3i6 FLORA AND SYLVA 
shown by the fact that in China, when 
fully ripened, it withstands 15 to 20 
degrees of frost ; in one of the nurseries 
near Paris a quantity of plants have long 
stood in the open unprotected, fruiting 
freely during recent winters ; and, even 
in Switzerland, it has proved perfectly | 
hardy when well protected by snow. 
In our own country it grows fairly well 
in the milder parts of Scotland, but there 
and elsewhere if exposed to cold, or 
brusque changes of temperature, it is 
apt to cast its leaves in winter instead 
of remaining evergreen, and this pre- 
vents its ever becoming the thing of 
beauty that it is in more favoured places. 
The fact that it is mostly treated as a 
shade-loving plant not only increases 
the risk from cold but prevents the 
fruit setting, whereas if planted in a 
sheltered but fairly open spot, screened 
during summer from hot sun at midday 
but otherwise freely exposed, the plant 
would gain in beauty and in vigour. 
The best indication of treatment for 
Nandina is the reminder that it is nearly 
related to the Barberries and needs 
similar care to the fine-leaved shrubs 
of that family. Like them of somewhat 
slow growth, it must be planted where 
its shoots will not be cut back by cold 
and where, when once established, it 
can remain, for though one of the easiest 
of shrubs to transplant, it is when the 
older stems rise from a thicket of young 
shoots that the Nandina is most beauti- 
ful, and this occurs only in strong and 
well-established plants. When the stems 
become naked belowmuchof this charm 
is lost, until, by generous treatment and 
cutting back, new growths can be forced 
from the roots, whence they break freely 
when the plant is in robust health. The 
finest specimens in Europe are probably 
to be seen at Pau, where special atten- 
tion has been given to the Nandina and 
conditions seem to suit it as in few other 
spots. Graceful stems of 8 to 10 feet are 
there not uncommon, densely clothed 
with foliage which changes from a soft 
red when first expanding to lively green 
with finally a bluish tinge in the mature 
leaf, while after the first touch of frost 
in autumn they pass again from bronze 
to purple and from purple to crimson. 
When these changes are watched in a large 
group of plants, with all the variety of indi- 
vidual form and varying stages of colour, the 
beautiful effect is not soon to be forgotten. 
And when to these rich autumn tints is added 
the heavy crimson clusters of pea-like berries 
shining like wax, which remain untouched 
by birds and hang from November to March, 
the Nandina may be well classed as one of the 
finest of evergreen shrubs. In Japan these 
clusters are much used for house decoration, 
and for want of Holly the British residents 
in the far East turn to them for Christmas 
decorations. Unfortunately with us, though 
the small creamy-white flowers are common 
enough, the fruits are rarely seen and are pale 
red in colour. 
The Nandina may be increased from seeds 
sown in bottom heat during spring, their ger- 
mination being slow and irregular, and the 
plants requiring to be wintered under glass 
for the first few years. Cuttings of the partly 
ripened shoots taken in August and Septem- 
ber, will also root in sandy soil under a hand- 
light or in a cool greenhouse, if given time. 
The best effect is gained by planting a group 
in light soil, which if poor, should be enriched 
by digging in peat, leaf-mould, and rotten 
manure. In ground so prepared the growth 
will be vigorous and the leaves ample and of 
rich colour, even though exposed to sunlight, 
which is necessary to well-ripened wood but 
has a bad effect upon starved plants. In dry 
seasons copious watering is necessary, a cool 
