4 HARDY ORNAMENTAL 



for suburban planting. The long spikes of pretty scarlet 

 flowers are usually produced in great abundance, and as 

 they stand well above the foliage, and are of firm lasting 

 substance, they have a most pleasing and attractive 

 appearance. As there are numerous forms of the red- 

 flowered Horse Chestnut, differing much in the depth of 

 flower colouring, it may be well to warn planters, for 

 some of these have but a faint tinge of pink overlaying a 

 dirty yellowish-green groundwork, while the finest and 

 most desirable tree has the flowers of a decided pinky- 

 red. There is a double-flowered variety M. carnea flore- 

 pleno {syn M. rulicundaflore-pleno), and one of particular 

 merit named M. rubicunda Briotii. 



M. Hippocastanum. — The Common Horse Chestnut. 

 Asia, 1629. A fine, hardy, free-flowering tree, supposed to 

 have been introduced from Asia, and of which there are 

 several varieties, including a double-flowered, a variegated, 

 and several lobed and cut-leaved forms. The tree needs 

 no description, the spikes of pinky-white flowers, which 

 are produced in great abundance, 'and ample foliage 

 rendering it one of, if not the handsomest tree of our 

 acquaintance. It gives a pleasing shade, and forms an 

 imposing and picturesque object in the landscape, es- 

 pecially where the conditions of soil — a rich free loam — 

 are provided. M. Hippocastanum alba flore-pleno (the 

 double white Horse Chestnut) has a decidedly pyramidal 

 habit of growth, and the flowers, which are larger than 

 those of the species, are perfectly double. It is a very 

 distinct and desirable large-growing tree. M. Hippo- 

 castanum laciniata and M. Hippocastanum digitalis are 

 valuable for their divided leaves ; while M. Hippocastanum 

 foliis variegatis has the foliage rather irregularly variegated. 



M. pabvifloea (syn Pavia macrostachya). — Buckeye. 

 North America, 1820. This is very distinct, and possesses 

 features which are shared by no other hardy tree or shrub 

 in cultivation. Rarely exceeding 12 feet in height, and 



