386 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Halimodendron argenteum (Salt Tree) is a rare and 

 beautiful shrub ; it thrives in sandy soil, and produces pretty 

 pink pea-like flowers with much freedom in early summer. The 

 pinnate leaves are covered with a white silky down, which gives 

 the plant (especially when treated as a standard worked on the 

 Laburnum) a distinct and pleasing appearance. 



Hamamelis arborea (Japanese Witch Hazel) is a curious, 

 and in a way beautiful, shrub or small tree ; its flowers appear 

 in winter, and their long, twisted, golden-yellow petals rising out 

 of the deep claret-coloured calyces are pleasing indeed in the 

 weak sunshine of a January day. It grows to a height of 15ft., 

 and stands out as one of the most attractive of early-flowering- 

 trees, as every fully-ripened small twig carries a rich profusion 

 of flowers ; and if a background of evergreen shrubs is afforded, 

 the golden colour is seen to greater advantage. Apparently it 

 is not generally known that this Witch Hazel succeeds well in 

 sandy soil, although a fibrous loam, mixed with leaf-mould,, 

 forms the best mixture for planting it in. Good drainage is 

 essential. H. mollis^ from Central China, is the latest addition, 

 and a particularly valuable one it is, too ; it is quite hardy, of 

 rather slow but neat growth, with broad deep green leaves and 

 lovely flowers composed of rich orange-yellow wavy petals and 

 glossy chocolate-coloured calyces ; it is free in blossom, and 

 in habit bears some resemblance to H. japonica. The other 

 members of the genus are not nearly so attractive as those 

 named above. The Hamamelis here mentioned may be pro- 

 pagated by grafting in February or early March on stocks of the 

 North x^merican Witch Hazel (ZT. virgijiicd), which should have 

 been potted up the previous spring, so that they may be 

 thoroughly established by grafting time. Use well-ripened scions 

 and place them in a warm case and syringe overhead lightly 

 twice a week to facilitate new growth. 



Hedysarum multijugum is an uncommon shrub, introduced 

 from the desert plains of Central Asia in 1883. It is a member 

 of the leguminous family, varies in height from 3ft. to 5ft., is of 

 spreading, rather loose habit, and commences to flower in the 

 early part of June, keeping in blossom until the end of August. 

 As few shrubs flower at that time, it is unusually welcome. Its. 

 reddish-purple pea-shaped flowers are borne in axillary racemes 

 about loin. long, and the best effects are produced when the 

 shrub is grown in masses, especially if the lower shoots are 

 pegged into the soil. It delights in sun-heat, and prefers a 

 somewhat dry soil. 



Hibiscus. — This genus embraces a valuable group of shrubs 

 for the garden, as they flower in autumn, when few others are 

 in blossom. Few shrubs are more easily accommodated than the 

 varieties of Hibiscus syriacus {Althcea frutex), but they pay for- 



