382 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



which time it is particularly handsome. E. Alberti, a rare and 

 delightful white-blossomed shrub, is fortunately also hardy, and 

 may be described as superior to the type. 



Fagus.— For pleasure-ground planting the Beech {Fagus 

 sylvatica) is well known. It is seen to the best advantage in 

 sandy soil with a calcareous bottom. In early spring the tender 

 green foliage is very pleasing, and towards the fall of the leaf 

 the colour varies to chestnut-brown. The Beech makes a good 

 hedge plant. F. s. arge?itea variegata is distinct and effective ; 

 leaves broad, green, and finely-striped with white ; it is late in 



unfolding its buds in spring. F. s. hetero- 

 phyila {F. lacmiata\ the fern-leaved 

 variety, is charming, and grows well. 

 F. s. macrophylla {F. lafifolia), with its 

 bold leaves, is very handsome, and 

 deserves to be largely grown ; it is a 

 vigorous grower and requires plenty of 

 head room. F. s. atro-purpurea is un- 

 questionably one of the most ornamental 

 of purple-leaved trees ; it is as free in 

 growth as the type, and much more 

 beautiful. F. s. tricolor is showy and 

 distinct, with large purple leaves streaked 

 and margined with rose-pink ; it is very 

 attractive in a young state, while F. s. 

 gra?ididentata and F. s. aureo-variegata 

 are deserving of mention. 



FoRSYTHiAS are delightful April-flowering 

 shrubs, suitable for many purposes ; they all 

 bear an abundance of yellow bell-shaped 

 flowers, and are of easy culture. On 

 account of its low growth, F. viridissivia, 

 introduced from Japan in 1845, is well 

 adapted for planting as a margin to the 

 shrubbery. Beyond doubt, however, the 

 Fig. 247. — FoRSYTHiA most useful, as well as the most beautiful, 

 susPENSA. species is F. siispensa (F. Fortiinei and 



F. Sieboldi) (Fig. 247). Its graceful, 

 arching shoots, often 6ft. long, create a pleasing effect in 

 spring, when clothed with golden-yellow flowers. It is use- 

 ful for covering pillars and running over verandahs, as well as 

 for hiding unsightly walls. To show the flowers off to 

 advantage, Forsythias should be planted amongst low-growing 

 evergreens. Beyond the removal of weak and spent-out growths, 

 little pruning is necessary ; but it should be remembered 

 that the best time for this operation is immediately the 

 plants have done blossoming, as they are then allowed the 



