14 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mouillefert says that it may live to be from 500 to 600 years old. 

 The fruit naturally varies in quality, just as the Apple or Pear, but 

 some at least are superior to the Medlars. There are two varieties, 

 differing in the shape of the fruit, maliformis and pyriformis ; the 

 former is said not to exceed 30 ft. in height, while the latter grows 

 at least to 70 ft. in height. 



34. Pyrus Aria Sm. White Beam. 



The height of this tree is given as from 4 to 40 or 45 ft. This 

 specimen is 43 ft. high, and, being perfectly symmetrical, its inclusion 

 here is no doubt justified. It is said that no tree is more characteristic 

 of the chalk hills of Britain, or more beautiful with regard to fruit 

 and foliage. The tree is very effective in a breeze when the wind 

 lifts the leaves and the white under-surface is displayed. It is a 

 native of Europe (including Britain), N. Africa, and N. and W. Asia. 



35. Prunus pendula Maxim (Bot. Mag. t. 8034). 



This is perhaps the most graceful of all cultivated Cherries. The 

 branches are long and slender, and consequently pendulous. Dr. 

 Stapf, in the Botanical Magazine, says that it is probably a state merely 

 with pendulous branches of a species with normally erect branches ; 

 but this remark is preceded by the statement that, according to 

 Maximowicz, it has been found in a wild state in the mountain forests 

 of Central Japan. In any case, whether a wild or cultivated tree 

 only, it is a very graceful one, and here, planted on a bank, shows off 

 extremely well. The Cherries I have found to do well on a dry bank, 

 and hence the position of this tree. It is commonly cultivated in 

 gardens and near temples in Japan. The flowers vary in depth of 

 colour, ranging from palest pink to saturated rose colour. I have 

 never seen fruit, and I think therefore that it may be self -sterile. This 

 specimen is 11 ft. high, with a spread of 23 ft. It is a very good one. 



36. Rhus Osbeckii Carr (Revue H or ticole, 1887). China and Japan. 



This is one of the most ornamental of the Sumachs. It is also 

 very distinct, and though this is a fine specimen there are probably 

 many finer. Three years ago it was 15! ft. high. It is now 16 J ft. 

 high and 22| ft. through. The leaves are pinnate, up to 15 in. long, 

 and the stalk is winged, which serves to distinguish it from all other 

 hardy species, except R. copallina, which has smaller entire leaflets. 

 The leaflets of R. Osbeckii are serrated. It is for foliage alone that this 

 ^tree would be grown, but it produces large panicles of yellowish- white 

 flowers in August. The leaves are conspicuously red in autumn. 



37. Phellodendron japonicum Maximowicz. 



This native of China and Japan has been grown as P. amurense, 

 but the above I believe to be its correct name. The genus is a small 

 one inhabiting the North-East of Asia. The leaves of this species 

 are pinnate, from 10 to 15 in. long, and very downy beneath. It is 

 recorded as from 20 to 35 ft. high. This tree is 21 ft. high, and during 



