30 Wyoming Experiment Station. 



altitudes in the eastern part of the state. The fruit is often 

 gathered for home use, especially for jelly. It is found through- 

 out the eastern United States and was early brought under cul- 

 tivation. It has either directly or by crossing given rise to the 

 "Clinton," "Elvira," "Pearl" and other cultivated varieties. 



OLEASTER FAMILY. 

 (Elaeagnaceae). 



This family embraces some silvery-scurfy shrubs or trees, 

 some of which are desirable ornamentals while others are of 

 value for their fruits. To it belongs the Russian oleaster or 

 Russian olive, which is becoming quite a popular tree for orna- 

 ment and for hedges in Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. In 

 this state the family is represented by the following shrubs : 



Buffalo-berry (Lepargyraea argentea (Nutt.) Greene). 



A middle-sized or large shrub with thorny twigs and grayish 

 and more or less silvery-scurfy foliage. It. has very sour, edible 

 berries, either scarlet or yellow in color. It is common on 

 banks of streams at lower altitudes. 



The buffalo-berry is cultivated to some extent both for its 

 fruits and as an ornamental. On account of its dense habit of 

 growth it is one of the best shrubs for hedges. Its berries are 

 of much value, making a jelly of fine quality. Owing to the 

 thorny twigs the berries can not be readily picked by hand. 

 Hence it is a common practice among the berry gatherers to 

 break off the branches of the wild bushes and beat off the ber- 

 ries on a sljeet or tarpaulin spread on the ground. Such treat- 

 ment is destructive of the bushes, and unless an unarmed or 

 thornless variety can be evolved this shrub will never be grown 

 to any great extent for its fruits. It is hardy and very pro- 

 ductive and as a small fruit it is well worthy of improvement. 



All the bushes do not bear fruit. The sterile plants, or male 

 plants, "may be known in their winter condition by the dense 



