SUB- TR OPICA L GA RDENING. 



403 



cut-leaved varieties. The stipules of P. Pseitdo-Ccrauis 

 are conspicuous, deeply cut or fringed, and they persist 

 for a considerable time. But the best character of sep- 

 aration is in the flower clusters. The clusters of the 

 sweet cherry are 

 compact, and none 

 of the flower stalks 

 are branched, while 

 in the Japanese spe- 

 cies the clusters are 

 large and diffuse, the 

 stalks are branched 

 and the bracts are 

 large and conspicu- 

 ous. This openness 

 of inflorescence is 

 one of the attractive 

 features of the Jap- 

 anese cherry. Max- 

 imowicz separates 

 the cultivated forms 

 of the typical Pni- 

 mcs Pseitdo - Cerasiis 

 as vzx . hortensis ,-^Ti.A 

 he says that they 

 differ from the type 

 in having habitually 

 narrower leaves, 

 smaller leaf serra- 

 tures and larger 

 flowers. " Ccrasiis 

 sitn'iisis " and " C. 

 hiiniilis" of nursery- 

 men belong to this 

 species, as does also, 

 apparently, the C. 

 serratula oi Loudon. 

 Mr. Jack states 

 above that the spe- 

 cies also sometimes passes under the names Prtinus or 

 Cerasus Capronia and P. adda, but specimens of these 



Fig. 6. Leaf of Sweet Cherry. 



plants in my herbarium, as sold by EUwanger & Barry, 

 are not this species. 



Last summer I received this species from J. T. Whit- 

 aker, Tyler, Texas, who informs me that he imported 

 it four years ago directly from Japan. He is testing 

 its fruit-bearing qualities. He finds the fruit very good, 

 tart like the Early Richmond, and a little larger. It is a 

 light red fruit. The leaves from Mr. Whitaker's trees 

 are more deeply cut than those which I have seen in 

 northern nurseries, very much as in Fig. i. 



Var. SiEBOLDi, Maxim. {Cerasus Sit-bo/d/ii , Carriere. 

 Primus paniciilata, Edw. Bot. Reg. 800. Cerasus Pseitdo- 

 Cerastis, Nicholson's Illustr. Diet. Gard. 296.) This 

 form differs from the species in having the young leaves 

 and young growths pubescent. In nurseries it is known 

 and sold under the name of "Cerasus Sieholdii" and 

 " C . faponwa . " 



All the forms of Pi unus Pseudo-Cerasus are handsome 

 and interesting, and they should be better known, being 

 among the best of the small trees which are valuable for 

 ornamental planting. 



2. Prunus Japonica, Thunberg, (Figs. 7 and S) is a 

 very different species. The leaves have somewhat the 

 look of small Morello leaves. The pretty white or pink- 

 ish small flowers are borne in clusters of two or three, 

 and appear with or just preceding the leaves. I have 

 seen them near midsummer, however. The leaves are 

 small, firm, very dark green, and finely and closely ser- 

 rate. The detached leaf in Fig. 8 shows the characters 

 well. 



Prunus Japonica is a weak and slender grower, seldom 

 over five feet high, and it is usually grafted high and 

 treated as a weeper. It is commonly sold as " Cerasus 

 Japonica pendula," "Cerasus semperjiorens " and " C. 

 Japonica rosea pendula." It makes a small tree of grace- 

 ful habit and attractive foliage and flowers. The fruit 

 is not important, but the ornamental character of the 

 tree for many uses, is not so fully known as it ought 

 to be. In fact, all these ornamental cherries have a fu- 

 ture in America as they become known. 



L. H. Bailey, 



SUB-TROPICAL GARDENING. 



UB-TROPICAL PLANTS, if ar- 

 ranged and planted with taste and 

 judgment, make a display which 

 is enjoyable to look upon, and 

 give a striking contrast to the 

 masses of flowers and foliage 

 around them. Many gardens 

 look monotonous, simply for the 

 lack of these sub-tropical plants, and as many may 

 be stored away in almost any corner, others are 

 most useful in the decoration of the conservatory, 

 greenhouse or winter garden during winter. It has 

 often been said that many sub-tropical plants are so 

 tender that they require too much attention and 



are expensive. Quite true ; but why confine our- 

 selves to these when there are now so many to se- 

 lect from ? 



It remains, therefore, to the judgment of the gardener, 

 to select from those which he knows will best suit his 

 purposes and the position of his garden. Such plants 

 as ricinus, cannas, wigandias, palms, yuccas, dracse- 

 nas, ferdinandas, and many others, after garnishing 

 the houses in winter will make a lively and pleasing 

 display in the garden. The agaves, which will stand 

 almost anywhere in the winter, when taken to the open 

 ground in summer, will contrast with almost any sur- 

 rounding objects. 



The cannas, which are amongst ttie first of our sub- 

 tropical plants, and which are so effective in so many 



