We are all fully aware of the necessity of flowering shrubs in the beautification of the rural home grounds and the great quantities of species of this family we have to select from. having made a careful study of this branch of horticultural work I feel confident that the varieties which I intend to describe and recommend will give entire satisfaction to my readers, no matter in what section of country you may intend to plant. I have been very cautious to select only those varieties that are perfectly hardy and will give good effects whether planted singly or in groups. Let me importune my friends to be more generous in the use of shrubs on the home grounds; they require very little care except an occasional shortening of the branches to infuse new life in the remaining buds, and removing old and decayed wood. When once planted we can have an abundance of bloom annually from Spring until Autumn, providing we make selections that will give us a continuity of flowers. Not so with Herbaceous or bedding plants, which we must continue to plant annually. We will not attempt to group the various sorts but leave this to the judgment of the planter, he being in a better position to determine the desired results.

* How to Plant

-- Dig the holes and plant in the same way as before recommended for the ornamental trees. The Hardy Flowering Shrubs can be planted during the months of March, April and May, in the Spring. Our aim should be, however, to plant them as early as possible, whilst the stock is in dormant condition. You can also plant in the Fall to good advantage during the months of October, November and December. Mulch the ground about the plants with a good, liberal application of stable manure, letting it remain on the ground during the Winter months, and incorporating it in the soil in the early Spring.

* Spirea, Vanhouttii

-- One of the most charming and beautiful of the Spireas. Habit graceful and drooping. Completely covered with panicles of pure white flowers. A handsome sight when in full bloom. We. cannot say to much in praise of this grand shrub which profusely bears beautiful flowers annually under neglect.

* Spirea Opulifolia Aurea (Golden Leaved)

-- An interesting variety of distinctly yellow foliage; flowers white. One of the most effective shrubs on the lawn.

* Spirea Reveesi

-- Covered in Spring with clusters of pure white flowers.

* Spirea Billardi

-- Rose color, blooms nearly all Summer.

* Spirea Prunifolia (Bridal Wreath).

-- One of the earliest blooming kinds. Flowers double white.

* Spirea Bumalda

-- A Japanese species of dwarf habit and covered in mid-summer and Autumn with bright, rose colored flowers.

* Spirea Thunbergii

-- One of the most charming of all low growing shrubs. Foliage of fine, feathery appearance, taking beautiful tints in Autumn. One of the earliest and freest bloomers.

* Spirea Callosa Alba (Fortune's Dwarf White Spirea)

-- A white flowering variety of dwarf, bushy habit; keeps in flower all Summer; a valuable small shrub.

* Caryopteris Mastacanthus (Blue Spirea.)

-- A neat, compact, new sort, with large fragrant blue flower-cluster that keep crowding up plentifully from the axils of the leaves, from mid-summer until frost. If killed to the ground by frosts the young shoots spring up freely and flower the first season.

* Spirea Anthony Waterer

-- A fine new dwarf spirea, with large, crimson flower corymbs, produced quite abundantly. One of our finest shrubs.

* Spirea Callosa. (Fortune's Pink Spirea.)

-- Bears pink flowers in large, flat. clusters nearly all Summer.

* Viburnum Plicatum. (Japan Snow Ball).

-- A beautiful flowering shrub; the flower clusters, which are produced all over the bush, are spherical in form and of the purest white, with beautiful crimped, dark green foliage. There are many other varieties of Snow Ball, but all are susceptible to the attacks of plant vermin, which curl and twist their wood into abnormal shapes, making them undesirable for planting. (Viburnum Plicatum) is free from the ravages of this insect and we recommend it with confidence.

* Forsythia, Suspensa (Weeping Golden Bell).

-- An almost evergreen shrub of sprawling habit, covered in Spring before the leaves appear with handsome yellow flowers. Very conspicuous..

* Forsythia Viridissima

-- Grows upright, has deep green bark and leaves and deep yellow flowers. It is one of the very finest of all early blooming flowering shrubs.

* Corylus Atropurpurea (Purple Leaved Filbert

-- A very conspicuous shrub, with large, dark purple leaves; very distinct.

* Eleagnus Longipes (Japan Oleaster)

-- Beautiful silvery foliage, laden with fruit; the bush is highly ornamental and the fact that the leaves remain fresh till late Autumn gives it additional value.

* Halesia Tetraptera (Silver Bell).

-- A beautiful large shrub, with pretty white bell-shaped flowers in May; it is distinguished by its four winged fruit which is from one to two inches long.

* Exochorda Grandiflora (Pearl Bush)

-- A fine shrub, producing large, White flowers in May; one of the finest shrubs of its season.

* Deutzia Crenata

-- The beautiful white single-flowered species that blooms so lavishly in early June. Preferred by many to the double sorts. valuable for backgrounds, specimens or grouping.

* Deutzia Candidissima

-- A new and handsome species, with very large double flowers so pure white and perfect that they are frequently used in "floral pieces".

* Deutzia Hybrida Lemoinei

-- A new and elegant cross from D. gracilis, as dwarf and free-flowering, but of more upright growth and said to be even finer for forcing.

* Deutzia (Pride of Rochester).

-- A choice new sort that excels in vigor, in size of flowers, length of panicles and freedom of bloom. The flowers are double, white, tinged outside with pink, and open a week earlier than those of other sorts.

* Deutzia Scabra (Roughed-Leaved Deutzia)

-- Very vigorous; flowers white, single, bell-shaped, in small bunches. One of the tallest-growing sorts.

* Deutzia Gracilis (Dwarf Deutzia)

-- The beauty of the family and one of the best shrubs in our entire list. It forms a low, round bush, covered with small white flowers; valuable for forcing.

* Weigela Candida

-- A new, valuable sort that bears large white flowers profusely in June and continues blooming sparingly until Fall.

* Weigela Van Houttii

-- Deep crimson flowers, covering the plant completely. Weigela Nana Variegata (Dwarf Variegated Weigela).

-- Dwarf, with clearly defined, variegation of green, yellow and pink in its leaves; flowers delicate rose and pink. Effective and useful. One of the most beautiful variegated shrubs in cultivation.

* Weigela Rosea

-- Bears beautiful rose-colored flowers thickly in June.

* Weigela Stelzneri

-- Dark red flowers born thickly along the branches

* Hydrangea

-- There are several varieties of Hydrangea, but we consider the Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora the most reliable for outdoor culture; it is perfectly hardy and can be grown successfully in the coldest locations; it bears a profusion of white flowers which change to pink in Autumn; it can be used advantageously for many purposes as single specimens or for grouping; it is also a very desirable hedge plant. We think one of the most enjoyable sights we viewed the past season was a large hedge of Hydrangea P. G. It requires severe pruning in Spring, it can be cut back to the ground if necessary and will bear a profusion of flowers the same season. The Hydrangea makes a fine showing planted in beds in lots of six and upwards; set the plants four feet apart.

* Prunus, Japonica FIore1 albo pleno (Double White Almond)

-- Produces beautiful double white flowers in May.

* Prunus, Japonica Rubro pleno (Double Pink Almond)

-- A beautiful small shrub, bearing in the Spring before the leaves appear, an abundance of small, double, rose-like flowers, closely set on twig.

* Lonicera (Marowi)

-- A vigorous, broad spreading bush, bearing numerous yellow flowers, followed by crimson fruit, which remains on the plant for a long time, giving it a very choice effect.

* Lonicera (Fragrantissima).

-- Blooms very early in the Spring, sometimes before the snow disappears. Very valuable for early bloom.

* Berberis Thunbergi (Thunberg's Barberry).

-- A dwarf spreading species, with small white flowers in May, followed with an abundance of deep scarlet berries, which color they maintain all Winter. The foliage in the Summer is of a beautiful shade of green, changing to a beautiful reddish yellow in Autumn.

* Berberis, Purpurea (Purple Leaved Barberry).

-- A very desirable plant for the lawn. Foliage of violet purple color, very effective when contrasted with the lighter foliage of other plants.

* Philadeiphus, Coronarus (Mock Orange)

-- Strong growing, rounded habit, rich green foliage. Flowers pure white and very fragrant.

* Philadeiphus Fouls Aureis (Golden Mock Orange)

-- A brilliant little shrub, with bright golden leaves, color constant through Summer. Grouped with green, and purple leaved shrubs; it produces fine effects.

* Philadeiphus Grandiflora (Large Flowering Syringa).

-- A large shrub, with recurved branches laden with large, showy flowers, slightly fragrant.

* Tamarix Africana

-- Handsome foliage, upright habit; flowers in May.

* Tamarix Chinensis

-- A vigorous, upright grower, with delicate foliage of a lively green color; flowers rose colored in September.

* Kalmia Latifolia (American or Mountain Laurel).

-- A beautiful native evergreen shrub, with shining foliage and dense clusters of pink flowers in Spring; requires same treatment as the Rhododendron.

* Kalmia Angustifolia

-- Has narrower leaves and darker pink flowers. Cornus, Mascula Variegata (Variegated Cornelian Cherry).

-- The variegation of this variety is of pure white.

* Rhodotypus, Kerrioldes (White Kerria)

-- A very ornamental shrub from Japan, with handsome foliage and large, white flowers. Last of May. Succeeded by numerous small black fruit. One of the hardiest shrubs in cultivation. We consider the foliage of this plant the equal in beauty of any of the green leaved shrubs.

* Myrica Cerifera (Bayberry).

-- A low spreading shrub, handsome foliage; small, white berries in Autumn.

* Hamamelis Japonica (Japan Witch Hazel)

-- A most beautiful shrub, with darker leaves and more elegant habit than the American type. It makes a choice specimen of low, close growth, and is always attractive. The yellow flowers appear in curious shape just before Winter sets in.

* Cydonia Pyrus Japonica (Japan Quince)

-- The Japan Quince ranks among our choicest shrubs. As single shrubs on the lawn they are very attractive. Their large, brilliant blossoms are among the first in Spring, and they appear in great profusion, covering every branch and twig. The foliage is of a bright green and has a leathery appearance.

* Cornus Sanguinea (Red Barked Dogwood).

-- A strong growing shrub, with clusters of fine white flowers ; its blood red bark enlivens either Summer or Winter landscape.. Can be used to good effect in grouping.

* Sambucus, Aurea (Golden Elder).

-- Very desirable for contrasting. Foliage of a beautiful golden yellow.

* Hex Crenata (Japanese HolIy)

-- Hardy Japanese variety with shining myrtle-like leaves. The Hollies are very valuable for landscape work, being an evergreen they enliven the dreary appearance of home grounds during the Winter months.

* Hex Opaca (American Holly).

-- A beautiful evergreen, bearing red berries in great abundance; contrasting finely with the green leaves.

* Hex Aquifohia (English Holly).

-- Very similar to the American Holly. The leaves not quite so large and growth more compact.

* Mahonia Aquifohia (Holly Leaved Mahonia)

-- A native species of medium size, with purplish, shining, prickly leaves and showy, bright yellow flowers in May, succeeded by bluish berries; its handsome deep green glossy foliage and neat habit render it very popular for decorative planting.

* Clethra, Alinfoha (Sweet Pep. per Bush).

-- A small shrub of dark green foliage, having a profusion of white flowers in midsummer, followed by clusters of deep red berries. Very fragrant.

* Prunus, Pissardi (Purple Plum).

-- The finest purple leaved tree or shrub. The foliage when young is crimson turning to deep purple in Autumn which color it retains until the leaves fall in the Winter. Very desirable for contrasting with other trees and shrubs. Flowers, single, white, covering the tree.

* Transplants easily and is worthy of a place on every lawn

* Mahonia Japonica

-- Large distinct leaves and yellow flowers in May. This is one of the prettiest evergreen shrubs that can be planted; attracts attention where ever grown.