spring 

 months ; standards of these would be the best to 

 select. There are also the showy early- flowering 

 varieties of the double-blossomed Peach, one or two 

 of which would be very useful, as well as the more 

 common Almond, more hardy and floriferous. The 

 Weigelia, too, is most effective, bearing the use of the 

 knife to keep it within bomids. The hardy Aaaleas, 

 chiefly the yellow varieties, which are the most 

 vigorous and floriferous, should receive attention. 

 The beautiful tints of the leaves of the yellow kinds 

 are almost equal to a crop of flower when they show 

 signs of ripening, some few weeks ere they fall to the 

 ground. These Azaleas should be associated with 

 the Rhododendrons, and other shrubs commonly 

 called " American " plants. 



Of the Rhododendrons, a few words in their favour 

 are necessary. Not only are they among the best of 

 all evergreens, but they have such handsome flower 

 trusses as should alone cause them to be always 

 chosen in preference to either the common Laurel or 

 the Portugal variety, which grow far too strong and 

 luxuriant when once established in the fresh soil, 

 whilst the Rhododendron will take some years before 

 getting of imwieldy size. We have often been sur- 

 prised when viewing such gardens as these, and even 

 larger ones, to see what a want there has been of 

 this fine evergreen shrub in the grounds. Coming 

 as they do from elevated and exposed regions (those 

 types at least which are designated as "hardy 

 kinds"), they are among the best evergreens to 

 withstand the occasional severity of our winters. 



Thanks to the energies of plant collectors, who 

 risk their lives, and oftentimes ruin their constitu- 

 tions, by exposure in foreign climes, our gardens 

 have been greatly enriched from time to time by the 

 shrubs and plants which they have gathered and 

 sent home to add to our collections. Among hardy 

 evergreen shrubs, the Aucuba Japonica (commonly 

 called the Spotted Laurel) is a notable instance 

 of this, being a plant indigenous to Japan, which 

 has now become thoroughly acclimatised in this 

 country. Many among us can still recollect when 

 it was first brought into prominent notice, and it 

 is now to be found, more or less, in nearly every 

 garden. It is a shrub which is thoroughly at home 

 in the midst of our towns and cities, thriving there 

 as well as in the pure country air. It will generally 



form iiself into a compact bush without much atten- 

 tion, but should any shoots show a disposition to run 

 away from the rest, they should have their tops 

 taken oif. And now that both sexes of this shrub 

 have been introduced it fruits freely, and the berries 

 are even more beautiful than the foliage, which is 

 saying a great deal. There are many hybrid 

 varieties with foUage and fruits of the most brilliant 

 red, A. Japonica vn-afaimina being one of the most 

 fruitful. A. J. longifolla is also fine ; and one 

 plant oi A. J. masmla will be found enough for the 

 largest garden. 



When a plant gets to a large size, and some 

 branches droop on the ground, or are of sufficient 

 length to be brought in contact therewith, they 

 may be pegged down into a little extra good 

 soil, having first cut about one-third through the 

 stem, in a slanting direction, where it wiU be buried 

 in the earth in the after-operation. These shoots 

 will soon take root, and partially rely on their own 

 resources; when indications are apparent of their 

 having a good quantity of roots of their own, they 

 may be severed from the parent plant. Leave them 

 thus for a time before attempting removal; the 

 check in both ways at once would be too much, 

 perhaps, for the future well-being of the plant. 

 These young plants would be found useful to replace 

 any which are getting too large for their positions, 

 yet not too large, perhaps, for removal to some other 

 part of the garden, there to be used in the place of 

 huge overgrown specimens, valuable in their way in 

 a large garden, but quite out of place in a small one. 

 No large tree, plant, or shrub should be permitted in 

 a small garden ; they so soon impoverish the soil, 

 making it quite unfit for many other subjects which 

 it is desirable to cultivate as successfully as possible. 



HBEBS AND SMALL SALADS. 



Bt William Barley. 



Mustard {Sinapis alba). French, Sineve ; Ger- 

 man, Seuf ; Italian Senapa. — This is the common 

 plant used so generally and plentifully, along with 

 cress, already referred to, in connection with salads, 

 and otherwise. Its simple culture into the seed-leaf 

 consists of merely sowing the seeds thickly upon the 

 surface of the ground, and placing the slightest pos- 

 sible amount of fresh soil over them, when they 

 are well watered and kept constantly moist. For 

 the earliest sowing out of doors, which should com- 

 mence about the beginning of May each year, a 

 warm, sunny border should be chosen, and for mid- 

 summer and early autumn a moist, cool site. To 

 insure a constant supply subsequently during, the 



