Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



as its kindred, but it is often cultivated for its novel 

 winter-coloring. 



The dogwoods as a rule have white blossoms ; but the 

 foreign Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is decked in 

 early spring with showy yellow flowers ; two varieties of 

 the same have white or yellow markings in the foliage ; 

 such effects are thought desirable by some, but to my 

 own taste it is more of an oddity than an ornament; 

 certainly at a distance the effect is decidedly that of 

 withered leaves, rather than of a rich mingling of colors ; 

 a criticism that is not so valid in the case of house or 

 garden plants. 



In the chill days of November it is almost pathetic to 

 see the witch-hazel's leafless branches thickly covered 

 with small bright yellow blossoms, as if in the despairing 

 attempt to revive the glories of a summer that is gone. 

 This is the latest flowering plant we have, and is an ob- 

 ject of botanical interest ; but neither foliage nor flower 

 warrants its introduction to cultivated grounds, except 

 on the score of mere variety. Its autumn coloring is 

 sometimes effective, and its oblique leaf has a peculiar 

 contour that is worth noting ; but it is a rather coarse- 

 natured individual, with just enough delicacy to appear 

 embarrassed amid cultivated surroundings. It is grow- 

 ing in two or three places in the " Ramble. M 



Little need be said of the familiar and universally 

 popular syringa (so called), whose exquisite fragrance, 

 purity of color, and profusion of flowers, with shapely 

 foliage, give it rank among the most desirable shrubs. 



There is an unfortunate confusion in the names of two 

 of our favorite plants lilac and syringa ; the botanical 



146 



