Plate 299 . 
RAPHXOLEPIS OYATA. 
We are already indebted to Japan and Northern China for 
some of the most beautiful and hardy of our flowering shrubs, 
many additions having been made of late years to their number 
through the unwearied labours and intelligence of Mr. R. For¬ 
tune and Mr. J. G. Veitch, and we think that the plant which 
we now figure is likely to prove another valuable addition; in¬ 
deed, we have heard the opinion expressed by some most ex¬ 
perienced growers of plants, that it is the most valuable of the 
hardy plants which we owe to those gentlemen. 
When Tve consider how universally popular evergreen shrubs 
are, and to how many purposes they may be and are applied, 
any addition to the flowering kinds must be hailed with much 
satisfaction. Now 7 the Raphiolepis w 7 hich w 7 e figure possesses 
many qualities which entitle it to consideration : it grows, as we 
are informed by Mr. Veitch, to whom we owe its introduction, 
to the height of eight to ten feet, and forms a very handsome 
shrub; the leaves are large, ovate, and of a dark glossy green 
colour; the flowers are white, and produced in spikes, four to 
six inches long; they are moreover sweet-scented, and they are 
succeeded by dark, glaucous-purplish berries, much resembling 
those of the Portugal Laurel, so that whether in foliage, flower, 
or fruit, it is attractive; no wonder then that,” Mr. Veitch 
adds, “ we consider it to be one of the very best of the ever- 
green shrubs recently introduced.” 
The landscape gardeners of another generation w T ill certainly 
have great facilities for carrying out their plans, when the new 
trees and shrubs, plain and variegated, become more widely dis¬ 
tributed and more generally known; they will not fail to add 
a greater charm to those gardens and parks which are already 
