the Shepherdxa. argentea. 5^X 



leaves ; filameats eight, very short, pubescent ; anthers ob- 

 long, 2' celled. Female flowers smaller, shortly pedunculate, 

 with eight glands ; no vestiges of stamina. Style, 1 ; stigma 

 thick and oblique; germ inferior; berries small, and collected 

 into clusters, red and succulent, sparingly scattered with scales, 

 always more or less acid ; seed sub-ovate and shining, much 

 like that of //ippophae, to which this genus is proximately 

 allied. It is indigenous on the banks of the Missouri and 

 the lesser streams, from the confluence of the river Platte to 

 the sources of the Missouri." 



This beautiful tree grows spontaneously in the extensive 

 plains on the banks of the Missouri, and resembles the JSleag- 

 nus argentea so much, that they might be easily mistaken one 

 for the other when not in fruit. The Messrs. Winships, 

 nurserymen, at Brighton, near Boston, I believe, are the only 

 persons who have this tree under cultivation, at least to any 

 great extent. Their standard tree is about 14 ft. high, and is 

 eight years old from the seed. The tree is perfectly hardy, 

 grows vigorously in any part of North America, and is said to 

 bear a near resemblance to the olive tree. It is one of our ear- 

 liest flowering trees, beincj covered with blossoms in March. 



Its fruit is about the size of the Red Antwerp currant, much 

 richer to the taste, and forms one continued cluster on every 

 branch and twig. We consider it one of the greatest acqui- 

 sitions of the fruit-bearing kind that has recently been brought 

 into notice in our country ; and, for beauty of foliage, elegance 

 of fruit, and general appearance, it is well worthy the attention 

 of cultivators in Europe. Yours, &c. 



Boston {America), July 11. 1831. J. B. Russell. 



Shepherd/^ argentea is already in the English nurseries 

 and botanic gardens, though still called in some of them ^p- 

 pophae argentea : it is prized for the silvery splendour of its 

 foliage, and propagated by layers. With us it seems of slow 

 growth ; for, though it was brought to England in 1818, we 

 have never seen a plant of it more than 4 feet in height ; 

 allowance, however, must be made both for our limited ob- 

 servation, and for the fact that some plants remain for years 

 after their introduction before they are dispersed. Our native 

 jF/ippophae rhamnoides is a fruit-bearing species, of which the 

 following account occurs in the Encyclopaedia of Plants, p. 832. : 

 — " H. rhamnoides is very prolific in berries, which are yel- 

 low when ripe, succulent, smooth, and gratefully acid to the 

 taste. They are much eaten by the Tartars ; and the fisher- 

 men on the Gulf of Bothnia prepare a rob from them which 

 imparts a grateful flavour to fresh fish. Every part of the 



