142 Bush-Fruits 



are small and inconspicuous, and the fruit small, though 

 bright red when ripe. The foliage is dense and bright 

 green, coloring well in autumn, and the bush is pleasing 

 in its habit of growth. It possesses considerable value as an 

 ornamental plant, although there is nothing striking about 

 it. It is generally hardy, and will mass well with other 

 plants and shrubs. In Nebraska it proved disappointing 

 in regard to hardiness, being injured by the winters, even 

 when protected. Yet the rich autumn color developed by 

 the foliage on the young shoots thrown up from the root 

 in spring has offset the loss of the older canes. It is es- 

 pecially recommended for holding banks and covering 

 waste places. 



Rubus arcticus, though a very pretty little species, 

 can hardly be expected to succeed in cultivation. It is 

 a native of the far north, and only extends southward 

 upon the high mountain ranges. It is the most delicate 

 and one of the prettiest members of the family, and would 

 be very desirable if it could be grown. 



Rubus phoenicolasius, the "Japanese wineberry," has 

 been brought more prominently before the public than 

 most other ornamental species (page 136). Its chief at- 

 traction lies in the peculiar reddish hairy character of the 

 plant. Except in favorable localities, this is all there is to 

 recommend it, for the canes are killed to the ground every 

 winter, and there are consequently no flowers or fruit. The 

 oddity of the fruit is one of its attractive features, when- 

 ever any is produced. This is enclosed in the long, bristly 

 calyx-lobes until it ripens. It is not well adapted to plant- 

 ing in clumps and masses, like most of the species pre- 

 viously mentioned. 



