VOL. XVI.—No. 3,135. 
S.VTURD.VY, NOVEMBER 29, 1913. * 
NOTE OF THE WEEK. 
New Berry-bearing: Shrubs. 
Although there is no good reason, astthe 
dull days of autumn bring into prominence 
the brilliantly-coloured berries of the 
ever-popular shrub, why we should not 
enter heartily into the spirit of the old 
carol, “Heigh-ho! sdng Heigh-ho! unto the 
green Hdly,” the time has 
come when those who are in¬ 
terested in the shrubbery 
should give careful considera¬ 
tion to the claims of berry¬ 
bearing shrubs of merit other 
than those which have had a 
place in British gardens for so 
long a time. There are not 
among the kinds of recent in¬ 
troduction any that can justify 
a claim for superiority to the 
holly, the pyracantha, and a 
few other of the old favourites, 
but many possess sufl&cient 
beauty, when laden with their 
brightly-coloured fruits, to 
entitle them to a prominent 
position in groups and borders. 
For the new, hardy, berried 
shrubs, as for many other 
hardy plants of much interest 
and beauty, we are indebted to 
the activities of Mr. E. H. 
Wilson, and the enterprise of 
those by whom his explorations 
in Western China were rendered 
possible; and among them are 
some of the most valuable of 
the newer Chinese plants. 
Hitherto^ the estimate of the 
merits of these ornamental 
plants from Western China has 
l)^n based chiefly on the 
habit of growth or the attrac¬ 
tiveness of the flowers. It 
<^uld not well have been otherwise, for 
not until they had attained some size and 
nge was it possible to determine T\nth 
necessary exactitude their berry-bearing 
capacity in this country. It is not enough 
to know that in their native homes they 
produce an abundance of attractively 
coloured fruit, and it would not be diffi¬ 
cult to call to mind several hardy shrubs 
that gave great promise of usefulness in 
this connection, but failed to realise the 
promise because the climatic conditions 
of our land were unfavoui'able. Happily, 
many of the newer shruibs have reach^ the 
truit-bearing stage, and the collections of 
Chinese plants in the Aldenham House 
gardens and the Coombe AVood nurseries 
afford ample evidence that a considerable 
proportion of the species and varieties 
bear their fruits so freely as to present a 
rich effect when they have attained ma¬ 
turity. Especially noteworthy among 
kinds deserving the immediate attention of 
planters are the berlieris and cotoneasters, 
which include a considerable number of 
species that are of comparatively small 
growth, and therefore suitable for small 
gardens, for the rock gaixlen, and for the 
marginal lines of broad belts of large- 
growing shrubs. Among the berl>eris of 
special merit are B. Coryi, a compact- 
growing species of upright habit, with slen. 
Mr. G. A. HAMMOND. 
der growth, bearing yellow flowers on s.pnrs 
and short laterals, these being follow^ by 
medium-sized fruits of the most brilliant 
scarlet colour. B Wilsome is » <lwarf- 
erowing species of elegant habit; the 
flowe.^ are bright yellow and produced “ 
freely as to give a pleasing effect. But 
its chief value for decorative purposes wn- 
if the bright coral-ml fruits, which 
are produced in abundance; and bemg pr^ 
tect^ from the birds by long and shai-p 
spines, they are retained far into the win¬ 
ter B sub-caulialatus is a stronger grower 
than the foregoing, is highly 
the fruits have ripened, and as they 
Live the protection of sharp-pointed 
^ines, they contribute to the attraction 
^ the shrubbery border for a longer peri^ 
than do those to which the feathered tribe 
have free access. B. Geraldi is a strong- 
giow^ng species of deciduous habit, and 
b^ar- a profusion of deep yellow flowers, 
which arc followc<l by fruits borne in dense 
clusteis. B. Stapfiana Ims a dwarf habit, 
is elegant in growth, and lK*airs its yellow 
floweiw aiul ixvl fruits the whole lengUi of 
the sleniler shoots, the latter producing 
a rich effect during the autumn and wnnter. 
B. |K)lyantha is a rather strong-growdng 
six>cies, attaining a height of five or six 
fc'ot, and l^earing an ahundnnoe of coral- 
red fruits in long racemes. H. Gagnepaini 
and B. vei'nuulosa are two 
purple-fruite<l 6|)ecies that do- 
serve attention for the distinct 
colour of their fruits, as well as 
for their other merits. Of tho 
somew’hat largo group of new* 
ixytoneasters the following de¬ 
serve special attention ; Coton. 
easter anuriia is a chamiing 
spec'ies, <lense in growth, an<I 
forms han<Lsoine .spe<'imens; 
the white flowers are borne in 
large corymbs, and prc'sent a 
pleasing appearanct*, while 
tho brilliant scarlet fruits 
are so ahiimlant a» to pro¬ 
duce a fine effect in tho 
autumn. C. rugosa Henryi is 
distinct in character and ele¬ 
gant in growth, and the large 
clusters of rich crimson fniits 
along tho slender shoots pre- 
s<mt a charming appearance. 
C. applanata is distinct in cha¬ 
racter, and, in point of merit, 
follows very closely the fore¬ 
going species. It is free in 
growdh, profuse in flowering, 
and the scarlet fruits, which 
are produced in great abun¬ 
dance, remain on the plants for 
a long time. C. salicifolia and 
its varieties, glaciosa and 
rugosa, are free in growth and 
elegant in habit, the shoots 
being slender and pendulous, 
and the flowers are white, followed by bril¬ 
liant red fruits. One other berry-bearing 
shrub must be mentioned, and that is Sym. 
phoricarpus oooidentalis (mollis), an Ajneri- 
can Snow'berry which is perfectly distinct 
from, and has much larger berries than, 
the common Snowberry (S. racemosus) of 
British gardens. It is altogether superior 
to that species, and should be planted 
wherever berry-bearing shrubs are appre¬ 
ciated. 
Mr. G. A. Hammond, of Wood¬ 
lands, Burgess Hill, Sussex, is one of the 
most enthusiastic amateur rosarians of the 
present time, and also one of the most 
successful. He cultivates roses extensively 
and skilfully in a delightful district, and 
he knows how* to exhibit his bl(X)ms when 
they have been well grown. He won his 
first prize at a National Rose Show at the 
