174 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fruits from a decorative standpoint, but in passing I may just mention 

 four varieties of Pyrus Malus ' Ringo,' ' Beauty of Montreal,' fructu luteo, 

 and ' John Downie ' as four of the best crab-apples. 



Many of the Vines look well in September, such as Vitis Thunbergii 

 and the large-leaved V. Coignctice, if grown on larch poles and dotted 

 about in the shrubberies, but none surpass the old-fashioned V. vinifera 

 purpurea (often known as the Claret-leafed Grape), which is hardy, free- 

 growing, and inexpensive. 



Bhus Toxicodendron, the Poison Sumach, can be grown either as a 

 creeper or as a bush, and is one of the most gorgeous in foliage at the fall of 

 the year. The colour is that of a glorified Virginia creeper, orange-scarlet 

 and vivid green intermingled. The highly poisonous character of its sap 

 is its chief drawback, which prevents many from planting it, although we 

 have grown it for the last twenty years without experiencing any ill 

 effects. 



Euonymus europceus latifolius and E. alatus americanus are the two 

 finest forms of the common deciduous Spindlewood, and are deserving of 

 a place in every garden, the first (which can be procured either as a 

 shrub or standard) on account of its bold red seed-cases, shaped something 

 like a biretta, and the second because the leaves turn a clear uniform rosy- 

 red. They make strong bushes. 



Cercidiphyllum japonicum looks like a refined pyramidal form of 

 Judas tree, and though not, I think, very hardy, and suffering from spring 

 frosts, is worth growing for the shape and soft red autumn colour of the 

 leaves. 



Vaccimum corymbosum, the most showy variant of its class, and 

 Fothergilla almfolia are somewhat rare plants which colour well, and both 

 thrive better where the soil is peaty. 



Spircea ulmifolia and S. Fortunei superba are two of the best of this large 

 class ; in autumn, in the case of the first the leaves change to a deep plum 

 colour, and in that of the second they are varied and brilliant in tone. 



For the same reasons Berberis Thunbergii, Cerasus vulgaris, and Bhus 

 Cotinus should not be neglected, but they are too well known to need 

 further recommendation. I would only add a warning that the last is 

 not very patient of the knife, and should be but lightly pruned, and that 

 only in spring, just as the sap is rising. 



I will conclude this branch of my paper with mentioning Idesia poly- 

 carpa. It belongs to a rare order, the Bixinece, and thrives well in a strong 

 soil ; its large light green leaves and bright red petioles give it a decidedly 

 taking appearance. 



For brilliance of winter colouring of the wood or twigs, nothing can 

 surpass Cornus sanguinca or Scarlet Dogwood if planted in quantity and 

 treated as recommended for Symphoricarpos. In summer it has no 

 special merit, but from the moment the leaves begin to turn, it steadily 

 improves in colour until the sap is thoroughly down, and then on a bright 

 frosty day the hundreds of canes some 4 to 5 feet long glow in the winter's 

 sun like a pigeon's blood ruby. The silver variegated form has greatly 

 the advantage in summer, but it is, comparatively speaking, a weakly 

 grower, and does not make half the show in winter. I may mention here 

 that we have succeeded lately in fixing a bold yellow variegated sport 



