EVERGREENS 67 
gardens of small or medium size. The varieties of the 
Common Laurel (Cerasus Lauro-cerasus) are useful for 
planting on the boundaries of the gardens, at the back 
of the shrubberies, and in small plantations between the 
trees. They will grow in all kinds of soil, and require 
no special attention except a little pruning annually to 
keep them neat and compact, and they should be done 
with a knife, as when shears are used the leaves are 
mutilated and the plants disfigured. The best varieties 
are C. L.-c. colchica and C. L.-c. rotundifolia. 
The Portugal Laurel (C. /usitanica) has dark green 
leaves and is useful for the middle row of the border, 
and is attractive grown in standard form on the lawn. 
Licusrrum or Priver.—The privets are useful for 
the formation of neat hedges, and the best for this pur- 
pose is Ligustrum vulgare sempervirens. There are several 
of a highly ornamental character, the most noteworthy 
of these being L. japonicum macrophyllum, which has large 
green leaves. 
O.earias.—These are neat dwarf-growing shrubs with 
greyish leaves, and producing a profusion late in summer 
of white daisy-like flowers. They are not particular 
as to soil and situation, and thrive in smoky districts. 
They can be propagated by means of cuttings of firm 
wood in autumn. Ofara Haasti, and O. stellulata are 
both highly meritorious. 
Quercus or Oax.—The evergreen oaks form in 
their earlier stages large compact shrubs, and at a more 
advanced period neat round-headed trees of medium 
size. The common form is, by reason of its dense habit, 
valuable for planting on the margin of the garden for 
the purpose of screening the inmates from winds from un- 
desirable quarters. These oaks present the most attrac- 
tive appearance grown as single specimens on the lawn. 
The finest of the evergreen oaks for gardens are: 
Q. acuta, Q. cuspidata, Q. glabra and Q. serrata, all of 
