ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 



459 



seen to advantage against the small deep green leaves. Aucuba 

 japonica is so well known that description is unnecessary. As 

 it is dioecious, care should be taken to have a few male plants 

 intermingled with, or adjacent to, the female kind, so that the 

 flowers of the latter may become fertilised. The Fire Thorn 

 (Cratagus Pyracanthd) is a grand subject for training against a 

 wall. Its dense clusters of scarlet-coloured fruits are borne 

 unstintingly, whether situated in a south or a north-east aspect. 

 There is a yellow-berried variety named C. P. crenulata, which 

 creates an agreeable change in the shrubbery. 



Azara microphytta (Fig. 290) is a handsome and quite hardy 

 shrub. The arching shoots 

 or branches are well clothed 

 with small deep green glossy 

 leaves, and although the small 

 flowers are not showy they 

 are very fragrant. In favour- 

 able situations it bears freely 

 its orange-coloured berries. 

 The Hollies (Ilex) take pre- 

 cedence over all other ever- 

 green berry-bearing shrubs or 

 trees. They are of elegant 

 habit, hardy, and free in 

 growth. With the exception 

 of wet or boggy soils there 

 is scarcely a soil or position 

 in which they will not thrive. 

 They may be grown either 

 as pyramids (bushes) or 

 standards. Taste and position 

 must decide which form of 

 growth should be selected. 

 The following are good berry- 

 bearing sorts. Green-leaved 

 varieties : balearica, lauri- 

 folia, camellicefolia, Shepherdi, 

 Hodginsi, platyphylla scotica, 

 fructu-luteo (yellow-berried), 

 ciliatum, and opaca. Varie- 

 gated sorts : Silver Milk- 

 maid (Fig. 291), aurea marginata, a, jiumila, 2ucida, argentea 

 marginata, pendula tricolor, and argsntea pendula. The varieties 

 of Hedera arborea are .beautiful in winter, and well deserving of 

 a word. They produce pretty effects on the fringe of the lawn 

 treated -eittrer as single specimens or planted in groups. If the 

 last-named method be adopted Galtonia candicans, Lilies, and 

 such-like bulbs may be planted between them with excellent 



Fig. 290.— Azara micropjsyixa. 



