May 30, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
621 
worthy of a place in collections on account of this 
peculiarity. 
Waterer’s Laburnum (L. v. JPalereri). — The 
racemes of golden yellow flowers of the Common 
Laburnum are relatively short compared with those of 
the Alpine Laburnum, yet this is greatly improved in 
several of the cultivated forms of the former, and 
Waterer’s Laburnum would come under this heading. 
The racemes are longer, the colour of the flower is 
darker, and the latter are very profusely produced, 
making the variety one of the choicest in cultivation. 
The Rose-coloured Hawthorn {Cratcegus Oxya- 
cantha rosea superba). —In common parlance this ig 
spoken of as the Scarlet Thorn, although the flowers 
are more properly of a dark red-rose rather than scarlet. 
The variety is highly ornamental, but the flowers have 
less endurance than those of the double red corre¬ 
sponding to this, and which, although very effective at 
a distance, is less pretty when the flowers are closely 
examined than the single one. Both being low, round- 
headed trees could easily be accommodated in gardens 
even of small extent. 
The Double White Thorn (C. 0. flore pleno). —It 
might be argued that the double white variety presents 
no striking characteristic nor advantage over the type. 
The flowers individually are not so pretty, but the 
effect at a distance is bold and massive by reason of the 
profusion with which they are produced, and they last 
longer in perfection. At first they are white, but as 
they get old they fade or rather darken to a pink 
hue, as if they had some affinity with the double red 
variety. 
The Siberian Pea-tree (Caragana arborcscens ).— 
The generic title is derived from Caragan, the name 
applied by the Mongols to the species under notice. 
The light green, abruptly pinnate leaves, and the erect 
habit of the tree give it a distinct appearance amongst 
other shrubbery trees. Just now it is furnished with 
its yellow flowers, which add somewhat to the appear¬ 
ance of the tree. 
The Evergreen Laburnum ( Piptanthus nepalensis). 
—The past severe winter seems to have no injurious 
effect upon this fine subject, for it is now flowering finely. 
The leaves consist of three lanceolate leaflets, which are 
larger than those of either of our European Laburnums, 
and of a rich dark greeD. The structure of the flowers 
is, however, very different from that of a true Laburnum. 
The flowers are also much larger and produced in short, 
erect racemes, and are of a beautiful clear yellow. 
Strong young plants grow rapidly, producing rod-like 
stems in the course of a season, but they seldom attain 
more than a height of 10 ft. The leaves are evergreen, 
but as they get damaged in winters that are not parti¬ 
cularly severe, the plant should have the protection of 
a wall. 
The Long-stalked Oleaster (Elccagnus longipes). 
■—The evergreen leaves of this species are covered 
underneath with a belt of silvery scales, and the plant 
wears no brighter nor duller aspect at any time of the 
year, except when flowering in spring, and again in 
autumn when loaded with its sub-transparent fruits, 
covered thinly with rusty scales. Just now the leaves 
are partly hidden, and certainly greatly subdued by the 
profusion of pale lemon flowers that fade to creamy 
yellow. 
-- 
PHYLLOCACTUS DELICATUS. 
Many of the Cacti were highly cherished and largely 
grown by our forefathers, but for many years past they 
have been existing only in the gardens of a few enthu¬ 
siasts. Within the past few years interest has been 
rising in their favour, and possibly in a few years hence 
we may see collections in most gardens again. A small 
house set apart for their special accommodation and 
cultural treatment would not be the least attractive or 
interesting feature of a garden. The slow-growing and 
inconspicuous-flowered may, and probably will always, 
be looked upon as botanical curiosities, but some 
sections of them are notable for the great size and 
decorative value of their flowers, notably the species of 
Phyllocactus, Epiphyllum, Cereus and Pereskia. Some 
of the larger-flowered species of the former, notably P. 
crenatus, have been largely hybridised or crossed, thus 
giving rise to numerous varieties. P. delicatus is a 
seedling, and has large open flowers of a beautiful 
satiny pink suffused with white. Although the flowers 
are irregular, in botanical parlance, with declinate 
stamens, yet the great number of petals gives them a 
regularly rounded form. The stems are flattened and 
deeply notched at the edges. We are indebted to 
Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea, for this opportunity 
of figuring it. 
Phyllocactus delicatus. 
The Ringo Crab ( P. Malus Ringo ).—This is more 
of a large bush than a tree—say, from 4 ft. to 10 ft. 
high, with numerous slender branches well furnished 
with spurs, from which the flowers arise in umbels in 
great abundance during April and May. ' The unopened 
buds are of a glowing red or fiery crimson, gradually 
fading as they expand to a rosy purple hue and blush- 
white internally. The fruit is very small, and dark in 
colour, more resembling that of a Cratiegus than a 
Pyrus. It should be in every garden, as it is highly 
ornamental at this season of the year, or earlier in 
mild springs. 
Soulange’s Magnolia {Magnolia conspicua Soulan- 
geana ).—The flowers of this variety are of large size, 
with the petals more or less tinted with purple. For 
this reason some consider it a natural hybrid between 
M. conspicua and M. obovata ; but as the petals of the 
type assume a considerable amount of purple as they 
flat, brownish red pods are also productive of some 
effect during autumn. The tree is a native of South 
Europe, especially in Greece and Turkey, and is very 
abundant in Judea, whence probably arose the name of 
Judas Tree, which would more properly be rendered 
Tree of Judea, not that on which Judas hanged himself. 
Another name of quite different significance applied to 
it is Love-tree. It was originally introduced in 1596, 
but is not half so common as its beauty warrants it 
should be in gardens. In the southern counties it 
proves perfectly hardy as a standard, but in the north 
requires the protection of a wall. 
The Oak leaved Laburnum ( Laburnum vulgare 
qucrcifolium). —The flowers of this variety are similar 
to thorn of the type, and produced in equal abundance. 
The leaves, however, present a striking anomaly, 
ina-much as the leaflets are sinuately lobed, so as to 
resemble those of a small-leaved Oak. It is we’l 
get old, it is quite reasonable to suppose that Soulange’s 
Magnolia is merely a seedling variation from M. 
conspicua. There is also a darker purple variety 
named nigra. Soulange’s Magnolia originated in 
France. 
The Judas Tree ( Cercis Siliquastrum). —The flowers 
of this small tree vary from bright purple to rosy 
purple, but there are also varieties with pink or flesh- 
coloured and white flowers. They are produced in 
fascicles from the spurs of last year’s wood as well as 
from branches several years old, and during May 
produce a striking effect on account of their profusion. 
The leaves are tinted with red during expansion. The 
The Berried Pyrus {P. baccata.)— This might well 
be grown by way of contrast to the last named on 
account of its snow-white blossom, which is produced 
in great abundance. The tree is also highly ornamental 
in autumn when loaded with its small, Cherry-like 
fruits, which are yellow, and more or less tinted with a 
brilliant red. Even after the leaves drop the fruits hang 
for a time, making the trees glow with their warm hues. 
When planted singly upon the grass it forms a round 
or broad-headed tree from 12 ft. to 20 ft. high, and as 
far through. It is a native of Siberia, where the 
natives use the pulp of the fruit for making quasar 
punch. Introduced in 1784. 
