makch 9, 1912. THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE 



199 



THE PIERIS. 



Pieris is a genus of Ericaceae, which is 

 iisuaMy Tepreseiited in gardens by one or 

 more of three species, altihough nineteeii 

 species are enumerated in the Kew Index. 

 The three most faimiliar are P. floribunda, 

 P. formosa, and P. jaiponica, the former 

 a North American ishrub, the two latter of 

 Asiatic orig'n. 



in the European A. polifolia, a low-grow- them shrubbery space, and they s-houid 

 ing, wiry-branched shrub, with small ever- 

 gjeen leaves, and pink^ urn-shr^ped flowers, 

 which is sometimes found wild in the bog.s 

 of this country. 



Pieris, like oLher plants of the erica 

 family, attain their grea-test luxuriance in 

 soil of a peaty character, although thoy 

 thrive well in sandy or loamy soil, pj-ovid- 

 ing it iis comparatively free froiii liniv 



always be included in collections of choice 

 peat-loving shrubs, whi^e one or two kiiu]> 

 form handsome specimen plants. 



A hot, dry position is not suited for 

 pieris, the best plants being found in sonK*- 

 wliat shaded situations, where the ground 

 is natural!}^ a little dam.p. When making 

 up ground for pieris, it is not net-essary to 

 introduce a lai^ge quantity of jx^at intn 



PIEEIS JAPONICA. 

 A hardy evergreen shrub with panicles of white flowers. 



- n »nu ^""'^ addition to pieris, 



'^-K-otho^, Portuna, Zenobia 



^ ''"nf^^ti< n ^vi^f*?, ^^""^^ ^"^^ been used in 



n w .th one or more of the species. 



' - ^^f ^^'idely known 



' ^^^^'rected to a true Andromeda 



matter. Propagation is effected by means 



* ' er 



of seeds, cuttings, or layers, but m 

 case it is a rather slow hus.iness to obtain 

 good salea.b'e plants, for growth in the 

 early stages is islow. The positions wliich 

 pieris may be called upon to occupy are 



clioice enough to war- 

 beds on 



many, for they 



their 



r a n t th ei r use as spec i m e n 

 lawns: their eversrecn c*haracter ensures 



ground \vhich is not natui*aily of a peaty 

 character^ rather select sweet, sandy, or 

 light, !oa.my &oiJ, and fork a few inches 

 of peat into the upper foot. ]Nfa?iure must 

 not be given, but the plants will be bene- 

 fitted by a surface dressing of half-decayed 

 leaves, applied in spring. Such a dressing 

 ]ias tlie advantage of kwping the ground 

 moist and encouraging surface roots at the 



