378 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



spines, and produces freely its large white blossoms about the 

 beginning of June ; while the greenish-yellow fruits hang on the 

 trees for the greater part of the winter, C. pyrifoUa is meritorious 

 by reason of its large, handsome, Pyrus-like leaves. It bears an 

 abundance of white flowers in June, and drooping clusters of 

 orange-tinted fruits in October. C. Douglasi, from North West 

 America, grows about 15ft. high, and is conspicuous for its 

 leathery leaves, and small dark purple fruits. C. spathulata is 

 well adapted for small gardens, as it is rather slow in growth, 

 and rarely exceeds 12ft. in height. It forms a neat tree, with 

 elegant branches, and in May and June, when bearing its white 

 flowers, is very handsome. Its attractive fruits are bright red in 

 colour. Few Thorns retain their foliage longer than this one. 

 C. tatiacetifolia (Tansy-leaved Thorn), a distinct and handsome 

 species indigenous to Greece, ranks amongst the best of the 

 late-flowering kinds. Its deeply-cut greyish leaves and fragrant 

 flowers are very welcome, while its large yellow fruits are pleasing 

 in autumn. 



Cytisus. — This genus comprises several useful garden shrubs. 

 As most of them are very free-flowering, and not particular as 

 to soil, they should not be forgotten. C. albus (white) and 

 C. scoparius (yellow) produce masses of colour, and Andre's 

 Broom — C. s. Andreanus {^Genista Aiidreana) — is effective when 

 planted in groups. The last-named is useful for forcing, and 

 when grafted on the Laburnum makes a compact head, and 

 comes into flower in advance of those on their own roots. For 

 open-air planting it will be found to answer better on its own roots. 

 C. s. pendulus deserves a place in the rock garden ; it has 

 large rich yellow flowers. C. capifatiis, a European species, 

 bears an abundance of rich yellow flowers in June, and in some 

 seasons the lateral growths produce another display in autumn ; 

 it is very hardy, and grows from 3ft. to 4ft. high. C. bifiorus 

 {C. elongatiis and C. ratisbonensis) is very beautiful; its yellow 

 flowers are produced in threes along the whole length of the 

 shoots ; it grows about 4ft. high. C. nigrica?is {Lembotropsis 

 nigricans)^ Black Cytisus, has been cultivated in this country 

 since 1730. It is a neat-growing Austrian species, with trifoliate 

 leaves, and bears erect racemes of bright yellow flowers with much 

 freedom from June to the early part of August. C. prcEcox 

 ( C. purgans x C. albus) is a delightful dwarf shrub, producing its 

 cream-coloured blossoms in early summer. Planted in masses 

 on the grass, and with the lower shoots pegged to the ground, 

 it is, when in flower, distinct and pretty. This kind is best 

 increased by cuttings, as the majority of plants raised from, seed 

 revert to the White Broom (C albus). C. purpureus is of 

 interest for its dwarf habit and free-flowering qualities ; its small 

 purple flowers are borne from May to August, and quite distinct 

 from all its congeners. When worked on the Laburnum^ 4ft. or 



