Rosacee—Prinus. I4I 
published by our nurserymen, including weeping varieties of 
the Almond, Peach, and Bird Cherry, and a variegated variety 
of P. Mahaleb, a species with fragrant flowers, extensively em- 
ployed as a stock for grafting cherries upon. A few of the 
more ornamental species cultivated in gardens we will arrange 
according to their affinities. 
Evergreen Species. 
1. P. Lawrocérasus. Cherry Laurel or Common Laurel.— 
The common form is too well known to need description here, 
but there are some of the varieties, notably the Caucasian 
Laurel, P. L. Cawecdsica, superior to it not only in appearance, 
but also in hardiness. This variety has very rich dark green 
glossy foliage, the broadest part of the leaf being above the 
middle. It is, moreover, a vigorous grower, and when better 
known will doubtless supersede all others for general purposes. 
The Versailles Laurel, P. L. latifolia, differs from the ordinary 
form in having larger leaves. The Colchican Laurel, P. L. Col- 
chica, is also of a hardy type, and quite distinct in habit and 
foliage. It is a dwarf spreading bush with narrow sharply 
serrated pale green leaves. Besides the above there is a 
variety called rotundifolia, of recent introduction, with short 
broad leaves; another, termed the Grecian, with very narrow 
leaves; and a third with very small leaves known as the 
Alexandrian: none of these, however, are desirable in small 
gardens. The variety with variegated leaves scarcely deserves 
notice. 
2. P. Lusiténica. Portugal Laurel.—This is perhaps the 
most valuable of all our hardy evergreens. There is a variety, 
myrtifolia, of compact habit with smaller narrow leaves, worthy 
of a place where the ordinary form would be too large. There 
is also a variegated variety of no particular merit. The 
variety Azérica is of recent introduction, and probably not so 
hardy as the Continental form. 
Deciduous Species. 
3. P. Padus. Bird Cherry.—A handsome small tree, 
occurring wild in several parts of Britain. Leaves oblong 
or obovate, doubly serrate, unequally cordate at the base. 
Flowers white, in terminal or axillary racemes, appearing in 
May. 
