4i8 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Viburnums are early summer-flowering shrubs, and although 

 of simple requirements, pay for good culture ; if treated liberally 

 and given an open, sunny spot, they flower profusely in May and 

 June, and some are very attractive in autumn when in fruit. 

 They are useful for forcing " into blossom for house decoration 

 during the winter months. For this purpose they should be lifted 

 in October, planted in pots of suitable size, plunged in the open 

 ground, and the most forward ones brought into heat in 

 December. The syringe should be used freely amongst the top 

 growths, and as the flowers develop the plants should be removed 



Fig. 269. — Viburnum plicatum. 



to a colder house before transferring them to the conserva- 

 tory. V. Opulus sterile and V. plicatum (Figs. 268 and 269) are 

 specially useful for this purpose. V. acerifolium, a slender- 

 habited shrub, grows about 6ft. high, and its rich green 

 three-lobed leaves assume a deep crimson hue in autumn. Its 

 clusters of cream-white flowers are borne very freely, and these 

 are followed by showy berries. V. Lentago bears some 

 resemblance to V. lantana (Wayfaring Tree), a native of Britain. 

 It grows about 20ft. high, and bears large clusters of white 

 flowers, which are succeeded by dark berries in autumn. 

 V. dentatum (Arrow-wood) is quite hardy, and produces cymes 



