50 



GARDEN GUIDE 



of Berberis vulgaris at back with Berberis Thunbergii and Mahonia in 

 the foreground. 



For a bed remaining attractive during the Winter use a few Ker- 

 ria japonicas, which have green twigs, or Cornus alba sibirica, with its 

 red twigs, both of which retain their color all Winter. 



There is a large group of shrubs with beautiful foliage. None 

 equals the graceful horizontal branching of Kegel's Privet. The flowers 

 are not very conspicuous, being white, but they are followed by attrac- 

 tive black berries. The dainty narrow^ minute foUage of the Spiraea 

 Thunbergii is excellent ; the tiny white flowers coming in early May add 

 an extra charm. In the region of central New York the tips of branches 

 Winter-kill, so that they need to be dressed a Uttle in the Spring. 



Certain shrubs are fascinating because of peculiar flowers, seeds 

 and bark. The Sweet Shrub, Calycanthus floridus, or, as it is also 

 called, the Strawberry Shrub, is very interesting; the twigs are aromatic 

 aU Winter and the leather-petaled, dull red flowers are very individual 

 in fragrance. Picked today they have one fragrance, perhaps that of 

 Strawberries; tomorrow, the fragrance is more like that of Apples. 

 Closely resembling C. floridus is C. Isevigatus, but the flowers of the 

 latter are not so sweet. The W^inged Spindle-Tree (Euonymus alata) 

 bears pecuhar corky angles on the twigs, and a funny little orange 

 fruit inside of a hard red husk. 



Shrubs with Edible Berries 



Shrubs which, though ornamental, produce berries which are good 

 to eat, are interesting not only to you, but to the birds they attract. 

 Many persons do not know that Barberries make a very good jam, es- 

 pecially palatable served with the Thanksgiving turkey or wild game, 

 being appropriate as well as tasty. Goumi, or Elaeagnus longipes, pro- 

 duces an elongated red berry in June or July which is exceUent picked 

 from the plant and eaten. The Vacciniums, Blueberry or Huckleberry, 

 besides being ornamental, are, as we all know, of an exceUent flavor. 

 Elderberries to some tastes make a pie superior even to Huckleberries. 

 The red-fruited variety should not be eaten. The Nannyberry (Vi- 

 burnum Lentago) bears a black fruit very freely. It has somewhat 

 the flavor of Bananas. Besides, there are the Blackberries, the Rasp- 

 berries and the Currants, species which are often ornamental. 



Broad-Leaved Evergreen Shrubs 



There are a number of interesting evergreen shrubs. None are so 

 popular as the Rhododendrons, which should have a soil free from 



