THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 
67 
odour. This and the last are two of the most valuable importations 
from China by the Horticultural Society. 
Prunus cerasifera. — A hardy tree from five to twenty feet 
high, of neat, smooth-branching habit, ultimately ramifying into 
innumerable twig-like branchlets, which produce a sheet of snow- 
white blossom in March. This is one of the most ornamental eariy- 
flowering trees ; it is well adapted for background effect in broad 
shrubberies. Ia the out-ground plantations of park scenery, when 
in bloom, it has also a highly picturesque effect. 
Deutzia staminea. — A small dwarf deciduous shrub, from one to 
three feet high ; its ovate lanceolate leaves are surfaced with a 
whitish grey nap ; it produces dense clusters of fragrant white 
syriDga-like flowers in May. Ordinary soils suit it. 
Berberis aquifolujat. — One of the most ornamental of dwarf 
evergreen shrubs, having glossy dark green leaves, surmounted by 
large spikes of bright yellow flowers in March and April. It loves 
a deep loamy soil, but has the finest effect in a tolerably deep peat 
bed. In shallow soils it should be planted on an east or west 
aspect, or in such a position as to be screened from bright sunlight. 
It forms admirable cover for game, and its numerous clusters of 
fruit, surfaced with a rich violet plum-like bloom in autumn, pro- 
duce a very pretty effect. 
DAPHNE ODORA. 
E great anxiety manifested now-a-days for the possession 
of plants that are called new, is, I fear, producing, in 
many instances, the effect of pushing aside some of our 
old plants, with which very many of the new ones are 
not to be compared. 
"Without affecting to despise novelties, or to be indifferent to 
subjects of the most recent introduction, I am anxious to call 
attention to some old and valuable, but comparatively neglected 
plants. 
One of this description, I believe, is the Daphne Odora, whose 
claims on our notice in point of usefulness are perhaps second to 
none. Flowering at a time when flowers are so much wanted to 
enliven our conservatories, or for decorating the drawing-room, 
renders a good stock of it a great acquisition. I am aware that 
many plants might easily be enumerated, with whose gaudy appear- 
ance this is not to be set in competition; but among all the winter 
flowering plants with which I am acquainted, I could not point out 
another that would more amply repay the labours of the cultivator. 
And yet if you go into any place where the introduction of new 
plants is much attended to, the chances are you do not see it at 
all, and if you do, instead of it occupying the prominent place it 
deserves, you will generally find it pushed into some out-of-the-way 
corner of the greenhouse, as if it were an object totally unworthy 
of our care or attention. In such situations its appearance is just 
March: 
