FLOWEEING TEEES AND SHEUBS 201 



amongst hardy ornamental flowering shrubs. V. Tinus 

 strictum has darker foliage than the species, is more 

 upright, rather more hardy, but not so profuse in the 

 bearing of flowers. V. Tinus lucidum (Glossy-leaved 

 Laurustinus), of the several varieties of Laurustinus, has 

 the largest foliage, finest flowers, and altogether is of the 

 most robust growth. It is, unfortunately, not very hardy, 

 probably in that respect not even equalling the parent 

 plant. Usually it does not flower freely, neither are 

 the flowers produced so early as in the species, but 

 individually they are much larger. It is of tall growth, 

 and rarely forms the neat dense bush, for which the 

 common shrub is so admired. V. Tinus rotundifolium has 

 rounded leaves ; and V. Tinus rotundifolium variegatum 

 has irregularly variegated leaves. 



V. tomentosum Mabibsi is a very floriferous and desirable 

 variety of the less beautiful species V. tomentosum with 

 cream-white, sterile flowers. 



V. utile (China, 1880) is another desirable new species 

 that would appear to be perfectly hardy in this country. 



Any free, loamy soil will suit their wants. 



Vinca (Apocyneae). 



Vinca major. — Band-plant, Cut-finger, and Larger 

 Periwinkle. Europe (Britain). For trailing over tree- 

 stumps or rockwork this pretty evergreen shrub has a 

 distinctive value, the bright-green leaves and showy deep- 

 blue flowers rendering it both conspicuous and ornamental. 

 V. major elegantissima is a decided variety, the leaves 

 being neatly and evenly variegated, and making the plant 

 of great value for bank or rockwork decoration, while V. 

 major alba has white flowers. 



V. minor. — Lesser Periwinkle. This is of much smaller 

 growth than the preceding, and differs, too, in not having 

 the leaf-margins ciliated. The variety V. minor flore-albo 



