11 OCTOBER 1946, Page 15

In My Garden One shrub in my garden every year

rubs in the neglected truth that it is a mistake to give very good soil to bushes or trees precious for autumn coloration. It is a sumach that refuses to take on its proper colours. The one that grows most profusely fades most ingloriously. The best autumn bush is undoubtedly Rhus cotinoides. It quite outtlames the else more comely' Rhus cotinus ; but even that is almost rivalled by the common thorn if it is grown on gravel. It is then at least this equal of the cherry or spindle. This last I had to oust from the garden as it proved a favourite host of the black fly.. W. BEACH THOMAS.