August 3,1882. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 103 
young chickens. I may say that I have been but little troubled 
with them this season. My soil is light and stony.—J. P., Erith. 
FLOWERING SHRUBS. 
Spring is the flowering season of most of our best shrubs, and 
it is theu that our gardens assume their gayest, brightest aspect; 
and when “ Rhododendron time ” is over and summer comes 
swiftly onwards, its lengthening days and increasing heat bring 
with them very few flowers besides Roses among the shrubs, and 
a comparative dullness prevails where but a short time before all 
was brightness and beauty. All summer-flowering shrubs and 
plants suitable to associate with them are welcomed and cherished 
with loving care ; but after all has been done we have no substitute 
for our best spring beauties, and where space can be had it is a 
good plan to plant bold masses of bedding plants in front of the 
shrubs, which then receive and impart beauty to the flowers by 
the force of contrast and the relief and softness which the varied 
shades of green foliage impart to the bright colours. 
Not unfrequently a fringe of hardy perennials is found in shrub¬ 
beries, especially in old ones where Laurel, Box, Yew, and Holly 
predominate ; but I do not like an unbroken flower border in such 
a position, for although we have nothing approaching the peerless 
beauty of the Rhododendron among late-flowering shrubs, yet 
Fig. IS.—Odontoglossum Pescatorei Veitckii. (See page 107.) 
there are many possessing attractive features—so attractive that 
by the exercise of skill and good taste shrub groups may be 
pleasant throughout the year, offering us some special attraction 
peculiar to each season, and thus adding that charm of variety 
which every feature of a garden should possess in addition to 
intrinsic worth and beauty. Let it not, however, be supposed that 
the writer would rigorously exclude perennials from shrubberies, 
for there are a select few quite equal in effect to many of our 
choicest shrubs. Take for example Spirsea palmata, which in 
good soil so quickly makes large clumps, with an annual growth 
4 to 5 feet high and quite as much in diameter ; what shrub can 
surpass it when its lovely pink flowers are at their best ? Or the 
earlier-flowering Dielytra spectabilis, which assumes even larger 
dimensions under favourable conditions? Then, too, there are 
hardy Fuchsias, objects of exceeding beauty, sometimes to be seen 
in specially favoured gardens from 6 to 10 feet high ; Paeonias, 
Phloxes, the tall CEuotheras, many Lilies, the white Japanese 
Anemone, and such favourites as the stately Bocconia cordata, 
the Acanthuses, Centaurea aurea, Delphinium cardinale, Dictam- 
nus Fraxinella, the curious Eremurus robustus, Ferula communis, 
Melianthus major, the Himalayan Poppy (Meconopsis nepalensis), 
and Papaver orientalis, which is so striking that I have often 
known much admiration called forth at the sight of one of its 
huge scarlet flowers, with a couple of its curious flower buds cut 
off and put in a vase. Planted at intervals singly in nooks 
reserved for them along the margin of the shrubs, such stately 
plants are far more ornamental than they ever can be in a crowded 
perennial border, standing alone as they then do, distinct from 
and yet in perfect harmony with their surroundings. 
Returning now to the shrubs, let us see what comparison season¬ 
able sections bear to each other, marking the best as we go along. 
Spring.—Here of course Rhododendrons take precedence of all 
others. In making selections care should be taken not only to 
secure favourite colours and fine flowers, but also good successional 
flowers in order to prolong the season. Thus every garden should 
possess at least one specimen of such early-flowering varieties as 
Broughtonianum, all the varieties of Nobleanum, Cunningham’s 
White, sometimes called caucasicum album, altaclerense, and 
Victoria. Of intermediate sorts to be regarded as indispensable 
there are Mrs. John Clutton, Lady Eleanor Cathcart., Barclayanum, 
Alarm, Brayanum, Lady Lopes, geranioides, atro-sanguineum, 
William Downing ; and of later kinds Star of Ascot, John 
Spencer, and John Waterer, the opening flowers of which afford 
a sure indication that the end of “Rhododendron time” is draw¬ 
ing nigh. Upon the lovely Azaleas I need not dwell further than 
to plead for space for a group of A. pontica, so deliciously fragrant 
as it is ; to claim a sheltered nook for a few varieties of the early- 
flowering mollis ; to once more note the singular beauty of 
A. amoenaas single specimens m rock beds, and that mixed groups 
are here found to alternate admirably with others consisting 
entirely of Kalmia latifolia, the evergreen habit of the Kalmia 
atoning somewhat for the bareness of the deciduous Azaleas in 
winter. All the other Kalmias are found to answer best mixed 
with Andromedas, Gaultherias, Menziesias, and other dwarf 
shrubs. Next among our best spring shrubs come Berberis 
Darwinii, B. dulcis, B. stenophylla, B. japonica, and Mahonia 
aquifolia ; Escallonia macrantha more beautiful this year than I 
have ever before seen it; Garrya elliptica ; double Gorse, good only 
for five or six years : white and yellow Broom, Crataegus pink 
and white, Laburnum, which, with Lilac, Guelder Rose, Weigela, 
and Syringa, link together spring and early summer. Let me here 
note the great beauty of the large-flowered Syringa (Philadelphus 
grandiflorus), which answers well both in sunshine and partial 
shade, and is planted in both positions to prolong its flowering 
season ; Forsythia viridissima, a mass of golden flowers this year ; 
Buddlea globosa, Magnolia stellata, Ribes, Deutzia gracilis, Xan- 
thoceras sorbifolium, Siberian Crab, and Tree Pmonias. 
Summer.—Roses trained to pillars, especially Gloire de Dijon, 
tell well among shrubs, and the single Japanese Rose takes high 
rank among shrubs of handsome bushy growth. Deutzia crenata 
tlore-pleno is one of our best early summer beauties. The shrubby 
Spirmas, too, are more valuable from the succession of bloom 
which one variety after another affords. Two or three fine speci¬ 
mens of S. callosa alba are now very full of bloom ; but the most 
beautiful white-flowered variety is undoubtedly S. ariaefolia, just 
now passing out of bloom. When thoroughly established it 
throws up sturdy shoots 7 or 8 feet high, upon which its large 
soft white feathery plumes show to great advantage. The pink- 
spiked species S. Lindleyana and S. Nobleana have still many un¬ 
opened flowers ; so, too, has the lovely S. Douglasii. Then there are 
the varieties of Hibiscus syriacus ; the yellow Spanish Broom ; 
Ligustrum japonicum, queen of all the Privets ; Desfontainia 
spinosa, a veritable gem ; Gum Cistus, with its chaste yet fleeting 
beauty ; Veronica salicifolia, with lovely pink flower spikes ; 
iEsculus laciniatus, not half so much grown as it deserves to be ; 
Desmodium pendulifiorum, which, like all Japanese shrubs, has 
peculiar and distinct characters as well as much beauty. Hydran¬ 
gea hortensis and H. paniculata grandiflora, which, although 
highly valued for its handsome clusters of white flowers, has not 
answered my expectations, for the first flowers that I saw of it 
were grown in Cornwall, and all of them had red blotches ; but 
I have not seen it so clearly marked since. Rubus fruticosus albo- 
pleno, R. fruticosus roseo-pleno, and R. laciniatus, the first two for 
their charming double flowers, and the last for both flowers and 
fruit. Kerria japonica, Leycesteria formosa, Potentilla fruticosa, 
Diplopappus chrysophyllus, somewhat dull-looking now it is in 
bloom, but valuable for its yellow stems and leaves ; nor must I 
omit the wild Olive (Rhus Cotinus), that is so beautiful with its 
soft purple flower plumes. It will thus be seen that we have a 
considerable number of really good summer-flowering shrubs, 
which are turned to good account and form an admirable fringe 
to bold masses of Rhododendrons. 
Autumn and winter derive brightness, the one from changing 
foliage such as we have in the Liquidamber and Ampelopsis 
japonica and the silvery plumes of Pampas Grass ; and the other 
from the bright-hued berries of the Holly, Arbutus, Skimmia, 
and Benthamia, where it is found to answer. Our only good 
winter-flowering shrub is Laurustinus, but this will not answer 
in low-lying damp situations.— Edward Luckhurst. 
WEST OF SCOTLAND ROSARIAN SOCIETY. 
There is no place, even in more southern counties, where there is 
greater favour shown in the culture and exhibition of the Rose, or 
more thoroughly carried out, than in Helensburgh, a favourite bath- 
