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BEAUTIFUL DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS. 



WON GST deciduous trees and shrubs, that is, the group which loses its foliage, 

 are many of great baauty, and it is upon these that the landscape gardener in a 

 large measure depen Is for rich effects at all seasons, even in winter, when 

 Willows, Birches, and other trees make rich pictures with their coloured bark, 

 notes of each species and its varieties have been compressed into as small a space 



The 



as possible, without, it is hoped, curtailing any necessary information. 



Abelia ehinensis.— This Chinese species is the only 

 thoroughly hardy kind amongst the half-dozen species of 

 Abelia that are in cultivation. ll forms a neat, freely- 

 branched little shrub, that reaches a height of 2ft. to jft. 

 The small pointed leaves about lin. long are bright green, 

 and the pretty pink tubular-shaped blossoms are borne 

 in clusters at the point of every shoot. They do not open 

 all at on e, but a succession is maintained from the end 

 of July until September is well advanced. It is propagated 

 from cuttings of the current season's shoots, taken in 

 August, and dibbled firmly into sandy soil. They must 

 be placed in an ordinary garden frame, and kept close 

 and shaded till rooted. Another name for A. ehinensis 

 is rupestris. Other species of much charm are A. flori- 

 bunda and A. triflora, but these are tender. 



AceP. — The Maples form a large group, consisting princi- 

 pally of trees remarkable for their handsome foliage 

 rather than flowers, and including the different forms 

 of Sycamore too. The flowers are for the most 

 part insignificant, but the peculiarly-shaped seed-pods 

 which succeed them, and popularly known as keys, are 

 decidedly attractive. To one section at least of Acer 

 the term tree does not apply, for this group is quite 

 shrubby. This section comprises the different forms of 

 A. polymorphum or palm 'turn, which are called 

 collectively Japanese Maples. The commoner Maples 



are readily raised from seeds sown as s i as ripe in 



prepared beds in the open ground, and covered with about 

 lin. of soil. Where a few of one kind only are needed 

 the seed may, if preferred, be sow n in pans or boxes. The 

 choicer forms are grafted or budded on to seedling plants 

 of the commoner kinds, the typical Acer palmatum 

 being used as a stock on which to graft the innumerable 

 forms of Japanese Maples. Grafting of the larger kinds 

 is performed, as in the case of fruit trees, in the spring, 

 while budding is carried out in August. The Japanese 

 Maples must after grafting be kept close under gtess, the 

 stocks being generally grown in small pots for the purpose. 

 Side grafting in early spring is the method usually 

 employed. Grafting is, however, a great evil. The trees 

 should be upon their own roots. 



A selection ol the best Acers would include : 



A. dasyearpum.-- -A tree 30ft. to 40ft. in height, 

 with deeply-cut leaves, and in most forms silvery 

 under-sides. It is a native of the United States, and 

 very popular there as an ornamental tree. In the variety 

 laciniatum the leaves are more deeply cut than those of 

 the tvpe. This species has many svnonvms, such as 

 A. palmatum, A. saccharinum, A. Douglasi, A. rubrum, 

 and others. 



A. NeglindO {Ash leaf iVi'aple). — This is a familiar tree in 

 gardens, especially its variegated form, which is extremely 

 ornamental, but must always be planted judiciously, as its 

 variegation is very distinct and effective. All trees and 

 shrubs with pronounced foliage must be planted with 

 discretion, otherwise the effect is spotty. Variegata has 

 light green an.l whitish leaves, which are pleasing when 

 associated with trees or shrubs having dark-coloured 

 foliage. It may be used even in shrub form, being cut 

 down each year. Grow it upon its own roots. Aureo- 

 variegatum is another form, in which the leaves are quite 

 golden in colour. 



A. palmatum or polymorphum. -This is the type of 



the numerous Japanese Maples, among which are included 

 some of the most beautiful of our hardy shrubs for their 

 foliage. These Maples are largely used for indoor 

 decoration, from w hich circumstance they are by many 

 considered tender, but such is not the case, as they are 

 perfectly hardy. A good well-drained loam that is not 

 parched up at any season, and a situation somewhat 

 sheltered from high winds, but at the same time quite 

 open to light and sunshine, suit them best. The best 

 of these Japanese Maples are : Atropurpureum, leaves 

 rich purple-crimson; dissectum, very finely cut ; flavescens 

 tinged yellow ; involution, the edges peculiarly turned 

 inwards; linearilobum, leaves cut into strips; roseum 

 marginatum, leaves small, green, edged with rose ; 

 sanguineum, bright red ; septemlobum, so named from its 

 seven lobes. 



A. pennsylvailiCUm. A tree 20ft. high or so, with a 

 spreading head, well furnished with large lobed leaves. 

 The prominent feature of this Acer is the bark, which is 

 green, striped with white. From this circumstance it 

 is also known as A. striatum. In the United States 

 it is popularly called the Moose Wood. A. canadense 

 and hybridum are the same. 



A. platanoides. — This is the Norway Maple, a decidedly 

 ornamental tree, that will reach a height of 50ft. or 

 more. There are many varieties, some with variegated 

 and others with cut leaves. The varieties of this are 

 Columnare, cucullatuni, globosum, hccrophyllum varie- 

 gatum, laciniatum, palmatum, purpurtum, Reitenbachi, 

 rubrum, undone of the most beautiful of all Schwedleri, 

 the young leaves of which are quite red ; its colouring is 

 very rich in spring. 



A. PseildO-platanUS. — The common Sycamore is known 

 to everyone as a quick-growing ornamental tree, and 

 among its many varieties are alba variegata, Leopoldi, 

 which has leaves mottled with red and white, atro- 

 purpurea, a very handsome purple Sycamore, and 

 purpurea, with purple foliage. 



A. rubrum {Scarlet Maple). — The name of rubrum (red) 

 applies to the flowers, which, though small, are bright red, 

 and borne in such numbers early in the spring on the 

 still leafless branches that on a bright day the tree seems 

 to glow w ith colour. A. rubrum has eleven synonyms 

 in the Kew hand list. Its recognised varieties are 

 Drunimondi and Sanguineum. 



A. saccharinum {Stti>ar Maple). — The leaves of this 

 are deeply cut, and more or less glaucous underneath. It 

 forms a large wide-spreading tree of considerable interest, 

 owing to the fact that it is the Sugar Maple of the United 

 States and Canada, its sap being there collected for the 

 manufacture of sugar. 



A. tatarieum var. Ginnala. — A small tree from the 



Amur river, with lobed leaves, smaller than those of other 

 kinds, but in the autumn changing to bright red tints 

 before falling. 



jEsCllluS (//if f/orse Chestnut).— The Chestnuts form an 

 important family, and the Pavias, which are natives of 

 North America and popularly know n as Puck Eyes, are 

 now included in the same group. They bear great 

 resemblance to the other forms of ^Esculus. The common 

 Horse Chestnut is easily raised from seed, sown in beds 

 as soon as ripe, and covered with about 2in. ol soil. All 

 the varieties may be grafted or budded on to this, grafting 



