ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



433 



removal of wrongly-placed growths they give little trouble. The 

 following are the kinds most worthy of recognition : E. macro- 

 phylla bears greenish-yellow flowers in mid-winter ; it is of 

 robust, spreading habit, and its roundish leaves are thick in 

 texture, bright green above, and silvery on the under-sides. 

 E. pangens also flowers in winter, from November until the 

 middle or end of January; it grows about 8ft. high, and is of 

 good habit, with oblong deep green leaves, undulated at the 

 margins, the under - surface being shaded with silvery-grey. 

 E. p. aurea is the most ornamental of the variegated Oleasters, 

 and makes a fine lawn shrub, but is less vigorous in growth 

 and dwarfer than the type ; the broad leaves are wavy at 

 the margins, the central portion being deep yellow. In some 

 instances the leaves are almost wholly yellow. 'The leaves of 

 E. p. tricolor are sulphur-yellow, with light and deep green 

 stripes. E. p. Simoni succeeds admirably on dry banks and 

 similar positions, as also does E. glabra. E. g. variegata has 

 leaves edged with creamy-white. 



Empetrum nigrum (Crowberry) is a little shrub of Heath-like 

 appearance, and delights in moist, peaty soil and shady situations. 

 Being of very dwarf habit, it is valuable 

 for the rock garden, and may be turned 

 to good account as an edging to beds of 

 dwarf shrubs. The pink flowers are borne 

 in May, and are succeeded by small round 

 dark berries (Fig. 277). E. rubrum bears 

 purplish-coloured flowers and red berries. 



Ericas (Heaths) are valuable for their 

 showiness when in flower, hardiness, neat 

 growth, and the length of time their flowers 

 remain in beauty. The colours vary from 

 . pure white, through pink and rose, to deep 

 red. They are of simple culture in peaty 

 soil, but grow and flower freely in loamy 

 soil, provided lime is not present. A yearly 

 top-dressing of good leaf-mould is very 

 beneficial to the plants. Their value in 

 the rock garden, as well as for edgings to 

 beds of permanent shrubs, is well known. 

 With a careful selection of varieties a 

 display of blossom may be kept up for the 

 greater part of the year. E. cinerea (ift. 

 high) bears in June and July a wealth of 

 purple flowers. There are several varie- 

 ties, differing in the colour of the flowers — alba, rosea, atro- 

 purpurea, atrosanguinea, pallida, and coccinea being the best. 

 E. ciliaris (about i8in. high) bears deep pink or crimson flowers 



Fig. 277. — Empetrum 

 nigrum. 



