A WINTER GARDEN OF TREES 6i 



icegus Crus-Galli and C. spathulata; Cotoneaster rotun- 

 difolia, which is the best of all the Cotoneasters, 

 and frequently carries its bright-scarlet berries till 

 March ; and Hippophce rhamnoides, the Sea Buck- 

 thorn, whose orange-coloured fruits are borne in 

 such profusion and retain their colour till past 

 Christmas if the frosts are not too severe. The 

 scarlet-fruited Skimmia japonica and its varieties are 

 very ornamental during the winter months, but of 

 these (as well as the Hippophae) it is necessary to 

 grow male and female plants together. Groups of 

 variegated evergreens would not only help to give 

 shelter and warmth, but would also add to the 

 brightness of the garden. The best of them are the 

 golden and silver variegated Elseagnuses, the Hollies 

 of a similar character, and the best of the Aucubas, 

 of which there are now some very fine forms ; the 

 female plants are also very ornamental as fruit- 

 bearers. Pinus sylvestris aurea, a variety of the 

 Scotch Pine that turns golden in winter but is 

 green at other seasons, and Cupressus macrocarpa lutea 

 are the two best Conifers of their class. Many of the 

 variegated Conifers lose most or all of their colour as 

 autumn and winter approach. 



"With regard to the trees and shrubs that bear 

 flowers between November and February, the num- 

 ber is not, of course, great ; still, they constitute a 

 group that is larger, perhaps, than is generally sup- 

 posed. The following list, which comprises all that 

 I can call to mind, may be useful even to those who 

 would not intend to bring them together in one spot. 



