THE FLOWER GROWER'S GUIDE. 



July. It succeeds best in a somewhat sheltered position. The common laburnum 

 (Cytisus Laburnum), also the late Scotch laburnum (C. alpinus), and the purplish- 

 flowered Cytisus Adami, are particularly bright in April and May, the two first-named 

 eff'ectively contrasting with the purple beech, and the purple-leaved, pinkish white 

 flowering Prunus Pissardi. 



In the Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) we have a noble lawn ornament of erect 

 habit and reaching a height of 80 feet ; it has handsome foliage and produces tulip-like 

 flowers freely in June. The Yulan (Magnolia conspicua) develops into a tree 20 to 

 40 feet high and produces large, handsome, purple and white flowers from February 

 to May. It should have a sheltered position and rich open soil. The bird cherry 

 (Prunus padus), 20 to 30 feet, gives a profusion of white flowers about the same period ; 

 and very beautiful is Pyrus spectabile when laden with its semi- double, rose-coloured 

 blossom in April and May. The false acacias (Eobinia pseud-acacia), white, also the 

 rosy-pink form (E. p. Decaisneana) are very handsome and deservedly popular. They 

 attain a height of 30 to 50 feet and flower in May and June. 



Deciduous Plowering Sheubs. 

 ^sculus or Pavia macrostachya, known as the smooth-fruited horse chestnut, 

 produces handsome racemes of white flowers in April and May, height 5 to 9 feet. 

 Amelanchier Botryapium (canadensis) is well worthy of culture as a shrub, both for its 

 free flowering habit of growth and the beauty of its foliage in the autumn ; colour of 

 flower white : April. Amygdalus nana only grows about 3 feet high and produces 

 rose-coloured flowers freely in March. Azalea pontica, in variety, 4 to 6 feet, imparts 

 brightness to gardens in May. Azalea mollis is sturdier, and of this there are 

 several good forms. Azaleas usually succeed the best in firm peaty soil, and the fine 

 surface roots must not be disturbed by the spade. They are the most efl'ective in 

 groups. 



Hibiscus syriacus (Fig. 68), of which there are a large number of varieties, 

 attains a height of 6 feet, and is very gay in August. Sweet amber (Hypericum 

 androsnenium), 3 feet, also flowers in the summer, and should be pruned in the 

 spring. Kerria japonica flore pleno, usually seen against walls and porches, may also 

 be grown as a bush in the open. It is so grown at Belvoir Castle, and affords 

 wreaths of its golden rosette-like flowers. In Leycesteria formosa we have a 

 handsome and distinct shrub, about 6 feet high, producing racemes of purplish 



