224 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
screens, as well as for ornamental planting in the shrub border. The Persian 
Lilac (Syringa persica), is somewhat smaller in its habit and is propagated 
in both its white and purple forms. It is equally hardy, and in planting the 
shrub border it should by no means be overlooked. The Japan Lilac (Sy- 
ringa japonica) is quite distinct in its habits and grows to be a small tree. 
It produces immense clusters of beautiful white flowers late in June, long 
after the common Lilac has ceased to bloom. The Chinese Lilac (Syringa 
villosa) is also very distinct and blooms very late, about two weeks after 
the common Lilacs are gone. It is quite robust in its habits and will need 
plenty of room when planted in the shrub border. Lady Josika’s Lilac (Sy- 
ringa josikea), appears to be hardy at Montevideo. 
The Barberry family gives us the common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), 
in its ordinary and in its purple leafed form, and also in the form known as 
the Amur Barberry, all very desirable for prairie planting from an orna- 
mental point of view. The fruit is especially showy and attractive, and the 
plant is very hardy. It is said, however, that the Barberry serves as a host 
for the rust plant, so that its propagation near wheat fields cannot be 
recommended. 
The Saxifrage family gives us:the Philadelphus in several species and 
varieties, nearly all of which are well adapted to prairie planting. It is 
probable that Philadelphus Coronarius is not quite so hardy as the others, 
but it does very well on the prairies at Montevideo. In the prairie shrub border 
the Philadelphus is one of the shrubs that we must have. The Golden Cur- 
rant (Ribes aureum) is another very useful shrub for prairie planting—abso- 
lutely hardy everywhere, and adapted to the most trying locations. 
The Rose family gives the Nine-Bark (Opulaster opulifolius), very showy 
in flower and even more so in fruit, and quite hardy. The Spiraea, too, is a 
most valuable subject in the shrub border. The variety Van Houtii is said 
by some to be our best all-around shrub. Spiraea Hypericifolia is very hardy, 
too, and blooms quite early in the spring. Our native Willow-Leafed 
Spiraea (S. salicifolia) when transplanted to the garden is a valuable adjunct 
to the shrub border. The Shrubby Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) does 
well in the shrub border, producing its yellow flowers for a long time in 
summer. The Yellow Rose and the Scotch Rose are both very desirable, 
and may be grown without protection. The Japan Rose (Rosa rugosa) is 
one of the grandest shrubs for prairie planting, and ought to be grown 
everywhere. 
The Apple family gives us the’ Mountain Ash, not quite hardy on the 
prairies, but it may be grown quite successfully by allowing it to sprout 
freely from the ground and treating it as a shrub. The Juneberry is at 
home on the prairies, the dwarf Juneberry being indigenous to the prairie 
regions. It is of the easiest culture and ought to be in every shrub border 
for its early spring flowers. Its fruit is not to be despised and is eagerly 
sought after by the birds. A native thorn (probably Crataegus Punctata) 
does well in the shrub border. It can usually be found along the strips of 
native timber throughout the prairie region. 
The Plum family gives us our American Plums, valuable in the shrub 
border and indispensable in the fruit garden; the two Sand Cherries (Prunus 
pumila and Prunus besseyi); the wild Red Cherry (Prunus pennsylvanica) ; 
the two Choke Cherries (Prunus virginiana and Prunus demissa)—all na- 
tives and valuable. Europe has sent us the Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) 
