RARE TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE ARNOLD ARBORETUM, U.S.A. 31 



in the Arboretum, and it would be surprising if it were not so, 

 as such a number of species of these genera are American, 

 hardy, and highly adapted for the partially moist and even peaty 

 soil of the place. Of the Whortleberries many species are 

 interesting, from the small Vaccinium pennsylvanicum carpeting 

 the sandy woods, to the larger Carolinian V. hirsutum, with 

 hairy fruits. V. stamineum has a good place in the collection, 

 and deservedly so. The Tangleberry (V. frondosum) bears fine 

 round blue berries. The Huckleberries are interesting, both for 

 the culinary uses of the fruits and the elegance of the foliage. 

 The Cox Huckleberry, from the Northern States, is late-flowering 

 (Gaylussacia dumosa). The commoner G. resinosa has small 

 branchlets, and small light green leaves ; it is a very good plant 

 for moist and peaty sands. 



The Andromedas are numerous and thriving. The Japanese 

 species (A. japonica) succeeds well, and seems to be very hardy. 

 This plant has found its way into many gardens, and will be 

 more and more appreciated. It has begun to sport, and will 

 probably give some fine varieties. Of the American species, the 

 w T ell-known A. speciosa* and its fine variety pulverulenta are 

 very attractive. The tall A. arborea,t sometimes 25 feet high, 

 was a surprise to me. Leucothoe Catesbczi and Cassandra 

 calyculata are also well deserving of cultivation, not to be re- 

 placed hastily by novelties. 



Some of the Ehododendrons are very distinct. B. Vaseyi 

 has a very singular pointed leaf in the way of the Weigelas, but 

 very thick; B. punctatum is very small leaved; B. brachy- 

 carpum, quite hardy, has leaves rusty and downy underneath, 

 with pale rose flowers : all are interesting. 



Somewhat to my surprise, I found fine specimens of Styrax 

 japonica ; a small tree in the Botanic Gardens of the Harvard 

 University was white with flowers. Near Paris it succeeds 

 poorly, but I should think it is more injured by the dryness of 

 the atmosphere than by the cold, as it is considered hardy in 

 Boston. 



One of the chief objects of my visit to the Arboretum was 

 to see the Chinese and Japanese Lilacs (Ligustrina or Syringa) 

 in flower. Far from being disappointed, my anticipations were 

 far surpassed by the beauty of these lovely little trees. There 



* Now Zenobia speciosa. f Now Oxydendrum arboreum. 



