360 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS pbunus 



subject for the lawn and is one of the 

 most effective spring-fiowering trees in 

 cultivation. 



Closely related is P. haldschuanica 

 ftovCL Bokhara with obovate elliptic 

 coarsely serrate leaves and red flowers. 



Culture dc. as above, p. 356. 



P. humilis (P. Bitngei). — A small tree 

 or bush 4-10 ft. high, native of China. 

 The ovate pointed leaves are 1^2 in. long, 

 with glandular and ciliate stipules. The 

 beautiful rosy-pink flowers, about ^ in. 

 across, are borne freely in April and May. 



Culture dc. as above, p. 356. 



P. ilicifolia (Cerasus ilicifolia). — A 

 beautiful Californian Cherry Laurel, with 

 shining, evergreen, sharply toothed leaves, 

 more or less Holly-like. Flowers in 

 spring, small, white, in erect or nodding 

 racemes 1-3 in. long. Fruit usually red, 

 sometimes dark purple or black, about 

 half an inch in diameter. 



Culture Sc. as above. This very dis- 

 tinct species is best near the shelter of a 

 wall in warm, dry situations. It may not 

 be hardy in bleak parts of the country. 



P. incana {Amygdalus incana). — A 

 handsome Caucasian Almond 2-4 ft. high, 

 with obovate, serrate leaves, woolly, white 

 beneath. Flowers in March and April, 

 deep rosy-red, solitary, followed by downy 

 flattened fruits. This species is closely 

 related to P. nana. 



Culture do. as above, p. 356. 



P. Jacquemonti. — A pretty Cherry from 

 N. India, where it grows at an altitude of 

 6,000-12,000 ft. The ovate pointed leaves 

 are 1^2 in. long, and somewhat downy 

 when young. Flowers bright rosy-pink, 

 about I in. across, borne in great profusion 

 on the previous year's growths about 

 April and May. 



Culture dc. as above, p. 356. 



P. japonica (P. sinensis). — A charm- 

 ing Chinese Plum with oblong pointed, 

 serrulate leaves, and clusters of small 

 white flowers in spring. Fruit small, 

 round, deep red, of a peculiar but agree- 

 able flavour. The variety j^ore^fewo has 

 beautiful double flowers IJ in. across, 

 white, more or less tinted with rose. A 

 hybrid called reptans has been raised 

 between P. japonica and P. pumila. It 

 has somewhat trailing branches and red 

 flowers. A form called striata has erect 

 branches and white flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. In about two 



years flowering plants may be obtained 

 from layers, but cuttings of the ripened 

 shoots will also root in sandy soil under a 

 handlight. 



P. Laurocerasus (Cerasus Lauro- 

 cerasus). — Common or Cherry Laurel. — A 

 beautiful and well-known evergreen shrub 

 6-10 ft. high, native of the Levant. Leaves 

 oblong lanceolate, serrate, with 2-4 glands 

 beneath. Flowers in April and May, 

 small, white, in racemes. There are many 

 good varieties, among them being : — 

 angustifolia, with narrow leaves ; ca- 

 mellimfoUa, Camellia-leaved; coMcasica, 

 a sturdy variety called the ' Spanish 

 Laurel ' ; colch/ica, very free-flowering ; 

 rotundAfolia, round-leaved, much grown 

 and planted; variegata, with variegated 

 foliage ; and shipkaensis, said to be 

 hardiest of all. ParvifoUa is a distinct 

 narrow-leaved variety sometimes known 

 as Hartoghia capensis in gardens. 



Culture and Propagation. — Cherry 

 Laurels wiU grow in almost any soU, and 

 are mostly used for rough shrubberies. In 

 such places they are as a rule much ill- 

 treated and hacked about with knife and 

 saw. Grown in sheltered but open spaces 

 the Cherry Laurel would have a much 

 handsomer appearance. 



It may be increased by layering the 

 lower branches in autumn, or by inserting 

 cuttings of the ripened shoots in nicely 

 prepared sandy soil in sheltered spots 

 about September. 



P. lusitanica {Cerasus lusitanica). — 

 Portugal Laurel. — A beautiful Portuguese 

 tree 10-20 ft. high, with evergreen ovate- 

 lance-shaped, serrated leaves. Flowers in 

 June, white, in drooping axillary racemes. 

 Fruit ovoid, red when ripe. The variety 

 myrtifoUa is a dwarf, compact, upright- 

 growing form with smaller Myrtle -like 

 leaves ; azorica has larger leaves and 

 flowers. There is also a rare variety with 

 variegated foliage. 



Culture dc. as above for the Cherry 

 Laurel. 



P. Mahaleb (Cerasus Mahaleb). — The 

 Mahaleb or Perfumed Cherry attains a 

 height of 20-30 ft. in its wild state in 

 Central and S. Europe, and supplies a 

 red, hard, sweet-scented wood. Leaves 

 broad, roundish, cordate, toothed. Flowers 

 in April and May, white, in somewhat 

 corymbose, leafy racemes. The variety 

 pendula, with leaves 2 in. long, has a 

 loose but not altogether drooping habit of 



