360 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



perhaps more ornamental, especially B. v. Veitchiana and magnified, each 

 with long panicles of violet blossoms. It is unfortunate that B. Golvillei 

 is not hardy enough for many parts of the country, as it is the most 

 beautiful of all. Several of the Ceanothus are among the most showy 

 of flowering shrubs ; anywhere north of London the majority need the 

 protection of a wall to grow them well. The most desirable are 

 G. americanus, on account of its absolute hardiness ; G. thyrsiflorus ; 

 C. rigidus ; C.divaricatus, and the various forms of G. azureus, of which 

 ' Ceres,' ' Georges Simon,' ' Gloire de Versailles,' and ' Marie Simon ' 

 are all excellent. 



It is to be regretted that our English summers are seldom warm 

 enough to enable the Lespedezas to grow successfully, but L. Sieboldi 

 is very satisfactory, though it generally dies to the ground every winter. 



Diostea juncea, with its rush-like stems and pale lavender flowers, and 

 its remarkable superficial resemblance to the Brooms (with which, however, 

 it has in fact no connection), should be better known, and the same may 

 be said of the uncommon dwarf- growing Sophora viciifolia, a recent 

 introduction, and charming with bright violet and white flowers. Its 

 habitat is the Chinese hillsides, which, I am told, it carpets just as 

 the heather does our Scottish and Yorkshire moors. The Japanese tree 

 paeonies, whether planted singly or in beds, are among the most gorgeous 

 and beautiful of hardy shrubs, and some of the improved sort, which 

 produce blossoms fully ten inches across, should be included in all 

 gardens. They need a good soil and to be left undisturbed at the roots. 



Leycesteria formosa is a pleasing old-fashioned shrub with rich green 

 foliage and drooping racemes of chocolate and white bracts, which are 

 succeeded by purple fruits. It is seen to the best advantage if pruned to 

 the ground every spring, and is fine for grouping. 



In a warm position Styrax japonica will prove hardy and produce 

 quantities of its pure white flowers, but I fear S. Obassia is not hardy 

 enough for cultivation in the colder parts of the country. Both are 

 extremely beautiful where they succeed. S. americanwm and S. officinale 

 are also worthy of inclusion. 



Clematis orientalis tangutica is a very beautiful and uncommon plant 

 from Northern China, and is excellent for the shrubbery. It has large 

 solitary pure yellow flowers, which never open fully, and are succeeded by 

 a profusion of long silky filaments, which present a most quaint, if not 

 unique, appearance. 



Caryopteris Mastacanthus is one of our most pleasing autumn 

 flowering shrubs with a profusion of blue flowers, but in very severe 

 weather it needs protection. There is a white variety, but this is less 

 hardy and vigorous than the type and hardly worth growing. Hedysarum 

 multijugum is also a desirable shrub. It has soft, clear purple, pea- 

 shaped flowers on long racemes, and is seen to the best advantage when 

 the slender stems are supported by a stake, as it is naturally rather an 

 untidy grower ; it will, however, stand pruning perfectly well when 

 that operation becomes desirable. 



Glerodendron trichotomum, too, flowers in the autumn, and if given a 

 warm position in a fairly rich loam makes a handsome specimen with 

 large foliage and heads of red and white flowers. Suckers are produced 



