26 THE BOOK OF SHRUBS 
flower heads. They should be provided with a rich 
loam and long-established specimens be assisted with 
liquid manure or manurial top dressings, the amount of 
the assistance to be determined by the condition of the 
plants, those showing signs of a decline in vigour requir- 
ing the most liberal supplies of plant food. 
Hypericums.—These are useful for planting on the 
margins of shrubbery borders and alongside woodland 
walks, and as an undergrowth to some of the larger 
shrubs. They will thrive in any ordinary loam, that 
which contains a liberal percentage of sand being prefer- 
able. They are readily increased by division and also by 
means of cuttings of moderately firm shoots inserted in 
pots filled with sandy soil, and placed in an unheated 
frame. 
A large selection is not required for any one garden, 
and of the comparatively large number in cultivation 
preference should be given to Hypericum aureum, H. 
calycinum, H. elatum, H. floribandum, H. hircinum, H. 
Moserianum, and H. patulum. These are all of lowly 
growth, and have flowers of various shades of yellow. 
InpiGoreras.—Although large numbers of species of 
Indigoferas are known to science, but few are sufficiently 
hardy to be grown in the open in this country. Those 
that may be so cultivated are of somewhat straggling 
habit, and are better suited for walls, pillars and wood 
fences than for the border. They will thrive in a rather 
light and moderately rich soil, and require but little 
attention beyond thinning out the old and training in the 
new growths as occasion requires. 
All the species have pea-shaped flowers, which are 
produced in neat racemes. Indigofera decora is a pretty 
Chinese species with rose-pink flowers, but it is too 
tender to be grown in the open. JL. decora alba, a charm- 
ing variety with long racemes of white flowers is much 
hardier and may be successfully grown in the southern 
