beauty. Except in warm and favoured situations, it is not very hardy,
and should always be grown as a wall plant. The fiery scarlet,
orange-tinted flowers, resembling somewhat those of the Honeysuckle,
are very beautiful by the first weeks of May. It grows to about 6 feet
in height in southern England, and is, when in full flower, a shrub of
unusual beauty.


EPHEDRA.

EPHEDRA VULGARIS (_syn Ephedra monastachya_), from Siberia, 1772, is a
half-hardy shrub of trailing habit, with inconspicuous flowers.
Thriving in very poor soil, or on rocky situations, is the only reason
why it is introduced here.


EPIGAEA.

EPIGAEA REPENS.--Ground Laurel, or New England Mayflower. Northern
United States, 1736. This is, perhaps, in so far as stature is
concerned, hardly worthy of a place in our list, yet it is such a
pretty and useful shrub, though rarely rising more than 6 inches from
the ground, that we cannot well pass it over. For planting beneath Pine
or other trees, where it can spread about at will, this prostrate shrub
is most at home. There it enlivens the spot with its pretty evergreen
foliage, and sweet-scented, white or pinky flowers. It is quite hardy.


ERCILLA.