DECIDUOUS FLOWERING SHRUBS 25 
freely in any good garden soil, and they should be 
planted in positions, not too prominent in the shrubbery, 
the second and third rows affording them the most suit- 
able sites. 
The Japanese Witch Hazels are the most ornamental, 
and two of these are deserving of a place in shrubberies 
of even moderate extent. Hamamelis arborea has attrac- 
tive spider-like flowers, the long strap-shaped twisted 
petals being golden yellow and revolute whorls of the 
calyx dark red. H. japonica zuccariniana has flowers 
similar in size and shape to those of the first-named, but 
differing from them in the petals, being pale yellow. 
HyprancEas.— These are all so well known as not 
to require much praise or description. Hydrangea hor- 
tensis (Common Hydrangea) is unfortunately not suffi- 
ciently hardy to be successfully grown except on warm 
soils and in a kind climate. It is at home in the southern 
and western counties of England and in the warmer 
parts of Ireland, and is one of the best of seaside shrubs. 
‘Where it thrives it is one of the finest of flowering 
shrubs, being especially valuable for the wealth of colour 
it affords in late summer. The colour ranges from rose- 
pink to cerulean blue according to the soil, a moderate 
amount of iron being favourable to the development of 
the latter hue. The variety Ofaksa has blue flowers, and 
Thomas Hogg white flowers. HH. paniculata grandiflora 
is more robust than H. Aortensis and its varieties, and it 
has the great advantage of being quite hardy. It pro- 
duces panicles pyramidal in outline, twelve inches'or so 
in length and pure white, and groups on the grass or in 
front of the shrubbery are very effective. The panicles 
remain in good condition for two months or more, the 
flowers changing with age to rose-red. 
The flowers of the hydrangeas are produced on the 
young shoots, and a moderate amount of pruning is 
necessary to ensure strong growths and finely developed 
