RABBIT BERRY. 
121 
Boston, obtained a few seeds of the Sheplierdia from the 
banks of the Missouri, which growing, gave origin to all 
the plants now in the United States and in Europe. 
A standard tree, at this time growing in their nursery, 
is quite as large as an ordinary Apple-tree of the same 
age, and it is yet very vigorous and increasing in size. 
It is, I believe, about 20 feet high, with a handsome 
erect trunk, clothed with a somewhat smooth bark, and 
presents an appearance of the most vigorous health. 
Its resemblance to the Olive is very striking; it has a 
rounded uniform elegant summit, and when in fruit, 
which is at the close of summer, scarcely any thing can 
be more brilliant, from the load of berries with which it 
is every where clad; these are about the size of small 
red currants, juicy, but not watery, of a pleasant sub- 
acid taste, mixed with a sweetness, which renders them 
generally agreeable. Made into sweet jelly, in the 
manner of currants, they are thought preferable by most 
who have tasted them. But the great use of the Shep- 
herdia will be for constructing hedges or live fences, at 
least in the Northern States where it thrives well. Kept 
down by cutting it becomes sufficiently close, and has 
also the advantage of b£ing thorny, green, or rather 
silvery, till late in autumn, and it is attacked by no 
insect, nor subject to any disease or blight. 
The berries are greedily devoured by all the autumnal 
birds, particularly Robins and Blue-birds, who flock 
round the tree in throngs while any thing remains to be 
had. 
In its native state it is a small, rather narrow topped 
tree, with the branches ending in stout spines. The 
leaves are oblong-ovate, obtuse, shortly petiolate, on 
both sides free from hairs, but covered with peltate or 
rounded scales, which (through a lens) appear to be 
ciliated. The flowers, which come out as early as in 
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