NOTES ON TREES, SHRUBS, AND OTHER 

 PLANTS 



The conifers are, of course, unrivalled for their winter 

 beauty. To prevent fractures shake heavy snows off. 



The evergreen oak is too seldom seen. There is 

 nothing else like it in the English landscape, and it is a 

 v/elcome change from the pines, spruces, and silver firs. 



The North American Berberis Aqiiifolium or Mahonia 

 has little chance of growing when planted crushed 

 together, useful as it is on dry banks, where little else 

 would do. A plant or two should be tried as isolated 

 bushes ; the result will please those who have only 

 regarded the plant as a covert shrub. The foliage is 

 very useful for cutting with hardy winter flowers, 

 chrysanthemums, etc. In some districts, especially on 

 chalk and after frost, it colours well. The leaves are 

 sometimes dyed a coppery colour, but there is usually 

 no need of such artifices. 



In America the coloured shoots of Andromeda calyculata 

 are extensively used. Here this fine shrub grows well 

 in light soil, but it is a lover of peat. Leaves that are 

 so brilliantly coloured in autumn have generally fallen 

 by Christmas. If, however, young plants of Quercus 

 coccinea splendens, the scarlet oak, are planted on a northern 

 exposure, some of the beautiful leaves may be retained. 



The Portugal laurel is unrivalled for its handsome 

 growth of dark green bright leaves ; but the variety 

 myrtifolia, with leaves smaller, darker, and less drooping, 

 is excellent for small gardens. 

 26 



