Choice those of the Levigata, or Kempferi sections, flower along the 
Shrubs banks of the stream, and Rodgersias display their beautiful 
foliage near by. The leaf of the latter resembles in form 
that of a Horse Chestnut, but is very much larger, and turns 
in late summer a handsome, deep-brown red. The Summer 
Snowflake, a not very graceful plant when in the border, is 
admirably utilised in shallow water, where its stems do not 
seem out of proportion to the flowers they bear. 
Some of the pools, formed by a skilful diversion of the 
water, are planted with the elegant Sparaxis pulcherrima, which 
is reflected in the placid surface below; it droops also 
above the river, and grows thickly in the Japanese garden. 
The arched stems, six feet in height with their hanging bells 
and the charming riband-like leaves, have a distinctive effect, 
and lend an air of fairy lightness to any group. Near the stiff 
round heads of Pink Hydrangea it may be skilfully used, and it 
is charming also with Francoa ramosa, which stands the winter 
perfectly, and produces much stronger sprays of starry white 
bloom than when grown in a greenhouse. It is only in 
favoured gardens that the Sparaxis can be so freely grown and 
so quickly increased by seed; as a rule, even in Ireland, it needs 
the protection of a greenhouse border. 
The wealth of choice shrubs in the garden is almost 
fabulous. . Thus we see Magnolias, the Strawberry tree 
(Benthamia fragifera), Casalpinia Japonica, Choisya ternata, 
Cistus ladaniferus, Pomegranate (Punica granatum rubrum 
flore pleno), Fabiana imbricata, Olearias, and Spireas, both 
shrubby and herbaceous; Eucryphia pinnatifolia, with bunches 
of large white flowers, like a very glorified myrtle in effect ; 
Myrtle trees starred with white; Escallonia monte-vidensis, 
30 
