AMERICAN GARDEN. 



745 



improved varietiea produced by a judicious 

 choice of parents. Tlae seed is sown in March. 

 or April in shallow pans, in peat soil rendered 

 smooth and even on the surface, and lightly 

 covered on account of its minute size. The seed- 

 pans should be placed in cold frames, partially 

 shaded, and when the young plants are an inch 

 in height they should be removed to a pit with 

 a southern exposure, where they should remain 

 till May the following year, when they should 

 be planted in beds of peat soil 4 inches apart in 

 the open quarters, and the spring following 

 planted in nursery lines, to attain a size fit for 

 sale or planting out. Seedlings from choice 

 sorts, or from flowers carefully crossed, should, 

 when an inch in height, be pricked out into a 

 pit, protected in bad weather with glass, in pre- 

 pared soil, and the spring following planted in 

 nursery-beds as above. 



Bryanthus. — A pretty genus, related to Men- 

 ziesia, propagated by cuttings and layers. 



Calycanthus. — Propagated by layers in Sep- 

 tember, and allowed one year to root; will accom- 

 modate itself to almost any light sandy loamy 

 soil in the absence of peat 



Catalpa syringifolia. — The only American spe- 

 cies. A splendid flowering tree, which seldom 

 flowers in Scotland, and, indeed, rarely in the 

 south of England — a consequence, in both cases, 

 of deficiency of heat during our summers to 

 ripen the wood ; for on the Continent it flowers 

 abundantly, even in many parts of Germany, 

 where the winter is much more severe than in 

 Britain, but on the other hand the summer is 

 so much more warm. It is propagated by lay- 

 ers and by imported seed. 



Chionanthus. — Propagated by layers and im- 

 ported seed. 



Oratmgus. — A number of this genus are natives 

 of America, and although not directly requu-ing 

 a peat soil, are admissible into such a garden on 

 account of their abundance of white blossom 

 during May and June, forming a striking con- 

 trast with varied shades of azalea and rhododen- 

 dron, as well as attaining a much greater height. 

 Propagated by budding and grafting, and also by 

 seed, which requires two years to vegetate. 



Dirca, of which there is only one species 

 (palustris), a plant difficult to increase otherwise 

 than by seed, which is seldom, if ever, produced 

 in Britain ; dependence, therefore, must be had 

 on an American supply. Layering in autumn is 

 the means usually employed in our best nur- 

 series, and a sandy peat-soil, either naturally 

 damp, or rendered so by artificial means. It 

 takes two years to secure well-rooted plants, and 

 these, when planted out, should occupy a very 

 humid place, the plant growing naturally in 

 moist places, and even deriving its name from 

 JJirke, a fountain. 



Empetrum.—The species rubrum, of American 

 origin, is propagated by cuttings under a hand- 

 light, put in during summer in sandy peaty soil. 

 Seeds are rarely produced in Britain, and those 

 imported should be sown as soon as received in 

 sandy peat, remaining generally a year before 

 vegetating. It succeeds best in a humid soil, 

 and forms a good edging round taller shrubs. 



JEpiga:a.—Propa.ga.ted chiefly by layers in a 



sheltered place, kept pretty dry during winter, 

 and rather moist during summei-. Being a low 

 creeping plant, it succeeds best under the protec- 

 tion of others, being rather tender. 



Ephedra. — Propagated by cuttings, and some- 

 times by layers and division of the plant, A 

 genus more curious than pretty. 



Ericas and Menziesias, although not American 

 plants, are quite admissible into the American 

 garden, on account of their requiring a peaty soil. 

 All the hardy species and varieties are readily 

 propagated by cuttings, planted in sand under 

 bell or hand glasses in a partially shaded situa- 

 tion. The species oarnea, herbacea, and such as 

 grow close to the ground, root freely if sandy peat 

 soil be laid over their prostrate branches. When 

 rooted, in either case they should be planted 

 out in nursery-beds in peat soil until sufficiently 

 large for final transplantation. They form ex- 

 cellent groups by themselves, ormargins to larger 

 clumps. 



Fothergilla. —Readily increased by layers put 

 down in March or in August. They sometimes 

 ripen seed in Britain, and seed can be had from 

 America through such houses as Charlwood & 

 Gumming, of Tavistock Row, Covent Garden, 

 where, indeed, seeds of most American trees and 

 shrubs can be obtained. They should be sown 

 in spring on a rather shaded border of peat soil, 

 or in pans, and afterwards transplanted into nur- 

 sery-lines. They rank amongst the few sweet- 

 scented shrubs of America, producing their 

 abundant white flowers before the appearance 

 of the leaves. 



Galax. — By division of the plant in spring. 

 A pretty evergreen plant of low gi-owth. 



Gaultheria. — Propagated by layers and also by 

 seed, the former laid in spring or in autumn, 

 and the seed sown at the former period. The 

 fruit of G. shallon is excellent, and highly de- 

 serving the attention of those who are curious in 

 the possession of exotic or little-known fruits. 

 Diff'ering from the rest of the family, this spe- 

 cies will grow in almost any soil and situation — 

 a moist one, however, is the best. The berries 

 are so much prized by the Americans, that in 

 many parts they bake them into a sort of bread 

 for winter use. They make excellent jellies, and 

 afford a pleasant addition to our desserts. 



Gymnocladus. — In consequence of the young 

 shoots being without buds — whence the name 

 Gymnos (naked), and Klados (a branch) — it 

 does not strike root by cuttings of the branches, 

 but does so by those of the roots, cut into pieces 

 about 9 or 10 inches in length, and set in light 

 loam, keeping the top part of the roots upper- 

 most. This is the mode usually followed by the 

 English nurserymen. Seeds are, however, readily 

 obtained from America, and if sown in spring, 

 or as early in the season as they arrive, in gene- 

 ral vegetate freely in the temperature of a cool 

 pit. A very elegant tree during summer, and in 

 winter producing a singular effect from its dead- 

 like branches. It should stand singly on the 

 grass, or in any open part of the garden. 



Halesia. — Propagated by seed soon in March, 

 and by layers and cuttings of the roots in spring 

 and in autumn. A soil not exactly peaty, if 

 deep and sandy, will suit it exceedingly. 



