54 THE CEANOTHUS, OR JERSEY TEA. 



THE MISSOUKI CURRANT. 



AMONG the flowering shrubs which are universally ad- 

 mired for the fragrance and beauty of their early blos- 

 soms, the Missouri Currant deserves more than a passing 

 mention. Though introduced into New England since the 

 beginning of the present century, it has become a univer- 

 sal favorite in our gardens, where it is cultivated chiefly 

 for the agreeable odor of its flowers, resembling that of 

 cloves, and penetrating the air on all still days in May. 

 This shrub has a small leaf with irregular pointed lobes, 

 turning to a pale crimson in autumn. The flowers are in 

 small racemes like those of the common garden currant, 

 but brighter in their hues, which are of a golden yellow, 

 and producing only a few large berries of a pure shining 

 black. This species is chiefly prized for its flowers, and is 

 not cultivated for its fruit. 



THE CEANOTHUS, OR JERSEY TEA. 



THE Ceanothus was formerly well known to the people 

 of the United States under the name of Jersey Tea. Its 

 leaves were extensively used as an imitation tea during the 

 Eevolution. They seem to possess no decided medicinal 

 qualities, being somewhat astringent, slightly bitter, but 

 not aromatic. It has been learned from experience that 

 the aromatic plants, by constant use as teas, will pall upon 

 the appetite, and injuriously affect digestion ; while those 

 which are slightly bitter, but wanting in aroma, like the 

 China tea plant, may be used without seriously affecting 

 the health for an indefinite space of time. I believe it 

 may also be stated as a maxim, that those plants whose 



