106 



CASSELL'S POrULAE GASDENING. 



with pots is ten feet long, and one foot -wide. Upon 

 this space it is evident that you can arrange 



10 pots, each 12 inclies diameter (outside). 

 « „ „ 6 „ 

 90 „ ,. 4 ,. 

 160 „ „ 3 „ „ „ 



The following table gives, approximately, the 

 •weights of pots of various sizes, and of the crooks 

 and soil in them : — 



Hardy Shrubs. 



Reverting now to the supposed apace of ten feet 

 by one foot, it will "be seen that the total weight 

 of the 



160 pots of 3 in. diara, will he 130 lbs. oz. 

 iO ,; „ 4 „ „ „ „ 151 „ 14 „ 

 40 „ „ 6 „ „ „ „ 190 „ „ 

 10 „ „12 „ „ „ „ 365 „ „ 



Hence it is manifestly hetter to use small pots in pre- 

 ference to large ones if the plants will grow equally 

 well in both ; since the smaller pots proportionately 

 cost less, hold less, and weigh less, being thus in all 

 respects more economical. Nevertheless plants in 

 small pots undoubtedly require more care and atten- 

 tion than those in larger pots. 



Shrubs for Balconies. — Many of the dwarfer 

 kinds of shrubs which wiU be recommended for 

 planting in areas can be grown on balconies, pro- 

 vided that sufficient room can be found for them. 

 In order to force plants into bloom, we curtail their 

 root-room by growing them in the smallest pots 

 possible. So also, if we desire to encourage the pro- 

 duction of foliage, we allow plenty of room for the 

 roots to ramble in a natural way, and we give water 

 frequently. 



The selection, therefore, of shrubs, and other 

 plants for balconies, greatly depends upon the accom- 

 modation which can be afforded for tubs, boxes, and 

 large pots ; and this, of course, must be limited by 

 the strength of the balcony to bear such weights. 

 If a balcony should be pronounced unsafe, it can 

 readily be made available for almost any weight by 

 means of light iron pillars from the ground, or from 

 the area below. Climbers can he trained up these 

 pillars, and thus convert what might have been an 

 eyesore into a real ornament to the house. 



Berberis Darwinii, aud B. 

 stenophylla— very pretty 

 everg-reep shrubs. The 

 latttr flowers in Marcb, 

 aud the tormer in June ; 

 the apricot-coloured blos- 

 soms are freely produced, 

 aud are always admired. 



Busus sempervixens (coui- 

 mon Box) — several varie- 

 ties, all evergreen. 



Colcbican Laurel. 



Common Laurel. 



CratsBgus Pyracantba, 

 although usually sten 

 trained up the walls of 

 houses, maybe grown as 

 a bush if the longest 

 shoots are cut back. It 

 produces abundance of 

 pinMsh-white flowers in 

 May, followed by orange- 

 scarlet berries, whichhaug 

 all through the winter. 



Ligustrum japouicum— 

 broader ■ leaves than the 

 common Privet, aud a 

 brighter green colour ; it 

 produces large panicles 

 of sweet - sceuted white, 

 flowers in June. 



Mottled and the green Au- 

 cuba. 



Pernettya mucronata — this 

 evergreen requires peat, 

 and grows about fhree 

 feet high if planted in good 

 peat. Leaves dark green, 

 flowers small and whitish j 

 its scarlet berries, which 

 remain upon the plant 

 throughout the wiuter, 

 are its cbief ornament. 



Pbillyrea latifolia— for pot- 

 culture in any soil. 



Santolina ChamaB cyparis- 

 sus (Cotton LaveiiiJer, or 

 Winter Lavender) grows 

 about two feet high, and 

 has a profusion of little, 

 hoary, grey-gi-een leaves, 

 which cover its branches. 

 The plant emits a pleasing 

 fragrance if the hand is 

 passed gently over it. It 

 produces yellowDaisy-like 

 flowers in the summer. 



Veronica Andersoni— this is 

 only one out of many very 

 beautiful kinds of Vero- 

 nica which may be used. 



Tender Shkubs for "Warm Balconies. 

 The following are very desirable shrubs for cultiva- 

 tion in tubs, or large pots, in balconies not exposed 

 to draughts, or cold winds, and where some pro- 

 tection can be given in severe weather. Vie will 

 take the evergreens first. 



Buxus b^learica has leaves 

 much larger than the 

 common Box, being nearly 

 two inches long, and of a 

 bright, shining green. 



Camellias may be grown out 

 of doors in covered bal- 

 coni^'S with a north, or 

 north-west, Etspect. They 

 will stand many decrees of 

 frost if the soil at the 

 roots is dry at the time, 

 but the early morning sun 

 must not be allowed to 

 fall upon them after a 

 frost. At all times they 

 require very careful water- 

 ii^, being equally lial>le to 

 injury from too little, or 

 too much, watpr. The 

 beauty of their flowers is 

 well known, but even if 

 tbey should not bloom, 

 their evergreen foliage is 

 very handsome, 



Coprosma Baueriana — the 

 variegated form of this 

 dwarf New Zealand shriib 

 is a very ornamental plant, 

 the margins of its leaves 

 b<-ing pither white or yel- 

 low. Itroaybereadilymis- 

 tak' n for a good variety 

 of the Japan Euonymus. 



Coronilla g'auca — a very 

 pretty eve '-green, upon 

 which little bunchps of 

 yellow Pea-like flowf-rs 

 may be found from early 

 sprirg until late in au- 

 tumn. Pent, mixed with 

 a little sandy luain. 



Besfontainea spinosa is a 

 beautiful evergreen, from 

 Chili and Peru, having a 

 thick mass of Holly-hke 

 leaves, with rich scarlet, 

 tubular flowers, nearlytwo 

 inches long. It requires 

 to be kept very dry at the 

 roots during winter. 



Erythrina crista-galli— 

 though this is an ever- 

 green in its native country, 

 Brazil, it is usually cut 

 down by frost out of doorH 

 in England . Neverthe- 

 less, if mulched at the 

 roots through the winter, 

 it will shoot up again in 

 the spring, and produce 

 large, scarlet, Pea-shaped 

 flowers in great abun- 

 dance. The intensely red 

 colour of these blooms has 

 caused it to be known as 

 the Coral Plant. 



Escallonia macrantha has 

 bright, shining leaves, of 

 a dark green colour, and 

 flowers freely in August, 

 producing quantities of 

 little crimson bells. A 

 mixture of loam, sand, 

 and peat. 



Euonymus japonicus (the 

 Japanese Spindle Tree) is 

 a most useful evergreen, 

 and is, perhaps, more com- 

 monly used as a pot plant 

 than any other shrub. 

 There are several va- 

 rieties, the bt-st of which 

 are the broad-leaved sil- 



