244 Ornamental Shrubs. 



pitable region. Its leaves are two to five inches long, and 

 sharp-pointed. The flowers are yellow and somewhat 

 viscid, while the fruit is dark purple and enduring. 



Of the imported species, the Tartarian honeysuckle, 

 L. tartarica, is best known and most largely planted in 

 this country. It is an erect, deciduous shrub usually five 

 to six feet high, composed of a cluster of slender stems 

 and branches which may increase in number with each 

 season's growth. The foliage is oblong-cordate, of rather 

 dull green, and in no way remarkable. The flowers ap- 

 pear in April and May, and are both abundant and beau- 

 tiful, the yellow petals being somewhat thickened at the 

 base, and rose-tinted. But it is the fruit that affords the 

 chief attraction. This is ripened in July and August, and 

 remains until late autumn. It is in the form of berries, in 

 most cases nearly black, but in some bright cherry-red, 

 and in others orange. These differences are not of a 

 character to constitute distinct varieties, though doubtless 

 by proper cultivation they might be extended and become 

 fixed and permanent. These berries look as if they might 

 tempt the palate, but they are found on trial to be inedible 

 and even nauseous. It may be that for this reason the 

 birds allow them to hang so long without interference on 

 their part, and they remain to enliven the bush and give 

 color to the garden until frost. There are several reco^- 



o o 



nized varieties, differing chiefly in the color of the fruit, 

 and not needing to be described separately. It is said 

 that in Russia the horticulturists have been experimenting 

 with them for many years, and have brought out some 

 greatly improved forms, but they have not been given to 



