472 



SYMPHORICARPUS.-Snowberry. 



[Tlie name is from a combination of Greek words, signifying " a plant which 

 bears its fruit togetiier in clusters."] 



Symphoricarpus racemosus. — Common Snowberry. — 

 This is a delicate, hardy, North American shrub, extensive- 

 ly known and much cultivated on account of its fine 

 white berries, which are quite ornamental, after the leaves 

 have fallen. The flowers are pink, and rather inconspicu- 

 ous ; the shrub grows about four feet high ; easily prop- 

 agated by suckers. 



S. vulgaris. — Indian Currant, Coral Berry. — This has 

 no claims to beauty, as to the flowers, which, like the last, 

 are small and inconspicuous, of a pink color. These are 

 succeeded by dark brownish-purple berries, which are 

 thickly clustered upon the branches, three feet high. It 

 is propagated in the same way. Both these species thrive 

 in the shade and under the drippings of trees. 



SYRINGA.-L1LAC. 



[A Persian name.] 



" Various in array, now wliite, 

 Now sanguine, and lier beauteous head now set 

 Witli purple spilies pyramidal." 



All the species are most beautiful flowering shrubs, 

 readily j^ropagated by suckers, which they throw up in 

 abundance. The common Lilac seems to have been intro- 

 duced before or dui-ing the reign of Henry VIII., for in 

 the inventory, taken by the order of Cromwell, of the ar- 

 ticles in the gardens of the palace of Nonsuch, are men- 

 tioned six Lilacs, — '^ trees which bear no fruit, but only a 

 pleasant smell." — {Loudoti.) 



Syringa VUli^aris. — The Common Lilac. — Tliis is so welf 

 known that it needs no description. The purple variety 



