chimneys of the great Metropolis. It is perfectly hardy, of 

 free growth, readily propagated, and altogether a valuable 

 shrub. 



The Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum). — Too 

 much praise can hardly be bestowed on this handsome free- 

 flowering shrub for the planting of town gardens and shrub- 

 beries. There it succeeds to perfection, and flowers with the 

 greatest freedom. In early spring it breaks out fresh and 

 strong, regardless of the noxious fumes and impure 

 atmosphere. Well-planted at first, it rarely fails, striking 

 out its roots far and wide, and soon becoming a dense shrub 

 of medium proportions. Nothing can well surpass it for the 

 quantity, colour, and quality of its showy flowers, while it is 

 the easiest of shrubs to propagate and cultivate. 



Skimmia japonica is a low-growing shrub that I have 

 seen doing well in the heart of London, where smoke and 

 other impurities of the air do not seem to affect it in the 

 least. For beauty of flowers it is not remarkable, but as a 

 handsome berry-bearing shrub it can well hold its own with 

 any other. A north aspect, and half-peaty soil, would seem 

 to suit it. 



The Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier Botryapium) with 

 its racemes of white flowers and desirable outline, is a valu- 

 able shrub for planting in towns. The flowers are produced 

 in early spring, when lawns and gardens look dull and 

 cheerless. Of free growth, it succeeds in any fairly good 

 soil, and soon forms a handsome specimen. 



Lilacs have few equals as town shrubs ; indeed, it 

 would be good practice to plant these first, whatever else 

 might follow. They succeed admirably in the worst and 

 most smoky parts of London and Glasgow, and there put on 

 an appearance in the early summer that it would be difficult 

 to excel in country gardens. Recent experiments have 

 proved that many of the finer forms are equal to the common 

 kind for this purpose, particularly the Siberian and Persian. 

 All are of free growth, non-fastidious as to the soil or site, 

 and easily propagated. 



The Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus canadensis) 

 can ill be spared from any list of suitable subjects for the 

 town gardens, it having been proved to be an excellent plant 



