6 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



planted in all gardens. The Yulan (M. conspicua) is of pyramidal 

 growth and forms a handsome tree, ranging from twenty to thirty 

 feet high, and the flowers are large, pure white, waxy in texture, and 

 produced in great profusion. M. Soulangeana, which originated from a 

 cross effected between the Yulan and M. obovata, is about equal in 

 stature to the Yulan, but has a rounder head. The flowers are equal in 

 size and similar in form to those of M . conspicua, but they are richly 

 suffused with rose-purple and produced even more freely. It would be 

 impossible to exaggerate the surpassing beauty of these two trees when 

 in full bloom. If. conspicua is the first to bloom, and is followed two 

 or three weeks later by M. Soulangeana. Owing to the liability of the 

 flowers to damage from frost it is an advantage to plant them where 

 they will be sheltered on the east. There are several good varieties, and 

 those which can be specially recommended to the notice of planters are 

 M. Soulangeana nigra, which has deep-purple flowers, and M. con- 

 spicua Alexandrina, which blooms two or three weeks later than the 

 type, and is less likely to have its flowers damaged by frosts. There is 

 yet another deserving a place in every garden, and this is the extremely 

 beautiful M. Lennei (fig. 1), which originated in France from a cross 

 between M. conspicua and M. obovata discolor. The flowers are bright 

 rose-purple, and much larger than those of either of the foregoing, and 

 they are also considerably later in attaining their full development, and 

 are practically immune from unfavourable climatic influences. There 

 are several other deciduous species which should be planted where the 

 pleasure grounds are spacious, and the handsome evergreen species 

 M. grandiflora, which is usually grown against a wall, but in kind 

 climates forms a handsome specimen for the lawn. 



Of much value also on account of the early season at which they bloom 

 are the Ornamental Currants and the Forsythias. Of the former, Bibes 

 sanguineum and its numerous varieties are the most valuable for general 

 planting, being profuse in blooming and effective in colour. There are 

 three Forsythias that have claims upon the planter, and these are Forsythia 

 intermedia, F. suspensa and F. viridissima. The first, which originated as 

 a hybrid between the other two, is the best, and next in merit ranks 

 F. suspensa. All have flowers of varying shades of yellow. A few weeks 

 later the most useful of the numerous Barberries commence to yield 

 their wealth of blossom : Berberis Darwinii, which bears a profusion of 

 onm^e-coloured flowers, is very effective, and should be generally planted ; 

 but the most beautiful of all the Barberries is B. stenophylla. This 

 is a hybrid between the foregoing species and B. empctrifolia, and is of 

 i legant habit and very free in blooming, the rich orange-coloured flowers 

 being borne throughout the whole length of the slender shoots. 



The plums, which also bloom quite early in the spring, include a few 

 trees and shrubs possessing considerable attractions. The double- 

 flowered sloe (Primus spinosa fl. pi.) is an extremely elegant tree, and is 

 very beautiful when in bloom ; but it is a tree for spacious pleasure 

 grounds rather than for the small garden. The most beautiful of all 

 the plums is P. triloba, which has rather large semi-double rose-pink 

 flowers and blooms during April. It is admirably adapted for clothing 

 sunny walls and for forming small groups on the lawn. The flowers are 



