CHILIAN CORAL PLANT. 



35 1 



CHILIAN CORAL PLANT (Ber- 

 ber idopsis corallind) . 

 This lovely evergreen never fails to ex- 

 cite admiration during the early days of 

 autumn in the few gardens in which it 

 is to be met. Like many of the Chilian 

 plants it is a little exacting as to climate, 

 and neither quite at home under glass or 

 in the openinsome partsof the country, 

 but with care as to position and soil it 

 may be grown outdoors almost any- 

 where in the south, and in a cool house, 

 or better still in a temporary house, in 

 the northern parts of Britain. It delights 

 in the soft moisture-laden air of the 

 south-west, but fine plants are not want- 

 ingupon the hills of Surrey, Sussex, and 

 districts further east, where they have 

 lived unprotected for many years. Of 

 trailing habit, it is often trained to walls, 

 though where it can be sheltered during 

 winter it is far prettier left to ramble over 

 rocks or tree-roots in half-shade, its 

 spiny leaves and rosy-coral budsofwax- 

 like texture charming in their effect. 

 The finest plant in the country is pro- 

 bably that at Cragside, in Northumber- 

 land, where it covers 20 feet of a north 

 wall with hundreds of flower-clusters 

 at a time from July into October. With 

 many other half-hardy plants it is pro- 

 tected in winter by lights which are taken 



much heat, which stunt its growth. 

 Though not difficult as to soil it is averse 

 to much lime, thriving in light loams 

 enriched with peat or leaf-mould and 

 rotten manure ; good drainage is im- 

 portant and best secured by a layer of 

 stones and the addition of sand. From 

 the various aspects tried by successful 

 growers a north wall seems to suit it 

 best, and thus sheltered its flowers last 



away in spring, allowing tuli exposure 

 until the following autumn. In cold dis- 

 tricts this is quite the best way of grow- 

 ing this and many other tender plants, 

 which often languish if confined in 

 houses through the summer. Not but 

 that it will do well in an airy house, 

 trained under the roof to hang freely, 

 and sheltered from strong sun and too 



full 



THE CHILIAN CORAL PLANT (BERBERI DO PS IS). 



a long while; south-west and south-east 

 walls are next best,avoidingaspects too 

 much exposed to the sun. Plenty ofwater 

 should be given in summer and syring- 

 ing during dry weather is also a help, 

 with a good mulch of leaves around the 

 base in winter. Being inclined to spread 

 rather than to rise, space might often 

 be found for it in the gaps so often seen 



