Ulex europæus fl. pl. (Double-flowered Furze or Gorse), 4 to 6 feet. Beautiful in hot and dry soil.

Viburnum Opulus sterile (Guelder Rose or Snowball tree), V. plicatum, 5 to 6 feet.

Vinca major (Periwinkle), 6 inches to 1 foot. A little creeping shrub, delightful for a rough bank, and will thrive under trees better than most shrubby plants. The pretty blue flowers appear for a long time. There is a variety with prettily variegated leaves. V. minor, another species, is smaller altogether. There are deep-blue and white varieties.

Weigelas, 6 to 8 feet. Excellent shrubs for small gardens.

Shrubs for Town Gardens

From the preceding list of shrubs for small gardens a selection suitable for towns is appended. Many things refuse to live in the smoky and confined air of towns. This is particularly noticeable in the case of evergreens; the pores become choked with sooty deposit, and the plant consequently soon fails, whereas many of those whose leaves are removed annually are not so seriously affected. Conifers are generally a failure. This is a small list, but only small gardens are under consideration.

CHAPTER XXXI

SHRUB AND FLOWER BORDERS