ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



4°5 



choicest of dwarf shrubs suitable for pleasure-grounds and 

 shrubberies, it is well not to forget that the flowers are some- 

 times injured by cold winds. To preserve them from injury 

 they may be planted in a colony by themselves, where they will 

 get sufficient sun-heat to ripen the wood properly, and be 

 afforded shelter from biting winds, &c, by tall-growing trees. 

 Azaleas are amongst the most serviceable of hardy shrubs for 

 forcing. Plants are easily raised from seed, but when certain 

 colours are required, named sorts should be procured. For this 

 reason we give the names of a few good kinds, with the colours 

 added. R. occidentak (Californian Azalea) is one of the easiest 

 to blossom, and valuable for prolonging the floral display. It 

 forms a dense, freely-branched bush, and its delightfully fragrant 

 white blossoms nestling amongst the pea-green foliage is distinct. 

 Its leaves change to blood-red in autumn, which gives it 

 additional beauty. R. arborescens is of vigorous growth, with 

 large clusters of very fragrant red flowers, and as the bright 

 green leaves are well developed at flowering time the blossoms 

 are seen to excellent 





advantage. R. vis- 

 cosum ' (Clammy 

 Honeysuckle) hails 

 from North America, 

 and produces great 

 quantities, of sweet- 

 scented white and 

 rose-coloured flowers. 

 It succeeds best in 

 moist soil, and as it 

 belongs to the late- 

 blossoming section, 

 is deserving of atten- 

 tion. 



R. calendulacea 

 generally reaches a 

 height of about 6ft. 

 Its orange-coloured 

 flowers- are produced 

 in May, in advance 

 of the leaves. This 

 species is interesting 

 as being one of the 

 parents of the so- 

 called Ghent Azaleas. 

 R. nudiflorum, like 

 the last-named, has played an 1 important part in the development 

 of the Ghent Azaleas. It grows about 4ft. high, and bears a 

 profusion of lovely rose-scented flowers about the end of May. 



Fig. 261. — Rhododendron dahuricum. 



