NATIVE DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 431 



It has the advantage of maturing' its fruit farther north than any- 

 other fruit-bearing tree, its extreme northern limit coinciding with 

 that of the oat. 



Three varieties of sumach (Rhus) are well known to us all as 

 adorning our sandy hillsides with their foliage, tropical in appear- 

 ance in summer, and dyed in crimson in the fall. The fourth spe- 

 cies, growing in the swamps, shows still more brilliant autumn col- 

 ors, but, alas, is an almost deadly poison to many, and must be 

 carefully shunned. These shrubs sometimes abandon their dwarf 

 habit of growth. A specimen of the staghorn sumach (Rhus typh- 

 ina) which I saw near Lake Minnetonka a few years since, fifteen to 

 eighteen feet in height and with a trunk six inches in diameter, was 

 truly a beautiful tree. 



The flowering currant (Ribes Floridum). with its drooping habit 

 is well placed on the borders of a group of more erect shrubs. 



The various willows (Salix) are of vigorous growth and often de- 

 velop individual forms of interest, and the dwarf sage-colored vari- 

 ety found in some of our swamps may prove of value and top-worked 

 on larger species give us something quite ornamental. 



The elders (Sambucus), especially the red berried species (S. pub- 

 ens), are both luxuriant and ornamental in growth and may in time 

 furnish us with cut-leafed and variegated forms better adapted to 

 our climate than those now cultivated. If any one wishes to attract 

 the birds around his house, let him plant a few of the last named 

 species in the vicinity. 



Our native spireas, with the indian currant (Symphoricarpus glo- 

 meratus) and the snowberry (S. recemosus) should not be neglected. 



Last upon our list of shrubs, we find the Viburnums. The im- 

 ported variety known as the snowball is very common in cultiva- 

 tion, while many forget that in our bush cranberry fV. opulus), we 

 have a shrub with much more attractive flowers, to the eye of the 

 artist, at least, while its clusters of rich red berries add new beau- 

 ties to the season of the falling leaf. This species sometimes may 

 develop or be trained into standard form, and one of the first spec- 

 imens I ever saw, years ago in northern New Hampshire, was not to 

 be despised from the standpoint of a tree. A dwarf variety has 

 also been introduced which is said to be of value for garden edgings 

 and low borders. 



Other native species of Viburnum are not the least valuable for 

 ornamental planting among the inhabitants of our woodlands. 



Much might be said on this subject, and if time permitted we 

 might refer to our native vines, as the woodbine, wild grape, cle- 

 matis and bittersweet, ever at hand to drape and conceal when we 

 so desire; but if what has been offered shall serve to rouse fresh 

 interest in the riches we have right around us its purpose will 

 have been accomplished. 



