PLANTS FOR FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS 161 



during fruit singularly interesting and conspicuous because of its form. 

 There are other trees such as the Kentucky coffee tree, the western 

 catalpa, and the tulip tree, the fruit of which is interesting on account 

 of its size. 



One of the most interesting characteristics of fruit is its colour. 

 From the clear white fruit of the grey dogwood to the brilliant 

 red fruit of the thorn there is a wonderful variation in colour effect 

 produced by fruits. The beauty fruit, with its brilliant porcelain- 

 blue berries, adds an interesting touch of colour to landscape 

 plantings nearly as effective as that of flowers, if not more so. In 

 many of these shrubs, such as some varieties of the thorn, the honey- 

 suckle, and the elder, the beautiful colours of the fruit against the 

 background of green foliage are extremely effective. The great 

 majority of our shrubs retain their fruit for a greater or less period 

 after the leaves have fallen. With the first signs of freezing and real 

 winter weather these fruits rapidly wither and decay and those which 

 are not removed by the birds soon drop from the plants. The fruit 

 of the elderberries, roses, blue berries, and honeysuckles is dropped well 

 before the middle of December, and even as early as the first of Decem- 

 ber. In the average winter the fruit of the dogwoods, the spindle tree, 

 the snowberry, and the burning bush retain their interesting colour 

 until the early part of January. Of this group of plants there 

 are many which retain their fruit well into the winter months. The 

 Japanese barberry and the winterberry or deciduous holly hold their 

 fruit much longer than the other plants, while the brilliantly coloured 

 fruit of the bittersweet, the thorn, and the high-bush cranberry re- 

 mains until the really severe winter weather begins. From a landscape 

 point of view there is nothing much more effective in a pictorial com- 

 position than the brilliantly coloured fruit and brilliantly coloured twigs 

 of many of our trees and shrubs presented against a background of snow. 



LIST OF PLANTS VALUABLE FOR THE CHARACTERISTICS 



OF THEIR FRUIT 



A. Producing Fruit of Peculiarly Interesting Form or Size. 

 This group consists of types of plants which produce fruit that has a 

 landscape value on account of its peculiarly interesting form and size. 

 Practically all of our trees and shrubs produce fruit, but only those 

 having fruit which is of real landscape value are listed in this and in 

 succeeding groups. 



