1892.] ESSAYS. 101 



I have ever seen. The general color of the perianth is orange, 

 and its divisions are very much reflexed. 



Of one other herbaceous species only will I speak, and from 

 that will pass on to notice a very few of the ornamental woody 

 species. This is the striking Lysichiton Kamchatense of the 

 Yesso marshes, producing in earliest spring a white flower like 

 a large calla, and later, enormous leaves of great beauty. In 

 grounds of sufficient extent to aflbrd it a suitable habitat, this 

 must prove a decided acquisition both for its flowers and foliage, 

 which last has a decidedly tropical appearance. 



Among woody plants the magnolias have been mentioned. 

 Both form handsome trees of medium size. The points which 

 would, perhaps, make them desirable here are hardiness and the 

 great fragrance of the flowers. The species hypoleuca is also 

 particularly handsome in leaf, flower, and fruit. The flowers 

 frequently measure more than a foot across, and the odor is 

 such that I often recognized the vicinity of trees in bloom while 

 yet as much as a furlong distant. 



Cormis bleach t/poda, a small tree, is particularly brilliant in 

 fruit, with its wealth of scarlet drupes which persist well into 

 the winter. There are several beautiful Viburnums ; but these, 

 perhaps, do not surpass ours. Among the Hydrangeas, how- 

 ever, are found a number of noticeable species. The one which 

 will prove the most decided acquisition is IT. petiolaris, also 

 Schhophragma hydrangeoiden. This is a climber which in 

 Yesso goes to the tops of the tallest trees, to which it clings by 

 root-like bodies. When in bloom it converts the tree trunks 

 into pillars of snow ; and a ride in June through miles of 

 primeval forest where almost every other tree trunk and every 

 old, gray stump is converted into a mass of beautiful white 

 bloom is an experience to be remembered. The Japanese know 

 this plant as "snow vine" and the name is well given. The 

 neutral flowers are abundant and persist all winter, so that this 

 hydrangea is practically always beautiful. 



Hydrangea paniculata, a large shrub, produces white flower 

 clusters of enormous size ; and very delicately beautiful in its 

 native glens is H. liortensit^ or acmninata with its pale blue 

 cymes ; but the former is not strikingly diflerent from the 



