Title: The century book of gardening; a comprehensive work for every lover of the garden
Identifier: centurybookofgar00cook (find matches)
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Cook, E. T. (Ernest Thomas), 1867-1915, ed
Subjects: Gardening
Publisher: London, The Offices of "Country life" (etc. )
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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374 THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. Asia ; the glorious race of Rhododendrons that horticulturists (mostly British) have obtaineJ by intercrossing the wild species of the Caucasus, Himalayas, and North America—these are but three out of numerous groups that the gardeners of only 150 years ago knew not. Yet in spite of all the wealth of evergreens available, some introduced, others raised in this country, it is surprising how much they are neglected. There is one evergreen, however, the Common Laurel, that should be rigorously excluded from a shrubbery, unless one has an entire group of it. Few other things can fight against its greedy, searching roots, and its upper growth smothers everything near itunless it be cut back continually, which destroys its beauty. Grown as an isolated shrub, with abundant space for its long graceful shoots
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TREES BY THE LAKESIDE, WROXTON ABBEY, BANBURY. and brilliant green leaves, the Common Laurel is, however, very beautiful, not, remember, when it is either cropped mercilessly once or twice a year, or jammed up with other things. The alphabetical lists which follow may be searched for the best evergreens, many of them handsome in both flower and leaf. Berberis stenophylla is one of the most graceful and free-flowering of hardy evergreens ; B. Darwini, too, in sheltered spots is charming. The value of the Common Camellia as a perfectly hardy shrub in the South of England has never been realised. There are also Azalea amoena, Olearia Haasti, several Elaeagnuses, green and variegated, the Skimmias and Pernettyas, for their fruits. In soils free from lime the great Heath family would furnish a garden complete. The fact that the Hardy BAMBOOS have only sprung into prominence during the present decade (although they have already made their mark in gardens) justifies special mention of them. Upwards of fifty sorts are now in cultivation, but owing to the similarity that exists between several of them, and the inferiority of others, about half of these only are needed to adequately represent this group of evergreens in ordinary gardens. They belong to a type of vegetation essentially tropical in character and distinct from that of our native flora. No hardy evergreens exceed—very few, indeed, equal—these shrubby grasses in beauty of form, luxuriance of leafage, or bright colour in winter-time. Their fresh tints give them great charm in midwinter; but to show all these qualities Bamboos

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