322 Ornamental Shrubs. 



living-rooms well, and if kept moist and clean seldom fails 



to gratify tlie grower with a crop of miniature fruit. In 



the open it thrives in ordinarily good soil, but does better 



in partial shade than if exposed to the full power of the 



sun. 



HALESIA— Snowdrop Tree. 



THE halesias are coming to be recognized as among 

 our best ornamental shrubs, and with reason. 

 They belong to the order Styracacece, and, though 

 the genus contains not more than six or eight species, 

 they are widely distributed as to nativity over Europe, 

 Asia, and America. There are three indigenous to the 

 United States, one to China, and two or more to Japan. 

 Wherever known they are highly appreciated among the 

 plants of the class to which they belong. They are 

 among the very floriferous shrubs, the pure white blos- 

 soms enveloping the whole plant and making it a con- 

 spicuous object. The leaves are medium in size, ovate- 

 oblong, sharply pointed, and slightly dentate. They are 

 borne on slender petioles. While the halesias are not 

 overparticular as to soils and situations, they appear to 

 enjoy shady positions and to have a preference for moist, 

 sandy soils. 



H. tetraptera is known as the four-winged snowdrop 

 or silver-bell, and has its pure white flowers in fascicles 

 containing nine or ten bell-shaped blossoms each. These 

 come forth in early spring as soon as the foliage appears, 

 and are borne on pedicels from the axils of the growth of 

 the previous year. They are followed by a four-winged 

 fruit. As the branches of the shrub are long and slender 



