INEDIBLE FRUITS 383 



notable progress of the plant, first in the elim- 

 ination of the thorns, and secondly, in the im- 

 provement of the fruit. 



Here and there I have found a seedling, the 

 fruit of which is pleasant to the taste, and by 

 selection through successive generations a vari- 

 ety of Elceagnus has been produced that gives 

 great promise. 



My experience with the genus has included 

 tests of five species, bearing the specific names of 

 Elceagnus angustifolia, E. umbellata, E. pun- 

 gens, and E. argentea, in addition to the original 

 E. longipes. There are three closely related 

 plants also belonging to the Oleaster natives of 

 North America, these being E. canadensis 

 (sometimes called Shepherdia canadensis), 

 Lepargyrea argentea, the buffalo berry (called 

 Shepherdia argentea}, and E. argentea, the 

 silver berry of the far Northwest; all somewhat 

 similar plants in general appearance, but quite 

 different from the Elseagnus of the Eastern 

 Hemisphere. The seeds should be treated like 

 those of the pear removed from the fruit when 

 fresh, thoroughly washed, and kept fairly moist 

 until planting time. 



The seedlings grow rather slowly at first, but 

 offer no particular difficulties. I have tried to 

 cross the different species, but thus far without 



