1 8 THE BOOK OF THE WINTER GARDEN 



These are succeeded by green fruit, so fragrant that a 

 few will scent a room, and which may be turned to an 

 excellent preserve. The fruits are more freely produced 

 on wall plants, but a much more effective display 

 is secured with bush culture, shortening a number 

 of the unflowered shoots in March. Knaphill scarlet 

 is very fine, also the double scarlet. There are varieties 

 with yellowish and white flowers, but any departure 

 from vivid rose scarlet is in every way of less value. 

 A very beautiful shrub, especially when it reaches 8 feet 

 or so in height. Closely related, but entirely different, 

 are the March 



Pink-Flowered Almonds 



of which the common almond, Prunus communis^ is most 

 frequently seen. The solitary flowers, dappling the 

 shoots in the softest of colours, are very beautiful. 

 After flowering the shoots should be cut back, and this 

 method should also be adopted in the case of Prunus 

 Davidiana, and its white form, Chinese trees, similar but 

 earlier flowered than an almond, and often marred by 

 frosts. P. nanus is a charming dwarf almond. 



Evergreen Shrubs with Winter Flowers 



are represented in the following genera : — Rhododendron, 

 Viburnum y Garry a, Daphne, Berber is, Arbutus, JJlex, Berber is 

 AquifoUum is the well-known Mahonia, with handsome 

 glossy leaves, and rich yellow scented flowers. Too often 

 crowded, the fine shrub makes a compact bush in the 

 open, some lo feet in diameter. Much less known is the 

 very handsome, often early flowering B. BealH. Arbutus 

 Unedo and A, Andrachne flower in January, etc., and are 

 best suited for warm localities where their magnificent 

 fruit may be expected. Ulex europaus is the gorse or 

 whin of the common, sometimes in flower by January. 



