NATIVE ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS AND PLANTS. - 3O7 



The spireas are some of the mainstays of the landscape planter. 

 Thre« species grow with us, the dwarf meadow sweet (S. salici- 

 folia) ; and steeple-bush, or hardback, (S. tomentosa) ; while the 

 larger ninebark (Opulaster opulifolius) forms dense thicket's along 

 some of the streams in southern Minnesota and Iowa. 



Along the borders of the lawn shrubberies, the native snowberry 

 and Indian currant find an appropriate place, and when the foliage 

 has fallen the white and red fruit remains to decorate our plant- 

 ings. 



The bufifalo berries have been overlooked by our eastern 

 cataloguer, but are nevertheless a valuable addition to our or- 

 namental list, with their silvery foliage and hardy constitution, 

 and their fruit' is also of value to the housekeeper. Though usually 

 regarded as a prairie shrub, one variety is found across the north- 

 ern section of our state, even to Lake Superior. In this species we 

 have also a ver}' promising hedge plant. 



The huckleberry, often to the Yankee a synonym of barrenness, 

 is found to be of value as a ground cover, especially in its autumnal 

 colors. Three species in Minnesota. 



Several of the viburnums are also found here, going under 

 dififerent names, the wifherod, arrowwood, sheepberry, blackhaw, 

 etc. The cultivated snowball is of this family, but its crowded 

 flower masses are not so attractive as the more delicate blossoms 

 of the native cranberry bush, of which it is a sterile descendant, 

 while in foliage and with its clusters of crimson fruit the former 

 far outranks it. 



Last on our list of shrubs we. find the pretentious name of Xan- 

 thoxylum Americanum. One cataloguer thus describes it : ''large 

 pinnate leaves with tropical effect, an attractive and valuable 

 shrub" ; all this is true, also the following comment, "good to 

 prevent cutting across lots." Any one who has been obliged to work 

 his way through a thicket of "prickly ash", for such is our friend 

 in the vernacular, will appreciate the last observation. 



Of vines and hardy perennials, now so much and so deservedly 

 in favor, our woodlands, fields and swamps will furnish many 

 valuable kinds. 



To sum up the results of our examination of this very com- 

 plete catalogue: — of the list of shrubs worthy of cultivation, fifty 

 species are native to this state, besides some I have mentioned here 

 which are omitted from the catalogue; in the long list of ferns 

 therein given a large number are among the nearly fifty 

 Minnesota varieties; of the native orchids a number of species are 

 found growing most luxuriously here, one of them being our 



