TREES AND SHRUBS. 



289 



relations, this fine ornamental tree requires peat ; it 

 attains a height of from fifteen to forty feet. 



Paeonia. — The only shrubhy Pseony in cultiva- 

 tion is P. Moutcm, a native of China, which was in- 

 troduced to Britain towards the close of last century. 

 It is a splendid shrub, with double and single white, 

 pink, crimson, purple, and striped flowers. In many 

 places the leaves and young flower-buds are apt to be 

 injured by spring frosts in our changeable climate, 

 and, therefore, a certain amount of protection during 

 the earlier period of growth is desirable — the ripened 

 shoots withstand perfectly the cold of winter. There 

 are fine specimens in some of the Northern English 

 counties, which, however, are never sheltered, and 

 yet do not suffer, or very rarely, from spring frosts ; 

 but as much cannot be said for many in some of the 

 Southern counties. Several of the fine varieties 

 introduced from China and Japan by Fortune are 

 probably lost, but numbers have been raised by cross- 

 fertilisation, &c, and some of these are amongst the 

 most gorgeous of all shrubs. The tree Pseonies can 

 be readily propagated by grafting on tubers of the 

 stronger-growing herbaceous species, or they can be 

 increased by layering. 



Paliurus. — There are only a couple of species 

 in this genus, which is nearly allied to Bhamnus and 

 Ceanothus. One of these is P. aculeatus, a branching 

 spiny deciduous shrub, with light green three-nerved 

 leaves, and small greenish-yellow flowers, sometimes 

 developed in such profusion as to give a yellowish 

 colour to the entire shrub. It is a native of South 

 Europe and "Western Asia, and is sometimes culti- 

 vated under the name of Christ's Thorn. In the 

 South of England, at any rate, it is hardy. 



Parrotia. — Both the species of this genus of 

 Hamamelidece — there are only two — are in cultiva- 

 tion ; but one, a native of Cashmere, is as yet ex- 

 ceedingly rare in tbis country ; the other, P. Persica, 

 from the Caucasus and Northern Persia, is a slow- 

 growing and small deciduous tree, with oblong or 

 orbicular leaves, having crenated margins. The 

 flowers, which appear before the leaves, are incon- 

 spicuous ; but the gorgeous tints asssumed by the 

 decaying leaves in autumn render this tree at that 

 period of the year one of the most beautiful of 

 objects. Bronze, yellow, and orange-scarlet are the 

 prevailing tints, and these are more intense if tbe 

 plant be grown against a wall. It is, however, per- 

 fectly hardy, and is readily propagated by layering. 



Paulownia imperialis, the only member of 

 this genus of Scrophularinece, is a deciduous tree, with 

 very large ovate heart-shaped leaves, clothed with a 

 91 



greyish tomentum. The large fragrant purple-violet 

 spotted flowers are borne in terminal panicles, and 

 in France and elsewhere on the Continent, where 

 the tree is extensively planted, produce a fine effect 

 in May. Unfortunately, however, the buds being 

 formed the autumn preceding the spring when they 

 should expand, the uncertain climate of Britain and 

 the late spring frosts rarely permit them to come to 

 perfection. This species, which is a native of Japan, 

 seems to have become pretty generally known by the 

 name of Vanilla-tree, and every year travelling Bri- 

 tons are writing to the English journals for informa- 

 tion respecting it. 



Pavia. — The Pavias are now generally included 

 under Msculus, from which genus, indeed, they only 

 differ in having a smooth, not prickly, fruit. They 

 are low-growing, very ornamental, deciduous trees or 

 shrubs, readily propagated by budding or grafting 

 on the common Horse Chestnut. P. discolor has the 

 flowers variegated with white, yellow, and purple. 

 P. humilis has brownish-scarlet flowers. P. maero- 

 stachya is a shrub with stoloniferous roots, and long- 

 terminal racemose panicles of white flowers, with 

 long exserted stamens. This last is increased by 

 seeds, which should be sown as soon as they are 

 ripe, or by dividing the roots ; it thrives best in a 

 damp clayey spot, and should be allowed to make a 

 large mass, as when in flower it is very beautiful, 

 and totally unlike any other hardy flowering shrub. 

 All the three species previously named are natives of 

 North America. 



Periploca G-raaca is the only member of the 

 genus Periploca worthy of mention here. It is a 

 hardy deciduous twiner, with ovate or lanceolate 

 dark green leaves, and curious velvety flowers, 

 greenish outside and brownish within. It is a rapid 

 grower, and well adapted for clothing a wall, or 

 covering arbours, &c. A native of the Mediterra- 

 nean region. 



Pernettya. — P. 'mucronatit is a wonderfully 

 pretty, dwarf, compact-growing evergreen, with 

 small leathery leaves and white flowers, which are 

 succeeded by red fruits. It is a native of the ex- 

 treme south of South America, and, as might be 

 expected, is perfectly hardy in this country. A peat 

 border is the place in which it is most thoroughly at 

 home. Mr. L. T. Davis, of Hillsborough, in County 

 Down, who has paid particular attention to this 

 charming shrub, has succeeded in raising a large 

 number of valuable varieties, differing markedly in 

 the size and colour of the fruits ; some of these vary 

 from white to lilac, bright rose, purple, crimson, and 

 almost black. Either for cultivation in pots, or for 



