SOME DESIRABLE THINGS FOR PRAIRIE PLANTING. 225 
and Prunus Maakii, a very early flowering shrub from Russia, both very 
hardy and well adapted to prairie planting. The Dwarf Almond (Amygdalus 
nana), from Russia, is a very beautiful early flowering shrub that ought to 
be generally planted. Its bright pink flowers are very showy, and it is easi- 
ly propagated from sprouts and root cuttings. 
The Pea family gives us the Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioica), a native 
tree of almost tropical appearance, and the Siberian Pea shrubs (Caragana 
‘arborescens, C. chamalagu, C. frutescens and C. pigmaea). The Caraganas 
come from the steppes of Siberia, and find a congenial home on the prai- 
ries of Minnesota. They are sure to give satisfaction in the most trying 
locations. 
The Rue family gives us the Prickly Ash (Xanthoxylum americanum) 
and the Hop Tree (Ptelia trifoliata), the one a common native and the other 
ranging from Minnesota southward. The Hop Tree promises well at Mon- 
tevideo. 
The Shumac family gives us Rhus glabra, the smooth Shumac, a very 
ornamental native shrub found on the borders of woodland throughout the 
prairie regions. It is a picturesque and valuable addition to any prairie 
shrubbery. 
The Staff Tree family gives us the Burning Bush (Euonymus atropurpu- 
reus), a native shrub on river bottoms, and the climbing Bittersweet (Ce- 
lastrus scandens). The Burning Bush behaves well in the prairie shrubbery 
and ought to be generally planted. Its bright red fruit is very attractive. 
The Bittersweet has similar showy fruit and is one of our best climbing 
vines. 
At the head of Maple family for prairie planting in rather moist locations 
is the Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) and after that the omnipresent Box 
Elder (Acer negundo), the characteristic pioneer prairie tree. The Silver 
Maple does not do well on very dry land, and the Box Elder is short lived 
anywhere, although it grows rapidly when young. In planting the shrub 
border about the lawn of the prairie home, one should not forget the Man- 
churian Maple (Acer tartaricum ginnalo), a very graceful shrub with bright 
colored fruit and striking foliage. 
The Buckthorn family may be represented in the prairie shrub border by 
the Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), a very hardy shrub well adapted to 
screens and hedges. 
The Grape family may be exemplified on the prairie Jawn by planting a 
wild Grape so as to cover a rustic arbor, and by planting the Virginia 
Creeper (Pathenocissus quinquefolia) so as to overrun the porches and 
gables of the prairie home. 
The Linden family may be represented by the Basswood (Tilia ameri- 
cana), but it is a difficult tree to transplant from its native river bottoms to 
the open prairie. It is well to let it sprout freely from the ground and treat 
it as a shrub. 
The Oleaster family furnishes two of the very best silver leafed shrubs for 
prairie planting, the Russian Olive (Eleganus angustifolia) and the Buffalo- 
Berry (Lepargyraea argentea). The flowers of the Russian Olive are very 
fragrant in early spring, but the “olives’” are rather insipid. The Buffalo- 
Berry produces an abundant supply of very sour, red fruit, useful for making 
jelly when currants are scarce. 
The Dogwood family furnishes, as desirable material for the prairie 
shrubbery, our native Cornels (Cornus stolonifera, C. Amonum and C. 
