ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS AT CASTLEWELLAN. 411 



borne in drooping clusters in July. It is a strong grower and requires 

 liberal treatment as regards soil, as it forms plenty of fibrous roots. Two 

 years ago I had to move a plant eighteen feet high. It carried a ball of 

 over a ton in weight, and is now quite healthy in its new quarters. 



SCIADOPITYS VERTICILLATA.— The Umbrella Pine of Japan, 

 one of the most distinct and beautiful of all the conifers. It is most dis- 

 tinct, and too well known in our gardens to need description. When in 

 perfect health the leaves are deep green, but very often there is a tinge 

 of yellow. It is said to be a slow grower ; however we find it makes a foot 

 of growth in the season ; it has produced cones for several years past. 

 The soil should be peat and leaf soil in equal parts, with perhaps a very 

 little loam. 



MAGNOLIA HYPOLEUCA is one of the largest and most beautiful 

 of the deciduous Magnolias. In the early autumn, when the cones of fruit 

 which are sometimes eight inches long and brilliant scarlet in colour stand 

 out on the branches, it is the most striking feature of the forests of Hok- 

 kaido. The leaves are fourteen inches long and eight broad, and on young 

 and vigorous trees sometimes twice that size. On the upper surface they 

 are light green and almost silvery beneath. It is used in Japan for all sorts 

 of objects which are to be lacquered, especially sword-sheaths. With me 

 it has not flowered as yet. In some parts of Japan it grows to the height 

 of 100 feet. It was introduced into this country by Mr. Veitch not many 

 years ago. 



VITIS THUNBEBGII I have grown for twenty-five years. It is one 

 of the finest climbers I know, and for covering large wall spaces is unsur- 

 passed. The leaves become a deep crimson in autumn, interspersed with 

 shades of purple and yellow. I believe that it is a distinct plant from 

 Vitis Coignetice and the better variety of the two. 



ABDISIA JAPONICA. — A dwarf evergreen shrub bearing clusters 

 of white flowers early in June and red berries in autumn. 



BEBBEBIS THUNBEBGII.— A dwarf spreading Japanese variety, 

 of bushy habit, most valuable for the brilliant scarlet colour of its leaves 

 and berries in autumn. I notice that it is very much brighter in colour 

 in some years than in others. 



LESPEDEZA BICOLOB, also called Desmodium penduliflomm, a 

 deciduous dwarf shrub of neat, graceful habit. The flowers, Pea- shaped 

 and rosy purple in colour, are lavishly produced on the long pendulous 

 panicles for several weeks in the autumn. 



CLEYEBA JAPONICA TBICOLOB.—A handsome variegated 

 evergreen shrub ; leaves dark green with white margin tinged with rose. 

 Said to be a greenhouse plant. I have grown it in the open for many 

 years with success. It is very brittle, and liable to be broken by heavy 

 snow. 



BETINOSPOBA TETBAGONA A UBEA.— This is, in my opinion, 

 one of the most beautiful plants in the garden, but to attempt to describe 

 its habit and foliage is difficult. The colour is a rich, one might almost 

 say, ruddy gold mixed with bright green and yellow. I have a plant 



