242 



SPEING FLOWERS. 



Chap. XT. 



gay. There are also some good camellias whicli 

 flower at this time, but they are generally grown 

 in pots under such shelter as mat-sheds and other 

 buildings of a like kind can afford. Two of these 

 varieties are particularly striking. Their flowers 

 are of the most perfect form, and they have striped 

 and self-coloured blossoms upon the same plant. 

 These are now in Mr. Grlendinning's nursery at 

 Chiswick, and in a year or two will be common in 

 every collection. The double-blossomed peaches, of 

 which there are several very distinct varieties now 

 in England, are perhaps the gayest of all things 

 which flower in early spring. Fancy, if you can, 

 trees fully as large as our almond, literally loaded 

 with rich-coloured blossoms, nearly as large and 

 double as roses, and you will have some idea of 

 the effect produced by these fine trees in this part 

 of the world. 



A little later in the season, that is from the 

 20th of April to the beginning of May, another 

 race of flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants 

 succeed those I have named. The most conspicu- 

 ous amongst them are Viburnum macrocephalum 

 and dilafatum, with their large heads of snow^- white 

 flowers ; Spircea Eeevesiana, and the double variety, 

 which is more beautiful than the original species ; 

 Weigela rosea^ now well known in Europe ; Moutans 

 of various hues of colour ; Azaleas, particularly 

 the lovely little " Amoena ;" Kerria japonica^ the 

 lilac and white glycines, roses, Dielytra specfabilis, 



