EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS. 589 
THE KALMIA. Kalmia. 
This evergreen shrub, also known as the American or mountain 
laurel, in its wild state is smaller than the rhododendrons, and is 
found from Canada to the Gulf States in rocky, shady, and moist 
places, such as suit that shrub. It has not been hybridized and 
improved by culture to near so great an extent as the rhododen- 
drons, and the natives of the woods being difficult to grow into 
thrifty shrubs in common soils and exposures, have not been much 
used for embellishment. The indigenous varieties are : 
The Broad-leaved Kalmia. K. latifolia . — Height three to 
six feet. Leaves thick, glossy (in the shade) long and slender. 
Flowers in clusters, in June and July, white to red. 
The Narrow-leaved Kalmia. K. angustifolia. — Known as 
sheep laurel. A dwarf shrub with clusters of red flowers, in June. 
Two feet high. 
The Glaucous-leaved Kalmia. K. glauca. — An upright 
shrub two feet high, bearing red flowers in May. 
All these species are charming shrubs where growing in con- 
genial soil, shade, and moisture, but do not develop much beauty 
in open situations and with common culture. 
EVERGREEN BERBERRIES. 
Some evergreen species have been introduced into England 
which are esteemed. The following may be adapted to this country : 
Darwin’s Evergreen Berberry. B. Darwini. — Described 
(in England) as “ a thoroughly hardy evergreen, with neat shining 
dark-green foliage, and in the spring covered with deep orange-colored 
flowers.” It is on trial in our nurseries j also the B. neiiherti. 
Loudon mentions the sweet-fruited evergreen berberry, B. dulcis, 
which grows in the neighborhood of the Straits of Magellan, as “ an 
elegant evergreen bush,” five feet or more in height ; also some 
Asiatic varieties which are not yet in cultivation in our nurseries, 
and probably not of sufficient merit to warrant their culture. 
