FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS. 



59 



which is too well known to need further mention, perhaps only 

 one species of woody plants thoroughly worth growing. I 

 allude to the New Zealand Plagiantlius Lyalli, a hardy shrub or 

 small tree with large Cherry-like blossoms ; it makes an excellent 

 wall plant at Kew, but grows in the open, and is not injured by 

 frost. 



Fremontia calif omica is the only member of the order Ster- 

 culiacece which calls for notice here. In this country it seems 

 to be very short-lived, but the beauty of its flowers renders it 

 worthy of a place on a wall, where it blossoms profusely. I 

 have seen it thriving well as a bush in the open. It would be 

 interesting to learn particulars of the oldest plants now in culti- 

 vation. 



The Eue family does not furnish us with many hardy shrubs. 

 Choisya temata, well known as a delightful wall plant and an 

 excellent subject for cultivation in pots, is somewhat tender in a 

 young state, but sheltering during severe weather for a couple of 

 years or so enables the plant to withstand afterwards our ordi- 

 nary winters without protection in the open. Under such condi- 

 tions, we have had the plant thriving and flowering freely as a bush 

 at Kew. Skimmias are worthy of mention. The true S. japonica 



(formerly known under the name of S. oblata) is one of the 

 best of all evergreens for smoky grounds ; attention has been 

 called to its value in this respect by Dr. Masters. Pseudcegle 

 sepiaria, or Citrus trifoliata, is nearly allied to the Orange. In 

 the South of England this is quite hardy. The Eev. Canon 

 Ellacombe, in his charming garden at Bitton, has a plant which 



has fruited ; in the neighbourhood of London the plant flowers 

 freely in the open, but does not fruit. 



From the Buckthorn family we may select the Christ's Thorn 

 (Paliurus aculeatus), a pretty bush or small tree, hardy in the 

 neighbourhood of London. The buckler-shaped fruit is curious. 

 Ceanothus is worthy of special mention. Many of the species 

 are too tender for our climate unless they are cultivated as wall 

 plants, but the wealth of flowers and their colour make them 

 desirable garden plants. C. vigidus was a sheet of blue a month 

 or more ago at Kew ; at present C. papillostcs, exhibited to-day, 

 is a worthy successor. Neither can be depended upon as bush 

 plants near London. C. americanus makes charming masses of 

 delicate flowers, white or white tinged with blush colour ; this 



