LagerstrcEmia — Vitex 363 



nous to all continents, mostly of mountain habitat, there are at least 

 three that have ornamental value, besides those cultivated for their 

 fruit, and, since they are very easy of cultivation, and frugal in their 

 demands on the soil, they may be used to advantage for their foliage, 

 flower, and fruit. They are rather liable to mildew and various insects, 

 which can be prevented, the former by spraying, the latter by hellebore 

 and sulphur. 



R. alpinum Linn. (i8i), the European Mountain Currant, a compact, 

 shapely bush, two to three feet, and very hardy, has pale yellow flowers 

 in erect clusters (May), and very showy, scarlet, tasteless fruit. A 

 variety, aureum (i8ia), has yellow foliage. 



R. aureum Pursh. (182), the western native Buffalo Currant (four to 

 eight feet), spreading, with fine, three-lobed, shiny leaves, bright yellow 

 flowers (May) and dark bluish fruit, is perhaps the best, being hardy 

 everywhere. A cut-leaved variety, tenuifoUum (182a), is less hardy. 



R. Americanum Mill, [floridum) (183), the Black Currant, also native, 

 and of wide distribution, has greenish-white flowers in large racemes, 

 dark fruit and fine lobed foliage. 



R. speciosum Pursh. (184), from California, the most showy bright 

 red fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, is unfortunately not hardy in the 

 north. 



Sassafras, see Trees [List C]. 



Stuartia. Two species, native of the mountains of the southeastern 

 United States, are desirable for their large, creamy-white, camellia- 

 like flowers and their rich bright green foliage of large leaves, which 

 assumes most brilliant autumn shades. They are only half hardy in 

 New England, and require a rich soil. 



S. pentagyna, eight to twelve feet, very large flowers (July, August), 

 creamy-white, fluted sepals, with orange-colored anthers and oval 

 leaves. 



S. virginica Car. (186) (Malachodendron), six to eight feet, flowers 

 (May, June, July, August in the north), with purple filaments and 

 oblong leaves, has the largest and showiest flowers. 



Sumach, see Trees [List B], (under Rhus). 



Tamarix, see Trees [List C]. 



Vitex. V. Agnus-castus Linn. (187), Chaste Tree, one of some sixty 

 species of the Verbena family, is a small, neat shrub (three to six feet) 

 from southern Europe, sometimes growing into tree form. It is only 

 half hardy north of Pennsylvania, with terminal panicles of light lilac 



