26 



New hardy Trees mid Shrubs 



a. tiiflorum ; and the flowers 

 are wliite, abuadant, and or- 

 namental ; but the berry of 

 M. niveum is about the size of 

 that of the black currant, and 

 of the same deep rich purple. 

 It resembles a small smooth 

 gooseberry; "but its flavour 

 is very different : it is entirely 

 destitute of the flatness which 

 is more or less perceptible in 

 even the best gooseberries ; 

 in lieu of which it has a rich, 

 subacid, vinous, rather per- 

 fumed flavour, v/hich is ex- 

 tremely agreeable. The fruit 

 is rather too acid to be eaten 

 raw ; but, when ripe, it makes delicious tarts, and would, pro- 

 bably, afford an excellent means of improving the common 

 gooseberry by hybridising." {Lindl. in Bot. Reg.., Aug. ISS^.) 

 R. niveum, apart from these considerations (which, however, 

 will probably lead to its culture in the kitchen-garden), is, from 

 its white pendulous flowers, a valuable addition to our orna- 

 mental hardy shrubs. 



.Sambucus nigra var. laciniata Arb. 

 Brit.., p. ] 028., and our fig. 1 9., is a 

 beautiful tree, neglected for no other 

 reason, apparently, than that it has 

 been a long time in the country, 

 and is sold cheap. But what shall we 

 say to the general neglect which there 

 seems to be of S. racemosa Arb, Brit., 

 p. 1031., and our^^-. 20. ? This treehas 

 a splendid appearance when covered 

 with its panicles of fine large scarlet 

 fruit. Captain S. E. Cook, who 

 found it in abundance in Spain, in- 

 forms us that the panicles of fruit 

 resemble miniature bunches of grapes 

 of the most brilliant scarlet; and that, 

 when in perfection, he thinks it the most beautiful wild fruit 

 he has ever seen. Its large leaves, with their deeply serrated 

 pinnae, are, also, very ornamental. It grows as freely as the 

 common elder, and deserves a place in every collection ; though 

 it is very seldom found, in British gardens, of such a size as to 

 display its beauty. We should think it would succeed if budded 

 on the common elder ; and, as that species is abundant in many 



