420 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



with red, are borne freely in drooping racemes from May till the 

 end of September. A. p. angustifolia and A. p. 7?iajor are also 

 interesting shrubs. 



Arbutus. — A. Unedo (Strawberry Tree) is a beautiful foliage 

 tree, and is referred to under Berry-bearers. In the South 

 and West of England the Arbutuses thrive out of doors, but 

 in the North they sometimes get cut in severe winters unless 

 sheltered. They are peat-loving plants, and require plenty of 

 water during the growing season. Perfect drainage is important, 

 and in every case shelter against cold east winds should 

 be provided. A. Andrachne {A. integrifolid) grows about 

 1 5ft. high, and makes a handsome tree. The greenish- 

 white flowers are borne in terminal panicles in May. Its 

 young bark is tinged with red, and the old bark peels off 

 every spring. It is one of the hardiest and most desirable 

 members of the genus. A. Meiiziesii (A. procera) is a 

 North American tree, of free growth, and produces large 

 panicles of white sweet-scented flowers. The deep green 

 leaves are of a beautiful glaucous shade on the under-sides. 

 A. hybrida {A. andracJmoides^ A. photinicEfolid) — a cross between 

 A. A?idraclme and A. Unedo — is very beautiful. Its deep green, 

 serrated, leathery leaves are larger than those of the well-known 

 Strawberry Tree, and the greenish-white flowers are also larger and 

 produced more freely. In spring the young growths are tinged 

 with red. A. Unedo rubra (A. Croomn) is another beautiful 

 variety with red flowers. The leaves are larger than those of the 

 type, and, like the last-named, the young bark is stained with red. 

 It grows freely and forms a round, well-balanced head. A. U. 

 quercifolia has deeply-cut rich green leaves, bearing some 

 resemblance to those of an Oak. It should always be included 

 in a collection of Strawberry trees. A. i7itergerrima {A. rotundi- 

 folid) forms quite a dense shrub, of compact habit, with small, 

 roundish, deep green leaves. 



Arundinaria. — See Bamboos. 



Arundo conspicua is an ornamental grass or reed resembling, 

 but less vigorous than, the Pampas Grass {Gyneriuni argenteiim). 

 Its long, slightly-serrated leaves, droop gracefully, and its long, 

 arching, feathery plumes are thrown up early in the summer, 

 remaining effective until late in the autumn. A. Donax (Great 

 Reed) (Fig. 270), another decorative plant, produces a charming 

 effect when planted by the sides of ponds or on the banks of 

 streams and lakes. In this country it grows from loft. to 14ft. 

 high, and its erect stems are supplied with glaucous green flax- 

 like leaves. A. D. macrophylla is a very vigorous form with 

 broader and more glaucous-coloured leaves. A capital plant for 

 sub-tropical bedding. A. D. variegata is a very showy kind, of 

 dwarfer and more compact growth than the type. It is a trifle 



