266 8HRUB8 WITH ORNAMENTAL BERRIES. 



pretty well in nny ricli and deep soil. The seeds raiist Ite either sown as soon as 

 thoy are ripe, or kept in slightly moist moss or soil until they can be. If they 

 are ke|)t dry, they lo.se tlu-ir vegetative power, though good to all appearances, 

 except that they have a slightly yellowish tinge. 



5. Berheris. The IJerberry. — Nearly all the evergreen kinds {Mahonia section) 

 have handsome blue berries. The deciduous species have scarlet fruit; of the 

 latter, B. vulgaris (European Berl)crry) and B. canadensis (American) are best 

 known, and should be in every garden. Tiie fruit ripens in October, and will 

 remain on a great ]iart of winter. The American and European very much re- 

 semble each other ; tiie former docs not grow so strong, has a more spreading 

 habit, the fruit rounder, and of a brighter scarlet than the latter. They grow 

 readily from cutting-;, and are not partial to any particular soil. The evergreen, 

 Mahonia aqnifolia, is one of our hardiest evergreen shrubs. It does not exceed 

 four feet in height, but has a very bushy tendency. The young leaves arc very 

 green and glossy, the yellow flowers very fragrant, and the racemes of purple ber- 

 ries (ripe in September) peculiarly pretty. It thrives best in a rich, sandy soil, 

 and is readily propagated by either seeds or offsets. The former are not easily 

 procured here, on account of the recent introduction of the plant, so that the 

 species is not so common in gardens as it will be. 



6. Bumelia li/a'oides. — This plant is very scarce, and is, I believe, confined to 

 a very small district in its native place (South Carolina). It is quite hardy in 

 Philadelphia, where it is very nearly evergreen, and would no doubt be al)lc to 

 endure the winters of more northern States. In the fall, it is coffered with black 

 berries as large as small cherries, of a beautiful glossy hue. One great advantage 

 this shrub possesses over others is, that it seems to i)rcfer a dense, shady place, 

 where few other things will thrive. There are several other species indigenous to 

 the southern States, but they are not, I think, in cultivation. The seeds grow 

 very easily. 



7. Calh'carpa Americana. French Mulberry. — This is a small shrub. The 

 small purple flowers are not particularly handsome, but the succeeding spikes of 

 small, purple, edible fruit, are very pretty. It is very nearly allied to the Vitex 

 aynus castas, or " Chaste Tree." It grows naturally, as far north as Virginia, and, 

 I think, would prove a desirable hardy shrub for higher latitudes. 



8. CaprifoUum sempervirens (the Red) and (/. jiavum (the Yellow Trumpet 

 Honeysuckles) are as prominent amongst handsome berried plants as they are 

 amongst plants with beautiful foliage or inflorescence. Both of them bear fruit 

 very freely in this region, in the shape of large clusters of light, scarlet berries, 

 making a much handsomer show, when in fruit, than many other plants much 

 more sought after do when in flower. The seeds grow very readily, and if atten- 

 tion were given to raising them that way, it is more than probable new varieties 

 would be originated, as they show a tendency to change. The usual way of rais- 

 ing them is by either layers or cuttings. 



9. Cerasus carolimensis (the Carolinian) and C. lusitamca (the Portugal 

 Laurels) are evergreen shrubs of the first order for the beauty of their berries. 

 They are not hardy north of Philadelphia. Tiiey are very easily raised, either by 

 seeds or cuttings, and grow to perfection only in a deep, rich loam. 



10. Chionanthns Virginicus. White Fringe Tree A shrub of the largest size, 



when full-grown, but it is one of comparatively slow progress, and keeps idoom- 

 ing as it grows. The foliage has something the appearance of the Magnolia 

 glauca, and the fruit ripens in September. Each berry is about the size of an 

 olive, and of deep, shining, purple color. Many trees do not bear, and oth 



"raperfectly, in consequence of their frequently having imperfect flower 



