THE JASMINES 
7 
The Italian Jasmine {J. humile). — A low, 
hardy shrub introduced from the south of 
Europe in 1656, though really a native of 
India and nearly allied to 'J. remlutum. It is 
of erect growth, and seldom more than 3 or 4 
feet high, with angular branches thickly 
covered in June by pale yellow flowers con- 
tinued more sparingly into September. They 
are smaller than in J.fruticans^ without smell, 
and last well when cut ; as less hardy, the plant 
is safer with some protection, blooming earlier 
when in sheltered places. It is an uncommon 
shrub, growing freely in any free soil and with 
little attention, but less ornamental than re- 
volutum from the loss of its leaves in winter 
and its lack of fragrance. 
Maingay's Jasmine (y. Maingayi). — One 
of the newest of hothouse Jasmines, intro- 
duced two or three years ago by Messrs. Sander 
from the Malay States, where it was found 
some twenty-five years since by Mr Maingay, 
a government official. It comes near y. 
pubescens^ but with thick, leathery leaves of 
oval shape, 5 inches long by 2 inches wide, 
longer in the stalk than most kinds, with 
clusters of starry white flowers an inch across. 
The Winter-Flowering Jasmine (y. nudi- 
Jiorum). — Too familiar to need description, the 
golden flowers of this shrub are among the few 
good winter flowers that we have, gladdening 
the heart from November into February or 
March, according to season and aspect, and 
redeeming gardens from desolation at mid- 
winter, even amid the smoke of cities. It was 
first grown as a tender plant for the green- 
house, and in America is still valued in this 
way for its winter effisct, proving almost an 
evergreen under glass. Far wider and more 
varied use might be made of it in our gardens. 
For cutting, the sprays are very useful, lasting 
with a succession of buds which open well in 
water, and very pretty with twigs of Crypto- 
meria or similar dainty foliage ; for this 
purpose its loose habit should be encouraged ; 
indeed, close training should be avoided at any 
time, the freely trailing shoots gaining in 
beauty when left to hang naturally against 
a dark background of fine-leaved Ivy or other 
evergreen. There would seem to be a form 
of the plant, which, though the same in all 
outward respects, is of denser, more rigid, habit 
and bush-like form, flowering a little later. 
and less easily increased from cuttings ; this 
kind is the best for hedges and tufts in the 
border and rock-garden. The traihng variety, 
which throws long sprays, is better for walls, 
for cutting, or the ledges of large rocks, and 
roots freely from cuttings or wherever its 
stems touch the ground. In the south of 
Europe the flowers of the Winter Jasmine are 
often prettily flushed with red on the outside 
in a way not seen with us. There is also a 
rather pretty variety in which the leaves are 
edged with bright gold, making it more 
interesting in summer, while it is at the same 
time hardy and free in flower, if somewhat 
less vigorous than its parent. It is still too 
common to see this beautiful shrub cut in the 
autumn so as to be " tidy " during winter, 
regardless of the fact that each click of the 
shears sacrifices scores of dormant flower- 
buds ; pruning, when necessary, must be done 
at once after flowering. Sent from North 
China by Fortune in 1844. 
Madeira Jasmine {J. odoratissimum).—h. 
pretty evergreen kind, of bushy habit, reach- 
ing 3 to 5 feet, with a long season of flower. 
A native of Madeira, it is only hardy in our 
southern gardens, but is well worth a place 
under glass in colder districts. Its foliage is 
of deep glossy green, cut into blunt leaflets 
and carried upon rigid brownish stems ; the 
flowers are scented hke Jonquils, composed of 
5 blunt lobes, and bright golden fading to 
white. The plant grows well in dry places, 
and is increased from suckers and layers, 
or will flower the second season from seed. 
In the south of France and Italy it is grown 
under the name "Jonquil-scented Jasmine." 
There is a variegated form. 
Common Jasmine (y. officinale). — Though 
a native of southern Asia, this has been 
naturalised in Europe and well known in this 
country for hundreds of years. Its hardiness, 
its strong growth — which often reaches 20 
to 30 feet against sheltered walls — its pro- 
fusion of white flowers from June to August, 
loved everywhere for their fragrance, and its 
cheerful growth even in towns, are merits 
that have endeared it to all. It is evergreen 
save in the coldest spots, reaches a great age, 
with stems many inches round and rugged as 
a Cork Oak, spreads freely by suckers though 
rarely fruiting in this country, and will grow 
B 
