BARBERRY. 



21 



1844, in Southern Utah, but it extends along the valleys 

 southward, and would probably succeed in the Middle 

 States, if not in the Northern. 



Berberis trifoliata, — Three-leaved Barberry. — Closely 

 allied to the last ; common in Western Texas and Xew 

 Mexico. Berries bright red, and less acid than those of 

 the common barbery. Fruit used for tarts, etc. 



Berberis dulcis. — Magellan Sweet Barberry. — Also 

 B. iuxifoUa and rotundifolia. Straits of Magellan ; 

 it is an evergreen there and in England ; here it usually 

 drops its leaves late in winter. The berries are round, 

 black, moderately sweet. 



Berberis aristata. — Xepaul Barberry. — B, Asiatica 

 and B, CMtra. A native of various portions of India. 

 Evergreen, with purple fruit, covered with bloom. 



The other evergreen species of the Rocky Mountains 

 and the Pacific Coast, i, e., B, repeiis, B, Aqidfolium, 

 B. 2)in7iata dLndi B. nervosa^ are known as Z\Iountain" 

 or ^^Bush-Grapes." They were formerly placed in the 

 genus Mahonia; and are principally cultivated for orna- 

 ment ; the pioneers in the regions named considered the 

 berries as edible, and as a substitute for grapes. 



HISTORY. 



There is very little in the history of the Barberry that 

 is of interest at the present day. Gerarde, an English 

 author (1597), says that its young leaves were used as a 

 salad in his time. 



PROPAGATION. 



By Seeds. — Gather the fully ripe berries, and put into 

 boxes until the pulp becomes soft, then wash out the 

 seeds, and either sow or keep in sand until wanted. 



Sow in the fall ; if delayed until spring, the seeds be- 

 come dry, and more or less of them will not grow. Where 

 the weather is veiy hot and dry in summer, select a half- 

 shady place for the seed-bed, else the young plants will 



