26o 
FLORA AND SYLVA 
GRISELINIA— A GOOD SEA- 
SIDE SHRUB. 
There are certain exposed spots in our 
shore-gardens where even the toughest 
of seaside shrubs are apt to fail. Not 
long ago I was asked to advise for such 
a corner, exposed to salt spray and bat- 
tling winds, and in which a long suc- 
cession of plants had perished, and in 
this little group we have the best of 
shrubs for such a position, hardier than 
the Euonymus and the Escallonias, 
thriving in any (even heavy) soil, while 
fully as sea-proof as the Silvery Atri- 
plex {Atripkx Thalimus) of the Medi- 
terranean and far more ornamental. 
While the greenish flowers are insigni- 
ficant and their berried fruits never seen 
in this country, the tough fleshy leaves 
are so unlike others in appearance that 
these are among the most distinct of 
evergreens. Of compact and fairly rapid 
growth, they soon make dense bushes 
of 6 to lo feet, freely branched to the 
ground and easily trimmed to shape, 
though best left alone. The leaves are 
of a light glossy green set upon tough 
yellow stems, irregularly rounded or 
wedge-shaped, and with a graceful 
droop that once seen is not forgotten. 
While hardy far into the north upon 
our coasts, the Griselinias fail inland save 
in the warmest parts, and are tender 
round London even upon warm walls. 
Yet there are no more useful shrubs 
for the cool conservatory, porches, pass- 
ages, and apartments where others exist 
with difliculty. The glossy leaves are 
easily kept clean and seldom attacked 
by insects, and, when safe from frost, 
the shoots will soon cover a wall where 
even Ivy fails. The plants thrive in 
pots with a minimum of trouble and 
are naturally of good shape. Only two 
species are now recognised by the Index 
kewensis^ both from New Zealand : — 
G. littoralis^ which reaches a height of 30 
feet in the southern island under the native 
name of " Kapook." Theleaf is wedge-shaped, 
greyish beneath, where the veins show very 
faintly. 
G, lucida. — The finer of the two in its very 
glossy pale green leaves, which are much nar- 
rower on one side than the other. It is of 
smaller growth than littoralis^ reaching only 
10 or 12 feet, with leaves more fleshy and the 
veins very distinct on the under side. 
G. macrophylla passes as a robust natural 
form of lucida^ with larger bright green leaves 
so thick as to be almost succulent. 
Cuttings of G. limralis made in 
August, and put in light soil under 
glasses in a cool house or frame, root 
freely in six or eight weeks, the half- 
ripened weaker side-shoots succeeding 
better than the stronger tips. Strange 
to say G. lucida is of far more diflicult 
increase ; it is therefore usual to graft 
it upon year- old cuttings of littoralis^ 
choosing the same month and similar 
conditions for the work. The lower 
shoots of all the kinds will also root 
slowly if layered. B. 
SONGS OF THE WOODS AND 
FLOWERS : The Winter Beech. 
If any say that Beauty parts from thee 
When frost and wind thy summer honours steal, 
Stand forth, O Beech, that such an one may see 
Beauty as great thy leafage did conceal ! 
So thou, the West Wind's lithe antagonist, 
Art quick to strife, but when his force is spent. 
As in a garment meshed of autumn mist. 
Thy branches sleep in silver-grey content. 
By all the crowning summers thou hast shed. 
By all thy well-fought winters, dauntless tree. 
Drop benisons upon thy lover's head. 
And share thy strength, thy grace, thy hope with me I 
Edith M. Thomas. 
