266 Ornamental Shrubs. 



growing from four to six feet high, with yellow blossoms in 

 great abundance. This is pronounced, on account of its 

 long branches and strong thorns, a most excellent shrub 

 for forming impenetrable hedges. It is especially adapted 

 to sandy soils and to grafting on C. arborescens when a 

 taller plant is desired. 



EL^AGNUS. 



THE elaeagnus is the typical species of the natural 

 order ElceagnacecB, and constitutes an interest- 

 ing family of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, 

 mostly small trees, which are now coming into quite 

 general use in ornamental planting. Special attention 

 has been called to this group within the past few years 

 through the introduction of several new varieties from the 

 Orient, though one or two of the American species are 

 possessed of valuable qualities, and are not to be over- 

 looked. Nearly all have proved themselves hardy 

 throughout the north temperate zone, while in the 

 southern portion of the United States some of them are 

 nearly or quite evergreen. 



E. longipes is a Japanese species, and may undoubt- 

 edly be counted one of the best yet known to cultivation. 

 It grows from three to five feet in height, with numerous 

 slender branches which are covered with brown, rusty 

 scales, but are not such as to give it an offensive appear- 

 ance. Professor Sargent, who saw it in Japan, says that 

 in old age it there attains a height of from twenty to 

 twenty-five feet, and forms a stout trunk a foot in diame- 

 ter. The leaves are thick, dark green above and silvery- 



