142 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
at random onl}- a few species, mainly native to eastern 
United States. All of these plants can be seen in Botanic 
Gardens, arboretums and park collections, but the best 
way to know them is to plant them in your own garden 
and watch them develop. 
The Papaw, Asimina triloba, is a very ornamental 
shrub or small tree, with large, handsome leaves and 
curious white or pinkish flowers in May. The Papaw 
belongs to the tropical Custard Apple family and pro- 
duces large, oblong, apple-like edible fruits. As yet the 
fruit of the Papaw is of little commercial importance, 
but by selection and breeding, it may soon become a 
valuable fruit. They grow naturally in rather heavy, 
moist soil, but can be grown successfully on a light, sandy 
loam soil, well drained, if mulched well with manure in 
spring and fall. Because they do not transplant readily, 
it is best to plant young stock or sow the seed where the 
plants are to stand. This is an exceedingly interesting 
plant both from a horticultural and botanical standpoint. 
It is native as far north as western New York and is 
hardy as far north as Massachusetts. 
Our native Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a 
very distinctive tree with its bright, shiny foliage and its 
conspicuous yellow plum-like fruits. If only planted for 
its glossy leaves it would be well worth while, the edible 
fruits should make it doubly attractive. There are about 
forty horticultural varieties recognized, differing only in 
most cases in the size of the fruit. The Persimmon 
grows native from Connecticut to Florida, west to Kansas 
and Texas. It is not particular as to soil, thriving in 
almost any location. 
Gordonia alatauiaha is a tree with a history. From 
the Arnold Arboretum Bulletin of Popular Information 
for October 13, 1916, we quote this interesting story : 
"It was discovered by John Bartram, the famous Penn- 
sylvania traveler and botanist, in 1765 near Fort Barring- 
ton on the Altamaha River in Georgia. John Bartram's 
son, William, visited the locality in 1778 and collected 
seeds and roots of this tree and Dr. Moses Marshall, who 
visited the locality in 1790, was the last botanist who has 
seen it growing naturally. Many botanists have hunted 
for it in vain but without success and this tree has been 
preserved by the plants collected by William Bartram 
and his descendants." The Gordonia produces its large, 
creamy, white flowers in September and October, being 
one of the few trees blooming so late in the year. The 
flowers are delightfully fragrant. The Gordonia is per- 
fectly hardy at Philadelphia and in a sheltered position 
with some protection in winter it will stand as far north 
as ]\Iassachusetts. 
Stuartia pentagyna, sometimes called the Mountain 
Stuartia, is an ornamental flowering shrub quite closely 
related to the Loblolly Bay, Gordonia, and belonging to 
the same family. Few of our woody shrubs produce 
more attractive and such large flowers which resemble 
somewhat those of the Hibiscus, or Rose of Sharon. The 
Stuartia is chiefly important because it blooms in July 
and August at a time when most other flowering trees 
and shrubs are past. The bright colors of the fall leaves 
are unusually attractive. The Gordonia, although a 
southern plant, is hardy as far north as western New 
York. However, it gives better results when planted in 
a sheltered location. 
Neinusia alahamensis, the Snow Wreath, a very orna- 
mental shrub, is especially interesting because of its 
natural rarity. It is found in only two stations in Ala- 
bama, and is the only representative of its genus. The 
Snow Wreath, belonging to the Rose Family, is very 
attractive when in full bloom with its countless white, 
feathery flower clusters, literally covering the branches. 
It is hardy north ; at Highland Park, Rochester, N. Y., 
it has stood without protection and in an exposed posi- 
tion for many years, and even the most severe winters, 
when the temperature has been at 15 degrees below 
zero, have failed to injure the flower buds. 
The Oak-leaved Hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia) 
is another of our too little known southern plants that 
is hardy as far north as western New York and Massa- 
chusetts. Its large, handsome. Oak-leaved shaped 
foliage is very striking, and its long panicles of pink to 
purplish flowers are quite showy in late June and July. 
Like all Hydrangeas this species makes a very ornamental 
specimen plant, but it is especially effective when planted 
at the edge of a shrubbery border, its broad, woolly leaves 
presenting a marked contrast to the usual narrow-leaved 
foliage of deciduous shrubs commonly used in borders. 
\'iburnum pubescens, the Downy Arrow-wood, is a 
low, straggling shrub in its native home. But in culti- 
vation it is one of the finest of all the viburnums, with- 
out equal in producing a rich color effect with its pro- 
fusion of lustrous jet black berries. Specimen plants 
usually assume a densely compact habit, forming some- 
what globular-shaped bushes. In border plantings it will 
form thickets, suckering from the roots. The flat-typed 
flower cymes are borne abundantly, and are very deco- 
rative. Taken all in all the Downy Arrowwood de- 
serves to be more widely used, especially in the North, 
where other plants might be tender. 
Two of our native Dogwoods, Cornus alternifolia and 
C. asperifolia, are very ornamental and attractive plants. 
Both are tall growing species, the Alternate-leaved Dog- 
wood sometimes attaining a height of twenty-five feet. 
Cornus alternifolia is particularly distinctive because of 
its unusual size, the unique arrangement of its branches 
in irregular whorls, the alternate instead of opposite 
leaves, as in the other Cornels, and the decorative beauty 
of the deep blue berries, all combine to make it worthy 
of a place in our gardens. Probably the most noticeable 
character in Cornus asperifolia are its brownish branches, 
its curious, rough-pubescent leaves and the waxy white 
fruit. When in full bloom Cornus asperifolia is remark- 
ably showy, and it is no less handsome when covered 
with a multitude of white berries in autumn. Both of 
these dogwoods should be a welcome addition to our list 
of tall shrubs or small trees. 
Few people have ever planted the Dwarf Alder, Fother- 
gilla, yet it is a showy flowering shrub. There are 
three or four species native of the southeastern United 
States, of which probably F. major is the best known. 
The Dwarf Alder is a member of the Witch Hazel family 
and has leaves somewhat resembling those of the Witch 
Hazel. The pretty spikes of flowers come into bloom 
just after the leaves appear in May, and it is safe to say 
that few plants present a more charming aspect just at 
this time. They require a rather moist, peaty soil, or 
sandy, and seem to be averse to lime. 
During the past twenty years no plants have received 
as much attention from the botanists as have the Haw- 
thorns (Crataegus). Up to the present time there have 
been about one thousand species described, nine hundred 
or so American. But this genus is worthy of all the 
study given it, and now the planting folks should give it 
a fair place in their planting plans. It is hard to con- 
ceive of any more beautiful picture than a meadow dotted 
with Hawthorns in full bloom. And in the Autumn, in 
fact, beginning in August and extending almost through 
the Winter months in some species, the showy scarlet 
fruits are exceedingly decorative. Few shrubs or 
trees have handsomer foliage ; in some species bright 
green, in some dark, lustrous green, and again yellow- 
ish and densely pubescent. The brilliant Fall coloring 
of the leaves is characteristic of nearly all the thorns. 
