74 



here never reaching the magnificent proportions to which it grows 

 in the west. It is a clean and liandsome shade tree. 



BERBEBIDACE-aS. 

 (BARBERRY Family.) 



Berberis vulgaris, L. (Common Barberry.) Few persons fa- 

 miliar with the barberry know that it has been introduced from Europe, 

 yet such is the case, and aside from the eastern portion of the New 

 England states it is a comparatively rare shrub. The fruit is much 

 used when preserved as a dinner sauce, and the plants if properly 

 pruned form a very beautiful hedge. 



Dr. William Mack, of Salem, who has given much attention to the 

 introduction of shrubs and trees in this vicinity, and who has experi- 

 mented to a considerable extent with our American species, considers 

 the barberry to be one of the best of hedge plants. He has found 

 those raised from seeds to succeed the best; they should when two 

 years old be planted out in a double row, the plants being one foot 

 apart, those of one row coming opposite the spaces of the other. 

 After a few year's growth the pruning should be commenced. The 

 hedge thus treated by Dr. Mack became in ten years a solid mass six 

 feet high and three or four feet wide. When growing in hedges the 

 barberry seldom produces fruit. 



CISTACE^. 



(ROCK-ROSE Family.) 



Helianthemum Canadense, 3Iichx. (Frost-weed.) A little 

 plant flowering in August and September, resembling somewhat the 

 small Evening Primrose. 



Hudsonia tomentosa, Nutt. (Hudsonia.) A curious little plant 

 growing in sandy places, resembling in appearance a Heath. Abun- 

 dant at Ipswich, Plum Island, and Nahant. 



Lechea tenuifolia, L. thymifolia, Piirsh., L. major, 3Iichx., 

 and L. minor, Lam., are homely weeds growing in sand or poor soil. 



The plants of this family have somewhat woody stems. 



MALVACE^. 



(MALLOW Family.) 



Althcea officinalis, L., is found on salt marshes, and is reported at 

 Salisbury by Mrs. Downs. 



Hibiscus moscheutos, L., was found at Swampscott fifty years 

 ago by the late Dr. Chas. Pickering, the place where it then grew is 

 now occupied by summer boarding-houses. 



