THE BACKYARD AS A SUMMER RETREAT. 



despised Mullen of our fields, which in 

 England is grown in great beauty in 

 gardens, its velvety gray-green leaves 

 and spikes of yellow flowers contrasting 

 charmingly with more showy plants. 

 These plants make a fine background. 

 In such a tiny garden it is scarcely 



practicable to have clipped bord- 

 ers, or any large growing trees ; 

 ^J but a clump of shrubbery could 

 be made a feature in place of a 

 flower bed. An unsightly pile 

 of stones may be transformed 

 into a pretty feature by filling 

 the interstices with earth and 

 planting therein the Mullen and 

 Thistle. Ordinary corn will give 

 the effect of Palms, and will 

 grow fairly well if it receive 

 plenty of sunshine. It needs 

 very little water. Even a brick 

 wall may be made to blossom 

 and fruit as well. It is quite a 

 common sight in England to 

 find small fruit trees trained up flat 

 against the sunny side of a house, and 

 all bearing well. 



We are indebted to the Ladies' Home 

 Journal for this article, and the accompanying 

 cuts.— Editor. 



THE CORAL BERRY. 



THIS excellent new berry fruited 

 splendidly for us this season. It 

 is so widely different from all other 

 sorts of berries that a few words 

 concerning it will not come amiss. It 

 resembles a small silver Maple tree, 

 growing to a height of about 5 feet, the 

 leaves and wood are of a silver green 

 color. The old plant dies down after 

 bearing its fruit, the same as raspberries 

 and blackberries. This plant suckers 

 very rapidly and forms a dense thicket. 

 The fruit of the Coral berry is a clear, 

 brilliant red, while the flavor is most 



superb, being strangely aromatic sweet 

 and delicious. It is the most solid 

 berry for shipping that we have ever 

 discovered. These berries resemble 

 very much the common red raspberries, 

 except that they are very highly colored 

 when compared with any raspberry. 

 The bushes are quite productive of 

 these large solid red fruits. The Coral 

 berry is quite delicious when served 

 with sugar and cream or made into a 

 short cake. 



S. L. W'atkins. 

 Grizzly Flats, Cal. 



366 



