178 Ornamental Shrubs, 



A. alnifolia is a Western species or variety of much 

 smaller proportions, being a veritable dwarf though pos- 

 sessing all the good qualities imputed to the larger plant. 

 It is of especial value where a smaller form is desired 

 through limitations of space or adaptation to surrounding 

 objects. In some locations it is grown especially for its 

 fruit, which is esteemed above that of the currant, while 

 the bush is much more ornamental, and occupies no more 

 space. It has sometimes been put on the market as a 

 blueberry, but is of quite another family. It has the 

 advantage of producing both blossoms and fruit when not 

 more than two or three feet high. The flowers appear 

 later than those of the larger sort, and so help to 

 lengthen the season. A. rotundifolia is much the same 

 except that the bush grows some two feet taller, and 

 there are several others offered in the market with differ- 

 ences so slight as to call for no further description. 



A. japonica is a recent introduction to American gar- 

 dens, and appears to be worthy of notice. It, too, has 

 early blossoms in great abundance, not differing materially 

 from those already described. Its fruit is bright scarlet, 

 and proves very showy, and hangs on a long time, often 

 after the leaves have fallen. It is a strong grower and highly 

 ornamental in its foliage as well as in its fruit and blossom. 



DAPHNE. 



THE daphnes constitute a very interesting genus of 

 the order Thymelczacece, the several species of which 

 are widely distributed throughout the south tem- 

 perate zone, and in smaller numbers in the southern hemi- 



