Lagerstreemia — Vitex 363 
nous to all continents, mostly of mountain habitat, there are at least 
three that have ornamental value, besides those cultivated for their 
fruit, and, since they are very easy of cultivation, and frugal in their 
demands on the soil, they may be used to advantage for their foliage, 
flower, and fruit. They are rather liable to mildew and various insects, 
which can be prevented, the former by spraying, the latter by hellebore 
and sulphur. 
R, alpinum Linn. (181), the European Mountain Currant, a compact, 
shapely bush, two to three feet, and very hardy, has pale yellow flowers 
in erect clusters (May), and very showy, scarlet, tasteless fruit. A 
variety, aureum (1812), has yellow foliage. 
R. aureum Pursh. (182), the western native Buffalo Currant (four to 
eight feet), spreading, with fine, three-lobed, shiny leaves, bright yellow 
flowers (May) and dark bluish fruit, is perhaps the best, being hardy 
everywhere. A cut-leaved variety, tenuifolium (182a), is less hardy. 
R, Americanum Mill. (floridum) (183), the Black Currant, also native, 
and of wide distribution, has greenish-white flowers in large racemes, 
dark fruit and fine lobed foliage. 
R. speciosum Pursh. (184), from California, the most showy bright 
red fuchsia-flowered gooseberry, is unfortunately not hardy in the 
north. 
Sassafras, see Trees [List C]. 
Stuartia. Two species, native of the mountains of the southeastern 
United States, are desirable for their large, creamy-white, camellia- 
like flowers and their rich bright green foliage of large leaves, which 
assumes most brilliant autumn shades. They are only half hardy in 
New England, and require a rich soil. 
S. pentagyna, eight to twelve feet, very large flowers (July, August), 
creamy-white, fluted sepals, with orange-colored anthers and oval 
leaves. 
S. virginica Car. (186) (Malachodendron), six to eight feet, flowers 
(May, June, July, August in the north), with purple filaments and 
oblong leaves, has the largest and showiest flowers. 
Sumach, see Trees [List B], (under Rhus). 
Tamarix, see Trees [List C]. 
Vitex. V. Agnus-castus Linn. (187), Chaste Tree, one of some sixty 
species of the Verbena family, is a small, neat shrub (three to six feet) 
from southern Europe, sometimes growing into tree form. It is only 
half hardy north of Pennsylvania, with terminal panicles of light lilac 
