12 
A dainty ‘shrub at all times is A 
Baileyana. but when in blossom a reigning 
queen of beouty, Itis hardier than its 
appearance would indicate, but requires 
occasional waterings during the Sum- 
mer. 
Acacia armata, A- verticillata and 
A. callamistrata are distinct types, highly 
ornamental and useful in large plantings. 
Acacia dealbata, in congenial position 
assumes the proportions. ofa tree, as does 
A. mollissima which becomes quite a 
tree, generons in proportion, and more so 
in the profusion of clusters of beautiful 
yellow bloom which obtain a ready sale 
lf Australia had 
given us only of her acacias we should be 
under heavy obligation. But what of the 
Pittosporums? The two best known 
varieties are eugenioides and nigricans. 
Each one is prettier than the other. Which 
one? Pittosporum eugenioides has the 
larger foliation, and with its smooth shiny 
leaves of a chrome green tinge is one of 
our most desirable shrubs, 
nigricans . with blackish. branches, and 
seems to harmonize readily with the 
majority of shrubs. But one of the chief 
charms of these two varieties is the quaint 
delicious odor emanating from the modest 
little purplish flowers half hidden in the 
foliage, an odor that gently assails one in 
a manner reminiscent of the sweet briar 
in the older countries, afterarain, Both 
varieties named are being used for hedges 
and are a relief from the sombre sterev- 
typed hedges of cypress. 
The casuarinas from an interesting 
group, one of the most striking of which 
is Casuarina equisetifolia with its unusual 
in the florist stores. 
Pittosporums 
equisetine foliage, drooping and grace- 
ful, making a pleasing effect as a single 
specimen. Itis unusually hardy. Others 
of more than ordinary interest are 
Casuarina suberosa and ~ Casuarina 
leucadendron. 
The melaleucas, or, as they are aptly 
named, ‘bottlebrush,’ from a jelcome 
addition to our hardy shrubbery, And 
the coprosma, what.shrub: has the- same 
intensity of color? Its greenness is almost 
. luminous and its handsome ‘orange red 
berries form a rich contrast to its 
foliage. ; 
One of the very best of the park shrubs 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
assuming a tree form is the Tristania 
conferta. This shrub, or tree-as it may 
eventually be, is quite beautiful, sym- 
metrical in growth, pretty brown bark, the 
broadly ovate lanceolate leaves being 
tipped with a metallic reddish luster hard 
to describe. It is one of the myrtaceze 
closely allied to the gums, and during 
Winter bears a number of pretty white 
blossoms closely resembling those of the 
Eugenia apiculata. This plant ‘s well 
deserving of attention and should be 
given a place in any decorative planting 
of consequence. It would harmonize 
with and relieve large plantings of lilac 
of their tameness when out of flower. 
If there be any one plant more than all 
others combined that has given a touch 
of the tropics to the appearance of San 
Francisco it 
planted on the streetsor in the park and 
These very 
is the Dracsena indivisa 
gardens. useful shrubs 
withstand the wind, indifferent planting — 
poor soil and neglect in a manner worthy 
of admiration. Quite true, the stems do 
present a rather bare appearance when 
the plants become tall, but then the 
average house gardener would-trim them 
that way anyhow. I believe that if one 
of those knights of the hedgeshears were 
to meet a feather duster in the garden he 
would trim the whiskers on it tillit would 
look like a window brush. 
And then the 
myrtifolia, with its shining bronze brown 
there is Eugenia 
foliage forming an elegant contrast, or 
rather harmony, with similiar forms of 
shrubbery having the usual shades of 
green; and Eugenia apiculata, and, gem 
of loveliness when decked in its blossoms 
of white; and speaking of white is there 
anything growing outside more sweetly 
chaste than those clean pure blossoms of 
the Swainsona ? What a pity it grows so 
readily, otherwise the florists and the 
public might rave over it. 
Clianthus puniceus is another of the 
Australian shrubs which has made itself 
at home here. Outside of our parks it is 
seldom grown as a shrub, It trains very 
readily ; and how many dull old fences 
have been covered up by its refreshing 
green foliage, and its odd pendulous 
clusters of clawlike flowers that have so 
aptly suggested the common name of 
crabelaw ! 
October 1, 1909 
And we have the corynocarpus, Hakeas 
myrtles,..ericas, the gorgeous Sterculia 
acerifolia and the Dicksonias, alsophilas 
and other tree ferns and palms, which 
like the gums will furnish a paper of 
_ themselves, and we might go cn and on 
like Longfellow’s ‘ babbling brook,’ for 
the farther one goes into Australian 
shrubbery the more he become aware of 
vastness of the subject and the dearth of 
knowledge we have of that country of 
animal and-vegetable-wonders. Where is 
there a shrub in which there is combined 
so many admirable qualities ag the 
Leptospermum Jevigatum. There were 
no colored plates in the text books to 
herald it as being anything ont 
of the ordinary, but in Golden Gats> Park 
it has’ received its full measure of 
appreciation. Out at the very edge of the 
beach where ‘the sper:dthrifé of the waves 
adds its share of moisture to the dreary 
fog, out where the sand-laden winds 
swirl and cut like needles; there this 
remarkable shrub not only exists ut 
thrives. In many portions of the park 
may be seen handsome clumps gracefully 
informal. while on the other hand it may 
be seen in formation of excellent hedges 
while again with a little encouragement 
it entirely embowers a stretch of 
walk, producing a perfect ideal arbor 
effect, which in the early Summer is 4 
delight to the eye when the trailing oF 
drooping foliage is heavily laden with its 
wealth of pretty white blossoms. 1t is 
worthy of mention also that leptospermum 
may be used to excellent advantage for 
decorative purposes; the huckleberry of 
the florists is stiff and artificial in com- 
parison. Name for us another shrub 
with the versatility of our lowly, modest 
leptospermum 1? 
There is also a very interesting var.ety, 
well named, cricafolia, which ig quite — 
protty when in flower. But L am again 
reminded ofthe babbling brook, and will 
close with the hope that collectors oF 
importers may be induced to send ws 
many of the Australian shrubs which t0 
us are only names in certain textbooks; oF 
that some one having the ways or means 
to introduce them will in a spirit of good 
will towaras the horticulture of out - 
favored State grasp the opportunity to 
add to our shrubbery some of the many 
desirable, but, to us, unknown shrubs 
which we may consistently believe are 
yet to be introduced from the land of the 
acacia and the leptospermum. : 
—' Florists Exchange.’ 
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