430 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



to deep blackish purple. The Pernettyas are readily 

 increased by seeds, to obtain which the berries should be 

 gathered when quite ripe, and rubbed up with a little dry 

 sand to remove the pulp. Sown in a pan of sandy peat, 

 covered with ^in. of the same soil, and placed in a 

 frame, the young plants will make their appearance in 

 three or four months, and should be potted into small 

 pots when iarge enough, planting them out afterwards. 

 Pernettyas enjov a peaty or loamy soil, and should lie 

 grouped, as their berries are very rich and varied in 

 colour. Free masses of them make interesting features 

 in the garden. Although rarely seen, that is no reason 

 why they should not become more common. 

 PhiUyrea. — These are all compact bushes, clothed (with 

 one exception) with small Privet-like leaves. Their 

 ornamental qualities are not of a very high order, except 

 in P. Vilmoriniana, the leaves of which are quite 6in. long 

 and i >f a deep green tint. It is a very good shrub for 

 to wns. 



Pieris. — These, formerly grouped with the Androniedas, 

 form a neat-growing, free-flowering class of hardy shrubs, 

 that succeed best in a peaty soil and a fairly moist 

 situation. They may be raised from seed when obtain- 

 able, or cuttings will strike if kept close in a frame, 

 but (hey lake a long lime to root. P. floribunda is 

 a compact shrub from 3ft. to 4ft. high, having small 

 ovate leaves of a very dark green, while the pure white 

 Lily of the Valley-like flowers are borne in dense 

 partially erect spikes. P. japonica is pleasing. 



Privet. -Vc' Ligustrum. 



QlierCUS (the Oak). — Though the Oaks form a large 

 family, most of them lose their leaves during the w inter. 

 The best-known and by far the finest of the evergreen 

 kinds is the Holm Oak (Quercus Ilex), which forms a 

 magnificent tree, usually of a much-branched shrub-like 

 style of growth. There are many varieties, differing in 

 shape and size of the leaf and in habit from the type. 

 In the Kew list the forms enumerated are : Crispa, diver- 

 sifolia, Fordi, Genabi, Gramuntia, latifolia, macrophylla, 



rotundifolia, and Smilax. The Cork Oak (Q. Suber) is, 

 save for its rugged bark, much like this kind. 



Q. GUSpidata and Q. glabra are ornamental Japanese 

 Oaks, usually seen here as shrubs rather than trees. The 

 Holm Oak is increased by sowing the acorns as soon 

 as ripe, and the varieties by grafting on to seedlings of 

 the type, under glass in the summer, but it is a difficult 

 operation unless in professional hands. 



RhamnUS AlaterriUS is a Myrtle-like shrub of somewhat 

 spreading habit that readies a height of I oft. to 12ft. 

 There are several varieties, the most ornamental being 

 one in which the leaves are variegated with white. 



Rhododendron. — Undoubtedly the finest evergreen 

 flowering shrubs that we have are the numerous hybrid 

 Rhododendrons, that form such a gorgeous display during 

 the spring and early summer months. By far the com- 

 monest species is R. ponticum, a native of Asia Minor, 

 with purplish flowers. This is the Rhododendron so 

 universally planted for covert. R. ponticum has been 

 crossed and recrossed with R. arboreum, R. catawbiense, 

 and R. caucasicum, and by this means the present mag- 

 nificent race of hybrids has been obtained. Rhododen- 

 drons are all peat-loving plants, yet at the same time peat 

 is not absolutely necessary for their culture, as they will 

 succeed in loam even of a heavy nature, particularly if 

 some leaf mould be incorporated with it. One important 

 consideration is that they all need a fairly moist soil, as 

 if parched up during the summer they quickly suffer. In 

 planting Rhododendrons where there is any danger of 

 drought, the soil should be formed like a saucer around 

 the plant, as in this way artificial watering, if necessary, 

 can be more readily given than if the ground is made 

 entirely level. Though Rhododendrons will grow in 

 peat or loam, they resent the presence of lime in the soil; 

 hence in chalky districts they will not thrive. The dif- 

 ferent kinds are increased by seeds, layers, and grafting. 

 Seeds are employed for the raising of R. ponticum in 

 variety, and are sometimes sown in a sheltered spot out 

 of doors, and covered with Spruce boughs to afford a 



RHODODENDRONS IN AN IRISH GARDEN (DONEGAL), 



