4G8 
THE RHAMNUS, OR BUCKTHORN. 
many cases, winged stems, have an evergreen 
appearance, and serve to relieve much of that 
aspect of barreness which such situations, ex- 
cept they are furnished with perennial verdure, 
are generally found to have assumed in the 
winter. In the spring and summer, when in 
bloom, they are highly ornamental, decked 
with a profusion of their golden-coloured 
blossoms. On the whole, the species of Ge- 
nista, having the characters just referred to, 
may be regarded as just the very kind of 
plants that are adapted for rock-work on a 
large scale. 
The other point referred to was the cultiva- 
tion of some of the decumbent species, as 
" fancy" ornamental standard plants, worked 
at the top of a clear, straight stem, three, four. 
or five feet high. Such plants are singular 
and beautiful, and there are few places where 
an appropriate situation could not be found 
for one or two of these plants. It is only the 
prostrate or decumbent kind to which this 
refers ; such kinds, when so treated, assume 
the character of dwarf standard plants, with 
drooping, or, as commonly expressed, " weep- 
ing" branches. At all times, even when 
destitute of bloom, or even of leaves, the 
plants have a singular and interesting appear- 
ance, and when in flower they are exceedingly 
beautiful. The Laburnum, a closely allied 
plant, is generally chosen, as the stock on 
which the other kinds are engrafted, either 
by the process of budding in the summer 
season, or, more frequently, by ordinary graft- 
ing in the spring ; the stocks are selected 
when about an inch in diameter at the height 
required, and the process of engrafting them is 
the same as that practised in ordinary cases 
with other plants. Such plants, as the grafted 
shoots progress, require to have them disposed 
at first in such a manner as to form an even 
and well-balanced head; and unless this is 
attended to they will frequently grow one- 
sided and deformed, a condition quite inimical 
to the beauty the plant is capable of being 
made to exhibit. These grafted plants seldom 
require any pruning, except it be to remove a 
branch where they may chance to be crowded, 
to shorten back any that may be growing too 
strongly to the disadvantage of the rest, or 
to take away dead branches. 
The soil preferred by these plants generally 
is a sandy loam ; and they grow best in situa- 
tions which are rather dry and elevated than 
otherwise ; this is especially the case with 
those which, from their trailing habit, are 
recommended for being grown on rock-work 
On the same principle, the Genistasare a family 
of plants which grow and bloom in the great- 
est perfection in summers that are dry rather 
than otherwise. 
THE RHAMNUS, OR BUCKTHORN. 
The generic name Rhamnus, is according 
to some authors derived from the Celtic word 
ram, signifying a tuft of branches ; this word 
the Greeks have changed to rhamnos, and the 
Latins to ramus. It is an extensive genus, 
consisting chiefly of hardy shrubs, of which 
some are deciduous, and others evergreen. There 
are, however, some few green-house and hot- 
house species which are omitted altogether in 
this notice. Among these plants we have the 
Alaternus, one of the most desirable evergreen 
shrubs we possess. The flowers of all the 
species are altogether insignificant. The ber- 
ries of several afford a valuable material for 
dyeing, and this is the case also with the bark 
of some species. Ehamnus belongs to the 
natural order Rhamnaceae ; and to the 
Linntean Pentandria Monogynia. 
Rhamnus alaternus (the Alaternus) is a 
handsome evergreen shrub, of which there are 
several varieties in cultivation, all very desi- 
rable plants. This species assumes the 
character of a densely branched bush, unless 
moulded to some other form by artificial 
means. In sheltered situations it attains the 
height of fifteen or even twenty feet, and is 
met with of almost every size and height 
below this. The leaves are ovate-elliptical, 
quite smooth, and firm, with serrated edges in 
most of the varieties ; they are situated alter- 
nately on the stem, that is, first on one side 
then on another, and so on, by which these 
plants may readily be distinguished from the 
Phillyrea, with which they are often confused. 
This species is a native of the south of 
Europe, and the north of Africa ; and has 
been cultivated in this country for upwards of 
two centuries. It is one of the plants which 
formerly, in the days of geometrical gardens, 
and architectural or zoological trees, were 
clipped into the forms of birds, or beasts, or 
any other form the fancy of the operator might 
choose. In the present day, beauty is more 
easily seen in its natural garb. 
The varieties of Alaternus are : — balcarica 
(the Balearic Alaternus) with roundish leaves; 
hispanica (the Spanish) with ovate-toothed 
leaves : foliis maculatis (the gold-blotched 
leaved); foliis aureis, (the gold-edged leaved); 
foliis argenteis (the silver-edged leaved) a 
very ornamental kind, but rather tender, and 
highly deserving a situation against a wall ; 
and angustifolia (the narrow -leaved) of w r hich 
there are two subvarieties, with gold and sil- 
ver striped leaves. 
Rhamnus aln ifolius (thealder-leaved Buck- 
thorn) is an erect deciduous shrub, grow- 
ing to the height of eight feet. It has obovate 
or ovate leaves, and was introduced from North 
America. 
