642 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS ligustexjm 



Corolla with 4 broad, blunt lobes. 

 Stamens 2, rarely 4. Ovary 2-oeUed. 

 Drupe ovoid or round. 



Culture and Propagation. — These 

 plants thrive under the same conditions 

 as the Phillyreas, and may be increased 

 in the same way by means of cuttings 

 inserted in sandy soil in late summer and 

 autumn under handlights, or in cold 

 frames ; and also by layering the branches 

 in autumn. 



An excellent compost for these plants 

 is a good rich sandy loam with the 

 addition of a little peat or leaf mould ; 

 but they will also flourish in ordinary 

 good and well-drained garden soil. 



O. araericanus. — A native of North 

 America, about 6 ft. high, with some- 

 what 4-angled branches, and leathery, 

 elliptic, lance-shaped, shining green 

 leaves, about 4 in. long. Flowers in 

 June, white, in clusters of three. 



Culture dc. as above. This species 

 is rarely met with in cultivation. 



O. Aquifolium. — A handsome Holly- 

 like Japanese shrub, 4-6 ft. high, with 

 oval or oblong, prickly toothed, leathery 

 leaves, of a deep shining green colour, 

 and varying a good deal in size. Flowers 

 in autumn, white, sweet-scented. 0. 

 iUcifolius is a form with a more dense 

 and compact habit, and smaller leaves. 

 There are also varieties of this with 

 silvery and golden variegation, known 

 respectively as argenteo-marginatus and 

 aureo-marginatus. Myrtifolius has rigid 

 Myrtle-Kke leaves, without spines ; and 

 rotundifoliua has stiff leathery roundish 

 leaves. The variety purpurascens is re- 

 markable for the purple sheen of the young 

 leaves, especially on the under surface. 

 With the advance of age the purple tint 

 gradually becomes dimmed, but the 

 variety is always easily distinguished from 

 any of the others ; and it also bears the 

 reputation of being much hardier than the 

 variegated forms, and even the green ones. 



Culture etc. as above. 



O. fragrans (Oleafragrans). — A hand- 

 some shrub 6-10 ft. high, native of China 

 and Japan. Leaves elliptic, lance-shaped, 

 pointed, slightly serrate, about 2 in. long, 

 shining green above, paler beneath. 

 Flowers from June to August, white or 

 yellowish, and deliciously fragrant. 



Culture dc. as above. Except in the 

 mildest parts of the south and west this 

 shrub is not hardy in the open air. 



Wherever it can be grovTn out of doors, 

 even with a little protection in winter, it 

 is well worth the space it fills, owing to its 

 neat appearance and the fragrance of its 

 blossoms. 



CHIONANTHUS (Fringe Tree).— 

 This genus contains 3 species of smooth 

 or downy trees or shrubs, vrith opposite 

 entire leaves, and white flowers in 3- 

 forked panicles. Calyx 4-lobed. Corolla 

 tube short, with 4 long, Unear lobes. 

 Stamens 2. Ovary 2-celled. Drupe 

 ovoid or oblong, with one, rarely 2-3 

 seeds. 



C. retusus. — A low-growing Chinese 

 shrub, with long- stalked, obovate, retuse 

 leaves, hairy on the under surface. 

 Flowers in May, white, sweet-scented. 



Culture dc. the same as for 0. 

 virgmicus below. 



C. virginicus. — ^An ornamental North 

 American species 10-12 ft. high in this 

 country, but often attaining a height of 

 about 30 ft. in a wild state. Leaves 

 smooth, oval, oblong, or obovate lance- 

 shaped. Flowers in June and July, white, 

 in long, drooping racemes, from the axils 

 of the leaves, with narrow fiinge-Uke 

 petals which suggested the popular name 

 of the genus. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species and C. retusus require to be 

 grown in warm loamy soil with sand, 

 peat or leaf mould added. Although ex- 

 perience has provedthe Fringe Tree to be 

 hardy in most parts, it is apt to suffer in 

 severe winters if exposed to bleak winds. 

 Both species may be increased by imported 

 seeds sovra in cold frames, or by layers 

 made during the autumn. Sometimes C. 

 virginicus is grafted or embedded on the 

 Common Ash and does very well. Cuttings 

 of the ripened shoots maybe inserted in 

 sandy soil in cold frames and kept close 

 and shaded for some time with a little 

 attention, as they are not inclined to root 

 very readily. 



LIGUSTRUM (Privet). — A genus 

 containing about 25 species of smooth 

 bushes or shrubs with opposite entire 

 leaves, and flowers usually white, in 

 3-forked panicles or clusters at the 

 ends of the branches. Calyx truncate or 

 4-toothed. Corolla fimnel-shaped, 4-lobed. 

 Stamens 2. Ovary 2-celled. Berry some- 

 what drupaceous, with 1-3 seeds. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 



