BARBERRY. 25 



The layers may be made in early spring, of the previous 

 season's growth, or later, when new wood is formed of suf- 

 ficient length for the purpose. Layers put down in the 

 autumn will become well rooted by the end of the next 

 season. 



CULTURE. 



The Barberry, when left to itself, forms a dense shrub, 

 with many stems, but when cultivated for its fruit a portion 

 of the shoots should be annually removed to allow the sun 

 and air to more readily reach all parts of the plant, and 

 assist in developing the fruit buds. 



It may also be trained to a single stem, and when treated 

 in this manner, some of the varieties will form shrubs ten 

 to fifteen feet in hight. The fruit will also be larger and 

 more abundant than when the plant is allowed to grow in 

 the natural manner and without pruning. 



Each plant should be given plenty of room and not 

 crowded, especially when fruit is the object of cultivation. 

 Six to eight feet apart will be sufficient in ordinary soil. 



As before remarked, the Barberry will grow in dry and 

 almost barren soil ; still, as no plant will produce the best 

 results in such situations, it is best to give a good, deep 

 and moderately rich soil even to plants that will grow in a 

 poor one. 



VARIETIES AND USES. 



Berberis VUlgaris. This species and some of its varie- 

 ties are probably better known in this country than any 

 others. The most common is the original species, which is 

 found growing wild in many places in the New England 

 States. It is also quite common in gardens. The fruit is 

 oblong, about half an inch in length and one-eighth across, 

 of a bright scarlet color, very acid, but of agreeable flavor. 

 Figure 3 shows a small branch, with fruit and flowers of 

 natural siz^ and figure 4 gives a magnified single flower. 

 There is a peculiarity about the stamens worthy of notice, 

 2 



