SHIIDBS WITH ORNAMENTAL BERRIES. 



the walls of a house with its delicate leaves and sprjiy. Wherever it is hardy it is 

 most desirable — Ed.] 



14. Cratcpgns. The Hawthorns. — These are all well known. The two hand- 

 somest for their fruit are, I think, C. corduta (the Washinpton Thorn) and (\ 

 o.ri/acant/ia (the Enj^lish Hawthorn.) The C. cocci'nea has larfje, handsome fruit, 

 of a deep color, but not jiroduced in such profusion as in the other two. V. 

 cordata bears its fruit nearly in clusters ; they are l)ut of medium size. O, oxy- 

 acanthi does not bear them in such larjje clusters ; indeed, they are rather isolated, 

 usually, but they completely cover the bush when well prown. They remain on 

 lono; after the leaves have fallen, and serve to lessen the period l)etween winter 

 and sprinjT more than any other i)lant. They are raised from seeils, which, for 

 the most part, lie two years in the t^^round before _<;rowinff. CraUegus pyracaniha, 

 or Evergreen Thorn, must not be forgotten. Mr. Buist thus writes of it : " There 

 is not a more beautiful plant during our autumn and winter months, neither is 

 there a more neglected one. Thickly studded with its beautiful coral berries, it 

 forms a very attractive bush or pillar." It is very easy to raise from layers as 

 well as by seeds sown as soon as ripe, or in spring. They do not take so long to 

 germinate as other species of Cratcegus. 



15. Dirca palustns. Leather Wood. — This is a small shrub, belonging to the 

 Daphne family of plants, seldom e.xceeding two feet high. It is a ])eculiar-Iook- 

 ing plant, growing in the shape of a round, formal, stiff head, when fully exposed, 

 and bearing, in the summer, a quantity of small berries, of a pale salmon color. 

 It will grow well in a dry soil, but bears its berries only in a moist situation. It 

 takes its common name from the toughness of its young wood, which may be 

 knotted up like twine without breaking. 



16. FAceagnus hortensis. — This beautiful shrub is supposed to be tender. In 

 this latitude, it is perfectly hardy, and, in the late fall months, produces its beau- 

 tiful, shining, black berries quite abundantly, making a pretty contrast with its 

 silvered foliage. It is rather a full-sized shrub, and grows well in any dry garden 

 soil, and is increased either by seeds or layers. There are many other species of 

 Elceagnus, but I have never seen them bear much fruit, nor do I think many others 

 have, as an old writer, speaking of E. crispa, says : " A very vigorous shrub, which 

 brings forth long branches, used to nail up and cover the walls." 



n. Euonymns. Spindle Trees. — Well-known plants all over the world, and 

 much valued ; E. Europaeus is the commonest. The color of the fruit varies 

 from seed. They are usually of a pink color, but occasionally are of a bright 

 scarlet. There is another variety quite white. The E. atropurpurea has purplish 

 foliage, much larger than the last. The fruit very much resembles, indeed, can 

 only be distinguished by the footstalks, or pedicels, being ))ink like the fruit ; 

 while, in the E. Europceus, they are green. Some consider it only a permanent 

 variety of the E. Europcsns. E. Americanus is a low bush ; the leaves are very 

 nearly evergreen, and the fruit a brilliant scarlet — so much so, as to have earned 

 for the plant the name of " Burning Bush." They are all very easily propagated 

 by seeds sown either in the fall or spring, or by cuttings of the roots. They are 

 very accommodating in their desires, being equally well satisGed with dry or moist 

 soils, shaded or exposed situations. [Mr. Meehan has done a service by collect- 

 ing and describing so desirable a class of plants. The continuation shall be given 

 in our next. — Ed.] 



-i.^i-:'l£7 



