398 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Koelreuteria. — K. paniculata is a handsome ornamental- 
leaved deciduous and flowering tree, a native of China, and a 
member of the Horse Chestnut order (Sapindaceae). It grows 
io to 15ft. high, and has elegant pinnate foliage which turns to 
a rich yellow and bronzy tint in autumn. In summer it bears 
yellow flowers in terminal panicles two or more feet long, and 
is therefore a very pretty object in the garden. A valuable 
and handsome tree to grow on the lawn or in the shrubbery. 
It appears to thrive best in a sandy or gravelly soil, and in a 
not too exposed position. Plant in autumn. Increased by 
cuttings in gentle heat in spring, also by layering in autumn. 
Laburnum (Golden Chain). — The Common Laburnum 
(L. vulgare) is one of our prettiest spring-flowering trees, and 
we only wish owners of suburban gardens would plant it more 
largely than the lime and poplar. It would make just as good 
a screen and be infinitely prettier when in blossom. The latter 
is a native of Europe and a member of the Pea order (Legu- 
minosae). There are a number of varieties of it, among which 
may be specially mentioned aureum, with golden-yellow leaves ; 
Carlieri, with narrow leaves and flowers borne in long racemes ; 
quercifolium, a form with oak-like leaves ; and monstrosum 
fastigiatum, with erect branches. All bear golden-yellow 
flowers. Then there is the Scotch Laburnum (L. alpinum), a 
European species, with broader and richer green leaves and 
longer racemes than L. vulgare. This species grows 15 to 
20ft. high, and flowers in June. Of this there are the following 
varieties : Autumnale, flowering in autumn ; Parksii, flowers 
yellow, borne in very long racemes ; and Watered, also yellow, 
and with racemes fully a foot long. L. Adami (Purple Labur- 
num) is a very interesting hybrid between Cytisus purpureus 
and L. vulgare, supposed to be obtained by grafting the two 
on each other. Anyhow, the tree is a curiosity, as on one 
branch one may often see distinct racemes of yellow and 
purple flowers, or a single raceme, one-half of which is yellow 
and the other purple. All the Laburnums succeed in ordinary 
soil and should be planted in autumn. The Common Laburnum 
is often grown on a trellis archway or pergola with great 
success, as the flexible shoots are easily trained. Laburnums 
require no pruning beyond cutting out dead wood in winter, or 
removing weak shoots in the case of trained plants directly 
after flowering. Laburnums are easily reared from seed, but 
seedlings are not always satisfactory, and should only be used 
as stocks to bud good free-flowering varieties, on in July. 
Lavandula (Lavender). — No plant is more appreciated 
in gardens than the fragrant-flowered Lavender. Our forebears 
never omitted to grow a plant or two of it in their gardens 
