Of all the low-growing quite hardy shrubs, especially in small gardens, nothing is more useful for picking and arranging with all kinds of flowers than the common Box. The kinds vary a little, some being larger-leaved than others, and the growth of some plants a little more graceful and branching. The most desirable kinds can quite easily be propagated by cuttings stuck into the ground in a shady place in spring. Its depressing characteristic for beginners is that Box is very slow-growing. Next to this in utility comes the common Barberry, or Berberis vulgaris, as we ought to call it, which is so well known to everybody now, as it is sold in the streets of London all through the winter months with its leaves dyed a dull-red colour. How this is managed I do not know; I think it spoils the beautiful foliage by making it all of one tone. With us it turns brown in severe winters, with an occasional red leaf, but in damp soils it gets much redder. Berberis is one of those things much sown about by the birds, for they eat its pretty purple berries in quantities. The young seedlings which come up with us in the beds and shrubberies are easily moved when quite young, and can be put where they are wanted to grow. The best time to move them is wet weather in July or August. They are plants with a perfect growth and exceedingly well adapted to waste places in gardens and the fronts of shrubberies. Spring bulbs will grow through them, and their yellow flowers and dark leaves arrange admirably with the common Daffodil in glass vases. They can also take the place of the picked Arum leaves, which always droop before the flowers when put into water. Out of the little stove, all the winter through, I have long branches of the Asparagus plumosa. When cut, it is much more effective if trained up a light branching stick or feathery bamboo. This gives it support, and it is astonishing how long it lasts in water. It is extremely decorative, and will produce a most excellent effect if arranged in the above manner with only one bright flower added at its base.