286 



THE GARDENERS- CHRONICLE OF AMERICA. 



chaste tree {Vitex agnus-castus). In late summer it 

 puts forth a profusion of violet purple flowers dis- 

 posed in dense terminal racemes. The whole plant has 

 an aromatic odor when bruised. Unfortunatel}- the plant 

 is doubtfully hardy north of the Ohio river, though it 

 is said to thrive in parts of Pennsylvania and with some 

 winter protection would doubtless endure the winters 

 much farther north. The interesting nature of the 

 shrub makes every effort to extend its range worth 

 while. 



Here, too, may be added a not very distant relative of 

 the soap berry which is commonly known as the smoke 



, Coiirtesv Mcehan's Garden Magazuie. 



EXOCHORDA GRANDIFLORA— PE.\KL BUSH. 



tree. This is really a sumac (Rhus cotiiius) tlvjugh it 

 has little resemblance to our common kinds. Its at- 

 tractiveness lies in its clusters of fruit steius or pedicels. 

 The plant rarely fruits, but after blooming the pedicels 

 lengthen and branch and being covered with longish 

 hairs make the whole bush ap]iear as if enveloped in a 

 nebulous haze of pale purple. 



The witch hazel (Haiiiamclis I'irgiiiica) which can 

 be dug in almost any thicket in the Northern States is 

 undoubtedly the latest of all shrubs to bloom, but it is 

 not the only autumn flowering shrub. The blue spiraea 

 (Caryoptcris niastacantha) does not begin to open its 

 blossoms until September Init it continues in bloom for 

 a month or more. The plant is not a spiraea, being 

 more nearly allied to the chaste tree. Its appearance, 

 however, is much like a low spiraea, which accounts for 

 the dealer's name for it. It is also known as Chinese 

 beardwort. 



This phase of the subject should not be left without 

 some mention of the bush clover (Dcsiiiodinin pen- 

 duUflorum) . It is neither a bush nor a clover, though it 

 simulates both close enough to deserve its common 

 name. In late September it is literally covered with 

 racemes of pink pea-like flowers which make it very 

 conspicuous. It dies to the ground in winter, though 

 very shrub-like in appearance. 



Coming back to shrubs that will give additional beauty 

 to our shrubberies in spring, we find a wealth of ma- 

 terial from which to choose, exclusive of the popular 

 favorites. The pearl bush ( E.vocliorda graiidiflora) is 

 an excellent species for varying the monotonv of 

 viburnums, syringas, and deutzias. As its common 

 name indicates, the flowers are pearly white and are 

 produced in abundance on the ends of the branches. 



The globe flower ( Kcrria Japonica ) with flowers like 

 small yellow roses is an interesting addition to the border, 

 not alone because of its flowers but also on account of 

 its stems which are covered with green bark that gives 

 a touch of vitality to the shrubbery even in winter. 

 In autumn it frequently produces a second crop of 

 flowers. Another species, which for want of a better 

 name is known as the white kerria (Rhodotxpos 

 kcrrioides) has rather larger white flowers that some- 

 what resemble those of the blackberry. The shrub forms 

 a compact green head that even dry weather seems 

 nearly powerless to injure. 



The laburnum or golden chain (Cxtissus laburnum) 

 is better known in the Old World than it is here, but 

 it is one of the most attractive of plants. .At the bloom- 

 ing season it is thickly set with long drooping racemes 

 of yellow flowers very much like those of the locust in 

 size and shape. When in blossom, few shrubs are pret- 

 tier. The fringe tree {Chionaiithcs J'irgiiiica) a near 

 relative of the ash. olive, and jirivet is another attractive 

 species with thick and shining entire leaves and a pro- 

 fusion of flowers with narrow drooping petals that make 

 the common name unusually appropriate. The fringe 

 tree is also related to our lilacs and golden bells 

 i Forsytliia) but the silver bell, though having flowers 

 not unlike the Porsxthia, is a m.ember of the ebony 

 family. To the same family belongs the storax with 

 white bell-shaped flowers. There are two or three species 

 of storax in our Southern States, but the plant most 

 frequently found in culti\ation is a species from Japan, 

 5"/y''('.r Japonica. 



rhan's Garden Magazine. 



RHUS COTINUS— SMOKE RUSH. 



INTERNATIONAL 



SPRING FLOWER SHOW 



New York, March 15-23, 1915 



Under the auspices of 



Horticultural Society of New York, 



New York Florists' Club 



Preliminary Schedules may be obtained from 



JOHN YOUNG, Secy.' 



53 W. 28th St., New York. 



