THE GARDENING WORLD. 
211 
March 7, 1903. 
Daphne Mezereum. 
! Although an extremely old-fashioned garden plant, the 
t!ezereon°is still one of the most popular of spring-flowering 
! ]irubs the freedom with which the flowers are produced, 
either with their delightful perfume, making it an indis¬ 
pensable plant for gardens where spring flowers are in demand. 
The 'flowering period of the Mezereon extends over many 
months, for Towards the end of September the autumn-flower- 
i)o- variety, D. M. grandiflora, or, as it is sometimes called, D. 
M°autumnalis, commences to flower, and it is rarely seen from 
that, time until March without blossoms. This variety is well 
(worth cultivating, the flowers being larger and a deeper shade 
of red than the type. The flowers of the type usually com¬ 
mence to open in January, and are at their best through 
February and until the middle of March. A companion plant 
for the type and the variety mentioned is that with white 
known as D. M. var. alba; it is as free flowering as 
flowers, 
tlier 
the type, and flowers at the same time. Apart from 
flowering, the Mezereon has claims on our attention, for it fruits 
freely, and is very ornamental when the fruit is ripe. In the 
case of the type, the fruit is bright red, while in the white 
variety it is yellow. If seeds are sown as soon as ripe, they 
(Terminate readily ; but if allowed to dry previous to sowing, 
thev will often lie in the soil from one to two yearn before 
germination takes place. The berries being extremely poisonous 
to human beings, care must be taken that children do not eat 
them. ° W " D - 
Gaultheria Shallon. 
The value of this hardy evergreen as an undergrowth plant, 
does not appear to be fully appreciated, and it is rarely that 
one sees it growing in any great quantity in nurseries where 
shrubs are made a speciality of. Soon after its introduction in 
1826 it was recommended as an undergrowth for plantations 
where game was preserved, and for a time it is said to have 
been planted extensively and proved satisfactory. Why its 
cultivation was not kept up it is hard to say. Its adaptability 
for the work mentioned is proved by the fact that in Western 
North America, where it is found growing wild, it is found in 
dense Pine forests, where little else will grow. It maker a 
dense, good-looking mass 3 ft. to* 4 ft. high, with dark gieen, 
leathery, broadly-ovate leaves with serrated margins, and 
racemes of white, pink-tinted flowers, followed by purple 
berries, which are edible. The flowering period is May, the 
fruit being ripe in September. It may be increased by seeds, 
or by division, the latter being difficult, as it does not establish 
quickly after being pulled about. If, however, young plants 
raised from seeds or plants which have become established in 
nursery quarters after having been raised from division ate 
lifted with a ball of soil and transferred without injury to then- 
allotted places, they do not give much trouble. 
W. Dallimore. 
The Cornelian Cherry. 
Although not such a rarity as the several species of Hama- 
melis which brighten up our shrubberies in January, Comus 
Mas—which is the correct- name of this plant—makes quite as 
fine a show in February, when smothered with its bright yellow 
blossoms. It is a common European plant, and is also found 
in Northern Asia, but is not found wild in Britain, though two 
other Dogwoods are. It is said to- have made its first appear¬ 
ance in English or British gardens in 1596. In habit it makes 
a dense bush or small tree 12 ft. to 20 ft. high, the leaves 
being oval and acuminate. The flowers are yellow, veiy small, 
and are home in umbels from all parts of the plant in such 
profusion as to almost hide the naked branches. The flowers 
are succeeded in some places by oval fruits about the size of a 
small acorn, these fruits being scarlet in colour. The fruiting 
of this plant cannot, however, be depended on ; in most cases 
the male organs appear to ho much more in evidence than the 
female, especially on young plants. Several varieties are in 
cultivation, of which C. M. aurea elegantissima, with golden 
variegated leaves ; C. M. variegata, with white variegated 
leaves; C. M. fructu violaceo, with violet fruit; and C. M. 
nana, of dwarf, compact habit, are most distinct. When 
planted in the wild garden, plantation, or back of a shrubbery 
composed of large growing things, where plenty of room can be 
Primula megaseaefolia (seep. 206 . 
given for development, this plant is seen at its best, and on a 
sunny day, when the flowers are lit up by the sun, it is 
extremely showy. W. D. 
Wilkins’ Plan of Transplanting Trees. 
The Scientific American ” states that by the Wilkins’ in¬ 
vention the tree which is being transplanted is never handled 
in any other way than from its base. In short, to explain the 
method in a nutshell, it may be stated that the earth and roots 
are encased in a steel basket of any required size which cor¬ 
responds to the flower-pot of the florist. The first operation in 
transplanting a tree by this method is to thoroughly wet- the 
earth about- the tree, softening the ground. Next in order is 
the placing in position of the steel basket, which is made of 
curved steel shovels. A medium-sized machine, enclosing earth 
and roots, 6 ft. in diameter, is composed of fourteen shovels 
made of 5-16 in. plough steel, each of the shovels being hinged 
to a steel platform surrounding the tree. After the shovels 
have all been driven into- place they are firmly secured to the 
platform by crossbars, by which the whole tree can be lifted 
from its bed, 
