SPRING-FLOWERING TREKS AND SHRLP.S. 



419 



opaUfolia, and salicifolia, all of which should not be forgotten 

 in a choice list. 



The Lilacs [Syringa] include so many good sorts that 

 it is not easy to say which is the best, but I should always plant 

 the new highly coloured kinds in preference to the older sorts. 

 There are none finer than Souvenir de L. Spilth, Camille de 

 Rohan, Dr. Lindley, Charles the Tenth, and the rich variety 

 certificated to-day Mine. Kreuter, which perhaps eclipses 

 all others in colour, while among the whites I should choose 

 alba gr audi flora and Marie Legraye. The double-flowered 

 Lilacs raised by M. Lemoine are coming into favour, as they are 

 found to last longer in bloom, and as a graceful shrub the old 

 Persian, S. per ska, must be comprised in a selection. 



The Viburnums include the old Guelder Rose, which is seen 

 in every garden, and a very fine shrub it is when treated liberally 

 and allowed to spread freely on all sides. The Japanese Snow- 

 ball-tree (V. plicatum) deserves to be more often planted than it 

 is, being perfectly hardy, and at this season its long shoots are 

 wreathed with snow-white balls of bloom. 



The W eigelas comprise now a large number of sorts since 

 raisers on the Continent have taken them in hand. Besides the 

 beautiful W. amabilis, which is still one of the finest, we have a 

 long list of varieties of 17. rosea, a selection from which would 

 include those named Candida and hortensis nivea, both lovely 

 white sorts ; Van Houttei, Abel Carriere, Dr. Baillon, Isoline, P. 

 Duchartre, and Stelzneri, all more or less highly coloured ; while 

 the variegated sort, amabilis variegata, and the golden-leaved, 

 Looymansii aurea, w T ould lend their leaf-colour to brighten the 

 group when out of flower. 



In the foregoing remarks I have been able only to touch the 

 fringe of my subject, which is a larger one than can be dealt with 

 in a paper of this nature. I have not even alluded to the host 

 of beautiful shrubs that could be added to the list I have given 

 if a garden were on a suitable soil for the growth of peat-loving 

 shrubs, such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Ericas, Ledums, 

 Clethras, Menziesias, Andromedas, Kalmias, and the like ; neither 

 have I been able to touch upon the evergreen kinds, and the 

 many fine shrubs that flower later, and which are included 

 in the genera Ligustrum, Hypericum, Philadelphus, Stuartia, 

 Eucryphia, Olearia, V eronica, Hibiscus, Spartium, Indigofera, 



