Evergreen tHeeS and shrubs. 42c) 



LaurilS nobilis (the Siveet Bay). — This is an evergreen 

 shrub or tree, with foliage much like a small-leaved 

 Laurel, and of a deep green colour. The leaves are very 

 aromatic, and much used for flavouring. Cuttings about 

 6in. long put in sandy soil in a frame during September 

 will root the following spring. 



Ledum latifolium and L. palustre. —These two 



Ledums are 

 much in the 

 same way, 

 both being 

 s m a 1 1 

 shrubs from 

 2ft. to 3ft. 

 h i g ii , 

 clothed 

 with oval- 

 s h a p e d 

 leaves from 

 1 in. to ijin. 



long, deep 

 g r e e n 

 above, and 

 brown ish 

 underneath. 

 In the latter 

 part of 

 April they 

 are studded 

 with clus- 

 ters of blos- 

 soms, which 

 in L. lati- 

 folium are 

 whiteand in 

 L. palustre 

 lightly 

 tinged with 

 pink. Both 



need a moist peaty soil, and are increased by seeds treated 

 the same as those of the Kalmia. 

 LigUStrum (ihe Privet). — There are several kinds of Privet, 

 and included amongst them are a few very ornamental 

 flowering shrubs. Some of them, too, have finely 

 variegated foliage. The common Privet (L. vu'gare) was 

 at one time largely used as a hedge plant, but lor this 

 purpose it is now to a great extent superseded by the oval- 

 leaved Privet, which has more persistent leaves. Both of 

 these will succeed in almost any soil or situation. Privets 

 are easily struck from cuttings about I ft. long, two-thirds 

 of which is inserted firmly in the soil in a somewhat 

 sheltered position. The end of September is a good time 

 for this operation to be performed. The best Ligustrums 

 are : 



L. japonieum. — A bush from 6ft. to Sft. high, clothed 

 with deep green shiny leaves quite 6in. long. The clusters 

 of creamy white flowers are borne in June and July. 

 There is a pretty variegated leaved variety of this. 



L. lucidum. — Somewhat like the preceding, but a larger 

 grower ; its spreading panicles of flowers are produced in 

 July and August. 



L. ovalifolium (the Oval-leaved Privet). — A well-known 

 kind that is met with almost everywhere, even in smoky 

 towns. There are several variegated forms, of which the 

 golden- leaved (aureum) is one of the finest of yellow- 

 leaved shrubs, and a universal (avourite 



L. QllihOUi. — The foliage of this is somew hat like that of 

 the common Privet, but it forms a more straggling bush ; 

 its value consists in the fact that its spreading spikes of 

 white blossoms are not borne till the autumn, long after all 

 the others are past. 



L. sinense. — This is a large tree-like bush, with branches 

 disposed in an almost horizontal manner, while the leaves 

 on the minor twigs are regularly arranged. The creamy 

 white flowers, which are usually at their best about the 

 latter half of July, are borne so freely as to almost hide 

 the foliage. It is one of the most ornamental of all shrubs 

 flowering at that period. 



L. VUlgare. — The common Privet is represented in our 

 gardens by many varieties, all of which are as indifferent 

 to soil and situation as the typical kind. There are several 

 varieties, such as aureum, luxifolium, italicum, and 

 variegatum. 



Oak, Evergreen. — See Quercus. 



Olearia. — There are several kinds of Olearia, known as the 



A RHODODENDRON DRIVE. 



Daisy Trees of New Zealand ; but only one is hardy enough 

 for general planting. This is : 

 0. Haasti. — A dense-growing bush, with very dark green 

 leaves a good deal like those of the Box, and seldom 

 exceeding 4ft. in height. In the early part of August it is 

 completely covered with small pure white Daisy-like 

 flowers. 



The species named is the most u-eful of the family, and 

 may be grown even in suburban gardens with success, as 

 it is indifferent to smoke. Other kinds of note, though 

 a family likeness runs through the whole group, are 

 O. macrodonta, which is the same as O. dentata, 

 O. stellulata (synonyms O. Gunniana and Eurvbia 

 Gunniana), and O. Traversi (synonym Eurybia Traversi). 



OsmantllUS. — These are all compact-growing shrubs, with 

 spiny leaves exactly like those of the I lolly, but in reality 

 they are more nearly related to the Privet. The small 

 white flowers, which are freely borne in little tufts from the 

 axils of the leaves in early autumn, are not showy, but 

 agreeably scented. Though the different kinds of 

 Osmanthus mimic the Holly, they differ greatly therefrom 

 in their propagation, as cuttings put in a frame in early 

 autumn strike root readily, whereas it is very difficult to 

 increase Hollies in this way. All the different forms of 

 Osmanthus are natives of Japan. Varieties of O. Aquifolium 

 are : O. illicifolius, O. illicifolius purpureus, the leaves 

 tinged with purple ; O. illicifolius variegatus, O. 

 illicifolius myrtifolius, with small Myrtle-like leaves. 



Pernettya miieronata is a dense evergreen bush, native 

 of the district bordering on the Straits of Magellan. The 

 small pointed leaves are less than I in. long, ami of a 

 deep shining green. The pure white Lily of the Valley- 

 like flowers appear in gieat profusion in May, and are in 

 direct contrast to the deep-tinted foliage. By far the 

 most prominent feature of this Pernettya is the crimson 

 berries, which remain on throughout the winter, thus 

 rendering it one of our most ornamental shrubs at that 

 season. There are several varieties, differing widely in 

 the colour of their berries, which range from pure white 



