12 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
HIBISCUS. 
Hardy and Grnamental Shrubse 
A Few -of the Best Varieties. 
— Rhododendrons. — 
The charming family of Rhododen- 
drons, Azaleas, and their kindred will 
occur to any one who desires showy 
flowers in the shrubbery. There is no 
more beautiful class of plants, but, un- 
fortunately, they ‘will not thrive every- 
where, Those who cannot succeed with 
them may console themselves with Roses 
and Pzeoxies, 
hard-wooded, evergreen shrub, producing 
magnificent heads of flowers of a variety 
of colors. Planted in a sheltered position 
they will thrive in a satisfactory manner. 
They like a peaty soil, but will succeed 
in light loamy or sandy soil that has been’ 
recently broken up, but rarely do well in 
soil that has been cultivated. It is hene- 
ficial to the plants to mulch the soil with 
fresh cow dung, which helps to retain 
the moisture and to keep down the 
temperature. Rhododendrons are ‘easily 
raised from seed, but many varieties are 
propagated by pan on seedling stocks’ 
in pots. 
The Rhododendron is a_ 
— Peonies. — 
Teeonia Moutan (the so called tree 
Peony) is a shrub that will thrive in 
soil that is death to Rhododendrons. For 
the best results in growing Pzeonies one 
must have petience, as it is only after 
they have been established some years 
that ‘they begin to show their real 
beauty. They need the choicest places 
in the garden, plenty of sunshine, rather 
moist and very rich soil, often renewed. 
They are grand plants when well grown, 
‘and worth a’ great deal of trouble. 
— Lilacs, — 
Lilacs shrubs, 
desirable for their beauty and fragrance 
of their flowers. They are ‘propagated in 
are charming 
many. varieties, but the old fashioned 
white and dark lilac kinds are as hardy 
and satisfactory as any, and will stand 
more neglect ‘than’ ‘any of the newer 
kinds. ; { 
dry « == Cydonias.—. Me sth 
Flowering Quiiices, or Cydonias; ‘are 
beautiful objects in the'spring, especially: 
the bright scarlet and the pure white 
varieties. Cydonia Moerlosii has 
and 
August 2, 1909 
exquisite flowers of shaded carmine, and 
there are varieties that have bloom of a 
conspicuous orange-red, such as Cydonia 
aurantiaca, which ought not to be planted 
near Lilacs or shrubs with rose-pink 
flowers. 
— Hibiscus, — 
Although there 
number of handsome species of this genus 
in our gardens, and nearly all are beauti- 
ful, there is not sufficient character in 
many to make it worth while to cultivate 
more than a select few. Most of them 
are easily propagated by cuttings or 
seed, 
is a  considerable- 
They require little attention, 
flower in any soil, with or without 
shelter, and produce a profusion of lovely 
large flowers. H. Mutabilis (Changeable- 
Rose) is a very large bushy variety, grow- 
ing to a height of 10 ft., and produces a. 
profusion of large, very handsome, double: 
flowers, something like immense double 
roses; white on first opening, then. 
becoming cream-coloured, and finally of 
a deep 1ose tint. H, Rosasinensis 
(Chinese Shoe Plant) is in almost constant. 
blossom, with its brilliant, crimson- 
scarlet flowers, with the long, pretty 
column of pistil and stamens projecting 
down their centre. H. Chrysanthus has. 
large-sized golden flowers, with a purple- 
crimson spot at the base, forming a dark- 
colored eye; attains a height of about 6. 
feet. H. Syriacus averages about 6 feet: 
in height, and bears large, lilac-blue: 
flowers, with dark-purple eye. H. S. 
Alba bears double white flowers. Besides. 
these, there are many beautiful, varieties. 
to be obtained from our nurserymen. 
— Deutzias. — 
Of Deutzias, the double-flowered pink 
and white Deutzia crenata is perhaps the- 
most conspicuous. Tt forms a large bush, 
sometimes eight or nine feet in height,, 
and is covered Aldi bloom. 
E. BLACKEB Ys 
BOOT & SHOE, MANUFACTURER, 
226 Rundle Street, Adelaide. 
CUT SOLES A SPECIALITY. 
