THE FIG UNDER GLAS& 



295 



colour of the tomentum on the under surface of the 

 leaves; in its native habitats, too, it affects damp 

 eqpots, where limestone is absent, and slaty rocks, 

 whereas S. hirmtum is generally found on lime- 

 stone, and has ciliated leaves. Both have terminal 

 clusters of rosy-red flo'wers, and are amongst the 

 most beautiful of European shrubs. 



JJ. lapponicum, the only European species which is 

 found within the Arctic circle, is a procumbent 

 shrub, with deep green Myrtle-like leaves, and small 

 crimson flowers opening in May. 



R. maximum, the Great Laurel of the United 

 States, has elliptical-oblong, very thick, smooth 

 leaves, from four to ten inches in length, and pale 

 rose-coloured or nearly white corollas, greenish in 

 the throat on the upper side, and spotted with yellow 

 or reddish. This species sometimes attains a height 

 of twenty feet. 



E. ponticum is peculiar in its distribution, one 

 / form being found in Portugal, &c., and the other in 

 Asia Midor — no intermediate stations being known. 

 This is the hardiest and, perhaps, the least exacting 

 of aU the Bhododendrons, and has produced a host 

 of garden varieties. The wild type has pale purplish- 

 violet spotted flowers. 



is. rhombicum is a Japanese species with stalked 

 ihomboidal leaves, and flattish purple flowers, 

 opening in spring ; it is a deciduous species of 

 dwarf habit — perhaps not exceeding two or three 

 feet in height. 



Rhodora. — ^This genus has been included by the 

 authors of the " Genera Plantarum" under Rhodo- 

 dendron, but for gardening purposes it is better kept 

 distinct. JJ. canadensis is a handsome deciduous 

 low shrub, with an irregular two-lipped corolla, and 

 oblong leaves, whitish and downy beneath ; the 

 shortly-stalked, umbel-like clusters of showy rose- 

 purple (rarely white) flowers appear in the spring, 

 rather earlier than the leaves. A native of mountains 

 and damp cold woods and swamps of North America. 



Rhodotypos kerrioides, the only species of 

 the genus, is a pretty Rosaceous Japanese deciduous 

 shrub, with ovate-acute, deeply serrated leaves, silky 

 beneath, and terminal, solitary, small, Rose-like, 

 white flowers. It grows in any kind of soil, and is 

 readily increased by seeds, which ripen in most parts 

 of this country. , 



Rhus ^The Cashew family, or Anaeardiacece, 



does not furnish many genera for the outdoor deco- 

 ration of British gardens. Rhus is the most impor- 

 tant; it contains about 120 species, the most of 

 which are from warm regions — being most abundant 

 in. Southern Africa. Those here mentioned, how- 

 ever, -are hSrdy and, very useful deciduous shrubs. 



R. Cotinus, the Venetian Sumach, has long- 

 stalked, glaucous, roundish, simple leaves, and a 

 feathery inflorescence, few flowers in which are de- 

 veloped, the rest being metamorphosed into whitish, 

 feathery awns. When in blossom this is decidedly 

 ornamental, and quite distinct in aspect from any 

 other hardy shrub;, the bright red tints, too, as- 

 sumed by the decaying leaves in autumn, .render 

 this species a desirable one for the shrubbery. A 

 native of Southern Europe, rarely growing much 

 more than about six feet in height. 



R. glabra, the Smooth Sumach of the Eastern 

 United States, has unequally pinnate, glabrous, 

 somewhat glaucous leaves, whitish beneath ; the 

 lanceolate-oblong, pointed, serrated leaflets are from 

 eleven to thirteen in number. The small greenish- 

 white or yellowish flowers, produced in a terminal 

 thyrsoid panicle, are followed by small fruits clothed 

 with crimson hairs. A variety {laciniata) with the 

 leaflets irregularly cut is very ornamental. 



R. Toxicodendron, the Poison Ivy, or Poison Oak, 

 from the same region as the last-named species, has 

 trifoliolate leaves and white berries ; it is useful for 

 clothing rocks or old trees, which it climbs bj' 

 means of rootlets, or for planting among shrubs and 

 trees in- the wild garden, and allowing to grow at 

 win. The foliage turns a fine bright yellow before 

 falling in autumn. The leaflets are generallv 

 notched, serrated, or lobed ; when they are entire, it 

 is the condition known as R. radicans. 



R. typhina, the Staghom Sumach, is a near ally of 

 R. glabra, but differs in its more numerous hairy 

 leaflets, and densely hairy young branches. • It 

 forms a very picturesque small tree, and thrives 

 admirably near the sea ; even in the small plots 

 of ground, dignified by the name of gardens, in 

 some of the London thoroughfares, we have seen it 

 bravely growing, and giving an element of beauty 

 to neighbourhoods the reverse of cheering in aspect. 

 Root-cuttings afford a rapid means of increasing this 

 species when seeds are not procurable. R. viridijiovn, 

 remarkable for the large size of the leaves, and its 

 huge panicles of greenish flowers, is simply a male 

 form of this species. 



THE FIG UNDER GLASS. 



Br William Colemak. 



CTJZTTJRE IN POTS. 



OP aU the fruit-bearing trees which come under 

 ■ artificial treatment, the Fig is the most man 

 ageable, and it is questionable- if the time is not 

 near' at hand when it will be- the most pro- 

 fitablie; .Where early forced Figs- are .grdVn,'"it; 



