REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 143 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



first twenty years and making a very dense top, it is too destructive to other species 

 imloss kept down with much Inloiir. Mixed with birch, nsh, and American elm which 

 could hold their own it would be useful in shading the ground and killing side 

 branches. 



APvBOTlETUM AND BOTANIC GARDEN. 



The winter of 1005-6, owing to the lack of snow was a hard one on trees, shrubs 

 and herbaceous plants and more of these were killed outright than usual. Of trees, 

 376 species and varieties comprising 403 specimens were killed, and of herbaceous 

 perennials 264 species and varieties. In the spring of 1906, 122 species and varieties 

 of trees and shrubs were added, and 120 of herbaceous perennials. The total number of 

 species and varieties of trees and shrubs alive in the autumn of 1906 v.ere 3,133 

 represented by 5,701 specimens. There were 1^906 species and varieties of herbaceous 

 perennials alive. 



Notwithstanding the winter and the drought during the sumraor, the Arboretum 

 looked well in 1906. 



During the past ten years a number of useful lists have been published of trees, 

 shrubs and herbaceous plants growing in the Botanic Garden. 



In 1897 lists were published of Oiie Hundred of the Most Ornamental Ilardij 

 Trees and Shnihs, and also One Hundred of the Best Herhaceous Perennials. In 

 1898 an Additional List of Good Perenn-lals was given. In 1899 a list wfis pub- 

 lished of Some Good Low Growing Flowering Shi'^iJ)S, and also an Addiilonal List of 

 Good Pemnnkils. In 1900 there was given a list of the Best Hard}! Woody and An- 

 nual Clinxbers. In 1901, A List of the Best Lilacs. In 1902, .4 TJst of Best Spring 

 Flowering Perennials. In 1903, A List of Deciduous Trees, Shrvhs and Climbers with 

 Attractive Foliage, Baric and Fruit. In 1904, A List of the Genera of Trees and 

 Shi-uhs in the Arboretum with the Number of Species of Each. And in 1899 there 

 was published A Catalogue of the Trees and Shrubs which had been tested up to that 

 date, with notes regarding hardiness. To these listfe is now added A List of Thirty of 

 the Best Hardy Flowering Shruhs, most of which have appeared in former lists. 



LIST OF BEST THIRTY HARDY ORNAMENTAL FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



In selecting a list of thirty of the best hardy ornamental flowering shrubs from 

 the large number which have been tested, several points have been taken into con- 

 sideration, such as the time of blooming, length of blooming season and the kind of 

 fruit, in addition to the mere attractiveness of the flowers themselves. It was also de- 

 sirable to not have in the list any si)ecies which required winter protection in order to 

 eu'^ure bloom practically every year. In this list are a few shrubby trees. Climbing 

 shrubs are not included. 



Berberis Thunbergii. — Thunberg's barberry (Japan). Height, 2 to 4 feet. 

 The best barberry for ornamental puriwses. It is a dwarf, -compact shrub, with bright, 

 green leaves in summer, changing in autumn to deep red. The flowers while not very 

 striking are attractive. The scarlet fruit is borne very profusely and makes this bar- 

 berry quite ornamental throughout the winter. 



Berberis vulgaris purpurea. — Purple-leaved barberry (Europe). Height, 4 to 6 

 feet. In bloom, fourth week of INFay. The yellowish flowers in pendulous clusters make 

 a fine contrast with the leaves which are bright purple, when young, becoming duller 

 later in the autumn. 



Caragana arhorescens. — Siberian pea-tree (Siberia). Height, 10 to 15 feet. In 

 bloom, third week of May. Flowers, bTight yellow and pea shaped. The delicate green 

 leaves of this shrub open very early and are quite attractive throughout the summer. 

 This is one of the hardiest shrubs grown. 



