HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY 



tie change of habit or character. It descends as far 

 as the fortieth parallel and grows there fairly well. 



In late May or early June a broad cluster of small 

 white blossoms, which are the fruit-bearing flowers of 

 the plant, appear at the apex of nearly every stem. 

 At the margin of this cluster, arranged around these 

 perfect blossoms in an irregular circle are numbers of 

 cream-white disks variously rounded and lobed, desti- 

 tute of stamens and pistils, apparently for show and 

 not for use. These marginal flowers become con- 

 spicuously white a few days before the perfect flowers 

 open. The) 7 are evidently a signal, a flag hung out to 

 the insect world saying, "Come buy, come buy! with- 

 out money and without price." 



Its contribution to the beauty of the garden is great- 

 est when in fruit. None of its neighbors can surpass 

 it. Soon after the flowers have dropped, the berries 

 are noticeable, and by the last of Jul)' they become a 

 beautiful greenish yellow, touched with red. Later, 

 the entire bush flames in scarlet, and so remains long 

 into the autumn. The fruit is acid — so acid that the 

 birds evidently do not care to set their bills on edge 

 with it — containing also a marked trace of bitter ; and 

 has been used as a poor substitute for cranberries, 

 whence its common name. 



Viburnum opuliis is the parent of the common Snow- 

 ball, Viburnum opulus sterilis,oi our gardens. When- 

 ever any plant shows a few neutral flowers in its wild 

 state, these can be increased indefinitely by cultivation 

 and selection. 



Viburnum paucifolium, the Few-flowered Cranberry- 

 tree, differs from Viburnum opulus in its broader 



276 



