FLOWERING AND ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. 41 



Chinese double-floworing Apple, (Pyrus spectabilis,) have 

 also a beautiful effect. 



Rhus cotinus, Venetian sumach, Aaron's beard, some- 

 times called fringe tree, is a fine shrub, calculated for the 

 centre of the clump or shrubbery. Its large branches of 

 fringe remaining all the Summer, give it a curious and stri- 

 king effect. 



Ribes 3fissouriensis, or Missouri currant ; there are two 

 species of this very ornamental shrub from Missouri, intro- 

 duced by Lewis & Clarke; they are quite hardy, and flower 

 profusely from April to June. 



Robinia glutinosa, and Robinia hispida ; the former a 

 pretty large shrub, producing fine bunches of flowers in 

 great abundance 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 is 

 superior to any other kind of wood for ship-tunnels, inill- 

 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 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 seeds 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 seeds grow more freely, not- 

 withstanding what some say to the contrary. When the 

 plants are ayearold, transplant them out of the seed bed into 

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

 foot. Having two or three years' growth in these rows, 



* This tree is introduced here, rather on acccount of its usefulness 

 than beauty, though the latter is vers considerable. 



4* 



