144 Ornamental Shrubs. 



the most valuable shrubs that we have for early winter ef- 

 fects, though not especially attractive in summer. 



SYMPLOCOS. 



THE symplocos group constitutes a large genus of 

 the order Styracacecz, numbering nearly, or quite, 

 one hundred and fifty species. They are mostly 

 natives of warm climates, and in the temperate zones are 

 better adapted to the conservatory or greenhouse than to 

 out-of-door cultivation. None of them is sufficiently hardy 

 to endure the cold of New England or the Northwest, but 

 several evidently have a horticultural mission in our south- 

 ern latitudes, where they are already more or less planted, 

 and with excellent results. It is now believed that they 

 have also a more extended climatic range northward than 

 has been heretofore supposed, and Mr. Joseph Meehan 

 certifies to the fact that they are growing in the vicinity 

 of Philadelphia, and, under favorable conditions, proving 

 very satisfactory. Specimens are also to be found in 

 southern New England and in New York, which have 

 withstood several winters with but slight extra care or 

 protection. 



S. cratczoides, so far as tested, appears to be the most 

 hardy member of the genus, and it is this species that on 

 trial has afforded the satisfactory results referred to. 

 This symplocos is a small tree or shrub five to eight feet 

 tall, and in its general outline somewhat resembles the 

 hawthorn, though differing materially from it in both 

 blossom and fruit. Its leaves are opposite, two and one 

 half inches long, rough and thick. The blossoms are 



