Cytisus.—Broom. The Common Broom (C. Scoparius) is by no means to be excluded from our gardens, where its cheerful presence in the semi-wild parts is very welcome. Among cultivated varieties the beautiful white form C. albus is very graceful, with its long dark green sprays covered with snowy flowers. C. Andreanus is similar in form to the common variety, but the yellow flowers are richly marked with blotches of reddish chestnut.
Prunus.—This is a large family containing the flowering Plums, Almonds, Peaches, and Cherries. Almost all are beautiful, with their soft masses of rosy pink and white flowers borne on branching twigs and sprays. The Japanese Cherry (P. pseudo-Cerasus), which the Japs will tramp for miles to see in all its beauty, has many good double varieties, one of the best being Cerasus Watereri. P. Padus, the Bird Cherry, should, in its double form, certainly be included among the garden trees. Then there is the Double Chinese Plum (P. japonica), with delicate pink and white flowers borne on slender shoots. P. Lauro-Ceraus, the Cherry Laurel, a fine evergreen, which requires plenty of space, and should not be crowded in among more delicate growers. The common Almond (P. amygdalus) is well-known, especially in town gardens, its beautiful pink flowers being produced early in the season. In spite of its general use in our gardens we could ill spare the Portugal Laurel (P. lusitanica), it is a noble evergreen, and worthy in many cases of better treatment. A beautiful little dwarf shrub is P. triloba fl. pl., with large blush flowers, changing with age to pure white. It is worth almost any consideration to secure a small representative collection of this family for our gardens. P. pissardi.
Pyrus (Cydonia) Japonica.—A well-known shrub, producing a profusion of vivid scarlet blossoms over an extended period. The fruit, which appears in autumn, is of considerable size. A variety alba, with white flowers, should also be grown.
Philadelphus.—Mock Orange. Well-known old-fashioned shrubs, the syringa of the cottage gardens. They deserve an open, sunny position, when they will form really handsome bushes, covered with a wealth of sweetly scented blossoms. P. coronarius is the common variety, and in the same section we have aureus with golden leaves; primulæflorus with double white flowers; and nanus, a dwarf form, which, however, is a shy bloomer. P. grandiflorus has much finer flowers than coronarius, and is but slightly scented, an advantage when the branches are used for indoor decoration, the common form being almost too powerful in a room. P. microphyllus is an excellent dwarf variety, forming a compact bush about 3 feet high.
Viburnum.—Guelder Rose. The beautiful snowball-like flowers of this shrub are extremely ornamental, and it deserves a worthy place in the garden. Sterile, the cultivated form of the native V. opulus, grows to a good height, and may be planted well back in the mixed shrubbery. V. plicatum is somewhat different in habit, producing continuous sprays of large, white blossoms.
Stuartia.—A deciduous shrub bearing flowers something like the Camellia. S. pseudo-Camellia has creamy-white blossoms with yellow stamens. S. virginica forms a handsome bush, the flowers the same colour as the foregoing, with the addition of blood red stamens.
Ribes.—Flowering Currant. Too well-known to need description. In addition to the common variety R. sanguinea, the Buffalo Currant (R. aureum), with yellow flowers, and the double form flore-pleno, which blooms later than the type, should also be grown.
Syringa.—Lilac. Grouped in bold masses, the Lilac family is a charming one in the garden. A sheltered corner devoted to a representative collection, or a good hedge formed of several varieties, is the way in which they should be grown. A straggling bush, hemmed in by coarse evergreens, is a poor way of displaying so charming a flower. The following are worthy of notice: S. chinensis, with rich violet flowers; S. japonica, with large creamy-coloured flowers; and S. persica, the Persian Lilac, a much smaller kind, which looks well planted in the foreground of large groups. The flowers are pale mauve. The white variety, Marie Lagrange, is very handsome.
Choisya Ternata.—Mexican Orange-flower. Not quite hardy, but worth a sheltered position, on account of its shining evergreen foliage and abundance of pure white flowers. It is a good plant for warm seaside districts.
Cotoneaster.—Rockspray. Hardy and easily grown rock-shrubs. C. buxifolia forms a good-sized bush, the flowers white, and produced abundantly. C. microphylla is useful for walls or sloping banks in the rock garden, where there is a bare space which needs covering. The Cotoneasters are evergreen, and in winter are rendered bright and showy by clusters of scarlet or crimson berries.