110 LAWN AND SHADE TREES. 



The PURPLE FRINGE TREE Wins. The Venetian sumach or 

 purple fringe tree rhus cotinus is a much admired shrub from 

 its flowers, which are borne in large panicles, often proving 

 abortive, and their pedicles lengthening and becoming hairy 

 cover almost the entire tree. It sometimes is known as smoke 

 tree. It forms a small tree of ten to twelve feet high, suited for 

 a position by itself on a lawn, or better as a background plant 

 for a shrub group. Light dry soils suit^ it best. There are 

 several other varieties of rhus. many of them very ornamental 



FIG. 56. JAPAN QUINCE. 



and worthy a place in large collections, but not so of positions 

 where they come under close observation. Rhus veneneta and 

 toxieodendron are extremely poisonous. 



The JAPAN QUINCE Pyrus. The scarlet-flowering quince 

 pyrus Japonica is so well known that it seems hardly requisite 

 to do more than name it ; and yet, well known as it is, its real 

 value as a shrub plant has been but little appreciated.. Massed 

 with low-growing evergreens, or in clusters by itself upon the 

 lawn or border, its brilliancy of bloom always calls attention and 



