138 Bush-Fruits 



its autumn coloring is often superb. It is more fully de- 

 scribed among the ornamental species. 



Rubus xanthocarpus was introduced by the United States 

 Department of Agriculture as a fruit-bearing plant but 

 seems not to have proved valuable. 



ORNAMENTAL SPECIES 



We are accustomed to think of the members of this 

 family only as fruit-producing plants, yet many of them 

 possess considerable attractiveness as ornamentals, and 

 are worthy of a place in any grounds. Some of them are 

 beautiful in themselves, especially if grown in free and 

 natural clumps, but more especially are they valuable for 

 grouping with other trees and shrubs. Many of the most 

 desirable species are natives of America, and possibly be- 

 cause of this are better appreciated in Europe than here. 

 We are wont to pass by beautiful things growing at our 

 doors for something less desirable which comes from a 

 tropical or foreign country. 



Rubus odoratus, the purple-flowering raspberry, or 

 thimbleberry, is so common throughout the greater por- 

 tion of the eastern part of the United States that we 

 scarcely think of it as being ornamental. Yet it is a very 

 pretty and attractive shrub. It is beautiful both in 

 flower and fruit, and doubly desirable because it con- 

 tinues its blossoming and fruiting period over so long a 

 time. The foliage alone is attractive, regardless of the 

 blossoms. This species is frequently mentioned among 

 ornamentals in European journals. (Fig. 16.) 



Rubus parviflorus, the Rocky Mountain thimbleberry, 



