| The are many shrubs that are unknown to many | | | | of more importance than the glorious fragrance, |
| persons and are frequently overlooked in the race | | | | one eagerly turns to the Chinese witch-hazel, |
| to travel the roads of the average plantsman. | | | | llamamelis mollis. But first comes the Vernal |
| May and June are the months when the greater | | | | witch-hazel, a couple weeks after wintersweet, |
| number of different shrubs come into flower, | | | | followed in another week by the Chinese species. |
| when they combine to make Spring a joyous | | | | Vernal is an American sort, from the Ozarks, |
| season for the gardener. But there is a fascination | | | | another ravishingly fragrant flower. The bush |
| about those that flower at odd times. | | | | grows taller - about 10 feet and the branches are |
| Winter-flowering shrubs are a happy surprise, yet | | | | laden with little reddish-yellow flowers. These |
| only a few persons notice them at that season, | | | | twigs brought indoors also fill the air with floral |
| and such plants achieve but little popularity. | | | | fragrance. All witch-hazels are very hardy, but to |
| Philadelphia or New York are chosen as localities | | | | encourage early flowering, the shelter of a building |
| from which to average the gardening season, and | | | | is helpful. If just one kind is provided for, the |
| that enables us to select January 8th as the time | | | | Chinese is first choice for beauty; the vernal is for |
| to expect the lovely winter sweet to burst into | | | | fragrance. Where available space is not a |
| bloom. When this date was recorded, the | | | | consideration, add the common witch-hazel for its |
| temperature was as low as 38 degrees. The | | | | unusual October-flowering habit. It is not often |
| flowers of this large shrub are dark yellow, nearly | | | | seen except by those who tramp the woods in |
| the size of a buttercup, and are arranged | | | | Autumn, when they get the thrill of its fringe-like |
| abundantly along short branchlets of last year's | | | | floral display. |
| growth. They are overpoweringly fragrant, and | | | | The first plant considered in these notes was |
| when branches are cut and brought indoors, the | | | | Chimonanthus. Do not confuse this with |
| room is pervaded with their delicious odor. | | | | Chionanthus rirginicus, the white fringe tree. But |
| Northern Winters are a little treacherous for this | | | | you must hear about the latter, too, for China |
| plant, and sheltered positions are advised. The | | | | has revealed a smaller shrub than our popular |
| winter-sweet has gone through several changes | | | | American species which flowers a month later, in |
| of botanical names, hut is now authoritatively | | | | June. This is Chionanthus retusus. The fringe-like |
| known as Chimonanthus praecox. | | | | bracts of the aptly-named white fringe are curious |
| Companion pieces of wintersweet are the Oriental | | | | flowers and create a feathery aspect to the |
| witch-hazels. Indeed, where it is not easy to get | | | | whole when the Spring flowers appear. |
| the first named, or where superior floral display is | | | | |