THE PURPLE FRINGE. 



205 



and is a g'ood decorative plant if well grown, 

 even when not in bloom. 



The culture of the Phyllocactus consists 

 mainly in not allowing" any stagnation 

 around the roots and providing the proper 

 soil. A good composit is made by using a 

 light, well rotted pod, with one-third each 

 of leaf mould, dried cow manure ground 



fine, and sand added to it, and the plants 

 potted rather dry. Plenty of charcoal in 

 the bottom of the pots gives a good drain- 

 age, and plants need not be repotted, after 

 they are a good size, for years. An annual 

 top dressing of the same compost used in, 

 potting will be found the best treatment. 

 Woodstock. J. H. Callander. 



THE PURPLE FRINGE (Rhus Cotinus). 



Fig. 2067. Pl'RI'le Fringe. 



This Purple Fringe or Smoke Tree, as 

 some call it, is one of the favorite mid-sum- 

 mer flowering shrubs in Western Ontario, 

 where it has been grown for the las' 30 years. 

 It belongs to the same family (rhus) as the 

 sumac, which though affording us the most 

 beautiful of colored foliage in the fall, is also 

 one of the most troublesome things to eradi- 

 cate with which we have to contend. This 

 shrub however is not troublesome in that 

 way, for it does not readily produce suckers, 

 and is easy destroyed if not wanted. But 

 it is so beautiful a shrub that so far we have 

 never had enough of the plants, let alone too 



many. It is a native of Southern Europe,, 

 from Spain to the Caucasus, whence it was 

 introduced to England in 1656. 



It is rambling in its habit, making a large 

 round bush which give a better effect grown 

 singly than in groups. Towards the end of 

 June it is a mass of large panicles of pur- 

 plish misty blossoms, which are very beau- 

 tiful. These are very effective for a long 

 time, and everyone feels attracted to them 

 for cutting to add to bouquets and other 

 decorations. 



The photograph shows one of those shrubs 

 growings at Maplehurst. 



