184 THE BLOSSOM CIRCLE OF THE YEAR 



The feathery purphsh plumes of the Smoke Tree, Rhus Cotinus^ 

 form a most charming contrast when planted in conjunction 

 with tawny yellow flowers of the Tulip trees. For the best effects 

 the Smoke Trees should be planted in masses. On the driveways 

 of the farms beautiful screens can be made of these trees if planted 

 with the evergreen Cassine berries and the Japanese Privets. 



The quick-growing China Berry trees, Melia Azederach and 

 the umbrella form, Melia Azederach umbraculiformisy are universal 

 favorites. Unquestionably the delicate flowers of lilac and 

 primrose yellow with deeper purple tips are beautiful and the 

 fragrance is very penetrating; but the tree is such a glutton that 

 it absorbs all the soil nourishment within many feet of it and is 

 such a pig when it comes to making trash that it would be more 

 deserving of its widespread use if it could be induced to change its 

 bad habits. 



Stately and elegant both in blossom and foliage are the broad- 

 leaved Catalpas, Catalpa bignioides and C. speciosa. The panicles 

 of purple blossom with orange throats that cover these trees in 

 May and June are very handsome and the pale violet clusters 

 that crown the Empress Tree, Paulownia imperialism make a 

 fitting garland for this queen who has come to us from across the 

 Pacific. Both the Catalpas are subject to a scale that is very 

 hard to eradicate and is likely to injure other plantings near it. 



The Flowering Willow, Chilopsis linearis^ and Vitex Agnus- 

 castuSy the Chaste Tree, are the only trees with purple blooms 

 that we have in the Summer months. The so-called purple 

 Lagerstrcemia indica is so nearly a magenta in shade that it should 

 be barred from every garden. 



The Summer-flowering trees are not numerous, but they make 

 up in brilliance what they lack in number. The evergreen Privet 

 trees, Ligustrum japonica and L. lucidum^ begin to bloom in late 

 May and continue well into June. The flowers of characteristic 

 beauty and odor are followed by heavy clusters of berries which 

 are green with a soft bloom in Fall and black in Winter. They 

 are truly beautiful and are quick growing and desirable garden 

 and lawn ornaments. They are also particularly useful for ever- 

 green screenings. Even as far north as West Point, N. Y., the 



