ON TREES AND SHRUBS. 427 



are of a richer green in partial shade. The small, delicate, rose- 

 pink Kalmia-like flowers are produced at the apex of the growths. 

 As an edging to beds of dwarf-growing American shrubs, or for 

 a shady nook in the rock garden, it is sure to give satisfaction. 

 B. empetriformis {Me?tziesia e?npetrifor?ms, Phyllodoce e77ipetri- 

 forniis) forms a neat, compact shrub, less than ift. high, and 

 bears an abundance of rosy-purple bell-shaped flowers from 

 May until July. A gem for the rock garden. B. taxifoliiis 

 {Menziesia ccerulea^ Phyllodoce coerulea) is a neat little bush, 

 rarely ever more than Sin. high, and when its slender stems are 

 clothed with small, rich green leaves, and crowned with purplish 

 bell-shaped flowers in July, is very attractive and uncommon. It 

 should be grown in the rock garden. 



BuDDLEiA does not contain many shrubs of value for outdoor 

 decoration, as the majority are too tender for general planting, 

 but B. globosa (Orange Ball Tree) is an exception, being distinctly 

 ornamental. The rich orange flowers, like miniature balls, are 

 produced with great freedom in June and July, when the 

 majority of shrubs have done flowering. No soil seems too poor 

 for it, and planters should note a shrub like this that is so dis- 

 tinct in both foliage and flower. 



Buxus. — The best known of this genus is our native B. sem- 

 pervirens, a useful, handsome, and always cheerful-looking tree, 

 thriving well under various conditions alike as regards soil and 

 position. In chalky soils, however, the most luxuriant speci- 

 mens are produced. A capital hedge - plant, which, used 

 with discretion in the shrubbery border, is effective. A well- 

 grown specimen is by no means out of place even on the out- 

 skirts of the lawn, and for planting under the drip of trees the 

 Box Tree is specially adapted. B. s. microphylla is a small-leaved, 

 dwarf-growing variety, of much value. The leaves of B. s. argentea 

 are greenish-grey, mottled with creamy-white, and those of B, s. 

 aurea variegata a mixture of white and yellow on a dark ground. 

 B. s. aurea-marginata is noteworthy as forming a neat bush, 

 and its rich green leaves are edged with deep yellow. B. s. 

 rotundifolia is conspicuous for its roundish polished green leaves. 

 B. s. arborescens is of more vigorous growth, with larger leaves 

 than the type. B. s. suffruticosa is familiar in most gardens as 

 an edging to walks, &c. Being of slow growth, very little trouble 

 is necessary to keep it within bounds, and the best time for 

 clipping it is towards the end of May. B. balearica (Minorca 

 Box) is not quite so hardy as the type, and prefers a dry to a 

 very damp soil. It is of stout growth, with thick pale green leaves, 

 occasionally tinted with bronze. B. japonica is useful and of 

 compact growth, and its golden-leaved variety {aured) is one of 

 the handsomest of the yellow-leaved kinds, and well adapted 

 for winter bedding. 



