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.

Aucubas.
Berberis Aquifolium.
Berberis stenophylla.
Cotoneasters, especially C. frigida, which is, however, a small tree.
Crataegus Oxyacantha (Hawthorn) and varieties.
Crataegus Pyracantha (Fire Thorn); C. Laelandi.
Daphne Mezereum.
Euonymus japonicus.
Forsythia.
Genista hispanica.
Hedera (Ivy).
Hibiscus syriacus.
Jasminum officinale.
Kerria japonica.
Laburnum.
Ligustrum ovalifolium elegantissimum (Golden-leaved Privet).
Magnolia stellata, M. conspicua.
Osmanthus ilicifolius.
Philadelphus (Mock Orange).
Privet.
Prunus Amygdalus (Almond).
Prunus Avium flore-pleno (Double-flowered Gean).
Prunus Laurocerasus (Laurel).
Prunus Persica (Peach).
Prunus pseudo-cerasus.
Pyrus Aucuparia (Mountain Ash).
Pyrus floribunda.
Pyrus japonica and varieties.
Rhus typhina (Sumach).
Ribes aureum.
Ribes sanguineum and varieties.
Robinia Pseudacacia and varieties.
Spartium junceum.
Spiraea arguta.
Spiraea japonica and varieties.
Symphoricarpus racemosus (Snowberry).
Symphoricarpus vulgaris.
Syringa vulgaris (Lilac) and varieties.
Viburnum plicatum (Chinese Guelder Rose).
Weigela rosea and varieties.

CHAPTER XXXI

SHRUB AND FLOWER BORDERS

Where there are wide lawn spaces and fine trees in garden ground much of
the effect is often lost or spoiled by the presence of unworthy
trivialities where there should be distinct and bold features. The most
frequent offender is a narrow strip of flower border, edging shrubbery
and coming between the shrubs and the grass. Nothing is more useless
than such a border. The shrubs would look much better coming right down
to the grass, while if bright or distinc