FLOWER GARDEN

These are hardy shrubs, comprising both evergreen and deciduous species. When given plenty of room they develop into fine specimens, clothed in bloom from top to bottom. They thrive in any fairly good, friable ground.

The barberry may be raised by seed sown either in autumn or spring, or suckers springing up from the rootstocks may be removed and planted. Cuttings of the ripened wood may be inserted in sandy soil in a frame in autumn.

Among the species and varieties of berberis are many of the best hardy ornamental shrubs. They are valued for their flowers or fruits; the leaves of a few, notably Berberis Thunbergii, become brilliantly colored before they fall. The barberries are easily managed and thrive in well-cultivated ordinary soil.

The mahonia (Berberis aquifolium, 3-5 ft.), bears yellow flowers in spring and purple fruits in autumn; it will thrive under large trees and is a good covert shrub. Darwinii. and stenophylla, two vigorous evergreens, 8 ft. or more, bear orange-yellow and yellow flowers respectively in spring; buxifolia, 8 ft. bears yellow fragrant blooms in April.

In recent years many new barberries, valued for their brilliantly-colored fruits, have been introduced from China, including Wilsonae, aggregata, polyantha and dictiophylla. Many seedlings which have been raised from them also bear profuse crops of brightly colored fruits. These new barberries are of low or medium height and are invaluable for the front of shrubberies.

The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) is a large leaf-losing bush or small tree which bears bunches of scarlet fruits in autumn. Berberis wallichiana has large evergreen leaves and bears primrose yellow flowers in spring; candidula is a low-growing evergreen, with purplish fruits, suitable for the rock garden.

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