374 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Asia ; the glorious race of Rhododendrons that horticulturists (mostly British) have obtaineJ 

 by intercrossing the wild species of the Caucasus, Himalayas, and North America — these 

 are but three out of numerous groups that the gardeners of only 150 years ago knew not. Yet 

 in spite of all the wealth of evergreens available, some introduced, others raised in this 

 country, it is surprising how much they are neglected. There is one evergreen, however, 

 the Common Laurel, that should be rigorously excluded from a shrubbery, unless one has 

 an entire group of it. Few other things can fight against its greedy, searching roots, and 

 its upper growth smothers everything near itunless it be cut back continually, which destroys 

 its beauty. Grown as an isolated shrub, with abundant space for its long graceful shoots 



TREES BY THE LAKESIDE, WROXTON ABBEY, BANBURY. 



and brilliant green leaves, the Common Laurel is, however, very beautiful, not, remember, 

 when it is either cropped mercilessly once or twice a year, or jammed up with other 

 things. The alphabetical lists which follow may be searched for the best evergreens, many 

 of them handsome in both flower and leaf. Berberis stenophylla is one of the most graceful 

 and free-flowering of hardy evergreens ; B. Darwini, too, in sheltered spots is charming. 

 The value of the Common Camellia as a perfectly hardy shrub in the South of England 

 has never been realised. There are also Azalea amoena, Olearia Haasti, several Elaeagnuses, 

 green and variegated, the Skimmias and Pernettyas, for their fruits. In soils free from 

 lime the great Heath family would furnish a garden complete. 



The fact that the Hardy BAMBOOS have only sprung into prominence during the present 

 decade (although they have already made their mark in gardens) justifies special mention of 

 them. Upwards of fifty sorts are now in cultivation, but owing to the similarity that 

 exists between several of them, and the inferiority of others, about half of these only 

 are needed to adequately represent this group of evergreens in ordinary gardens. They 

 belong to a type of vegetation essentially tropical in character and distinct from that of our 

 native flora. No hardy evergreens exceed — very few, indeed, equal — these shrubby 

 grasses in beauty of form, luxuriance of leafage, or bright colour in winter-time. Their 

 fresh tints give them great charm in midwinter ; but to show all these qualities Bamboos 



