362 JOUBNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Mr. Wilson's Chinese introductions, and have not yet been seen elsewhere 

 in Europe, are growing quite happily at Aldenham, but it is too early yet 

 to speak confidently as to their floral merits. 



Halimodendron argenteum is one of the most pleasing of the Legumi- 

 nosae and produces a profusion of deep rose flowers in July. As a standard 

 it makes an extremely pretty pendulous specimen. 



The Calycanthus, although not particularly showy, are desirable on 

 account of their distinct appearance and agreeable scent. C. macrophyllus, 

 C. floridus, a very rare and not over-hardy plant, and C. glaucus (usually 

 miscalled C. floridus by nurserymen) all deserve a place in a good collection ; 

 the advantage of the first over the last of these three species consists in 

 the bolder leaves and in having rich red instead of dull dark brown 

 flowers. 



The shrubby as distinguished from the climbing species of Lonicera 

 (honeysuckles) contribute greatly to the charm of a wild garden and 

 embrace a variety of colours, including white, yellow, and rose. Unfortu- 

 nately our summers are not warm enough to induce them to fruit freely, 

 but in America I believe they are extremely ornamental when loaded 

 with their brightly coloured berries. Some of the most desirable are 

 spinosa, Morrowii (fig. 125), tartarica, syringantha, a charming species 

 from China, chrysantha, involucrata, and Albertii. 



For grouping purposes or planting in semi-wild places some of the 

 Rubus or Bramble family are very useful and, decidedly ornamental, 

 providing the old wood is kept pruned out annually ; in many cases, too, 

 the heavy crops of fruits are valuable. From a flowering point of view 

 the most noteworthy is B. thyrsoideus flore pleno, which has very large 

 spikes of double rose-coloured flowers in great profusion ; B. deliciosus 

 (fig. 126) should also be included ; B. ulmifolius foliis variegatis is a 

 charming variegated form of medium growth ; B. phoenicolasius, the 

 Japanese wineberry, presents a most pleasing appearance when the foliage 

 is stirred by the wind, the under-surface of the leaves having a dense 

 white tomentum. B. odoratus has large purplish-pink flowers, and if 

 kept cut down to the ground annually it develops good foliage very 

 suitable for grouping. 



The Caraganas are a desirable genus of Leguminosae suitable for 

 interspersing along the shrubbery border, all except one species having 

 yellow flowers. The most common species is C. arborescens, which is 

 a useful plant for grouping and will succeed in dry barren soil. The 

 smaller-leaved kinds, such as microphylla, pygmaea, Ghamlagu, and 

 cuneifolia, make very pretty pendulous specimens when grafted on to 

 standards of moderate height, the slender branches being clothed in their 

 season with blossoms. C. jubata, the white-flowered species from 

 Siberia, is a most curious and interesting plant, especially in winter. 

 The common C. arborescens is to be seen growing wild all over Finland. 



An uncommon and beautiful Japanese shrub suitable for favoured 

 positions is Caesalpinia japonica, which has very graceful foliage and 

 racemes of yellow flowers with conspicuous red anthers. In warm 

 localities, around Bath for instance, it makes a large ornamental low bush 

 in the open, but as a general rule it succeeds better as a wall plant if 

 given a warm position in good loamy soil. 



