FLOWER-GARDENING. 47 



row, and also to hide unsightly objects, and have a beautiful 

 effect when mixed with monthly honeysuckles, etc. 



Persica, or Amygdalus Persica, fl. rosea pleno, or double 

 flowering Peach, is very beautiful in shrubberies. It blossoms 

 early, and sometimes bears fruit, but it is cultivated entirely 

 for its beautiful blossoms. A few trees of the Chinese double 

 flowering Apple (Pyrus spectabilis) have also a beautiful effect. 



Rhus cotinus, Venetian Sumach, Aaron's Beard, sometimes 

 called fringe-tree, is a fine shrub, calculated for the centre of 

 the clump or shrubbery. Its large branches of fringe remain 

 all the summer, and give it a curious and striking effect. 



Ribes Missouriensis, or Missouri Currant ; there are two 

 species of this very ornamental shrub from Missouri, introduced 

 by Lewis and Clarke ; they are quite hardy, and flower profusely 

 from April to June. 



Robinia glutinosot, and Robinia hispida ; the former a pretty 

 large shrub, producing fine branches of flowers in great abun- 

 dance throughout the summer ; the latter is a smaller shrub ; 

 both of them are, however, worthy of a place in large collections. 



Robinia pseudo-acacia^ or Yellow Locust tree. This tree is 

 introduced here rather on account of its usefulness than beauty, 

 though the latter is very considerable. The timber is superior 

 to any other kind of wood for ship-trunnels, mill-cogs, and 

 fence-posts, as well as for various other purposes. Its culture 

 is very easy, and may be propagated in great abundance, by 

 sowing the seed in March, April, or May, in a bed of good 

 sandy loam, which is its favorite soil, and covering them half 

 an inch deep. Previous to sowing, put the seed in a basin, 

 pour on scalding water, and let it stand all night ; pick out such 

 seed as are swollen and plant them immediately ; next evening 

 repeat the same process with such as did not swell the first night, 

 mix the whole and sow them ; they will come up in the course of 

 the following month numerously ; for no seed grow more freely, 

 notwithstanding what some say to the contrary. When the 

 plants are a year old, transplant them out of the seed-bed into 

 nursery rows, four feet distant, and plant from plant one foot. 



