than the species from which they originate, and certainly the handsom- 
est of the Forsythias in flower is a hybrid between F . suspensa, var. 
Fortunei and F. viridissima, called F. intermedia. Of this hybrid there 
are a number of forms differing in habit and in the color of the flowers, 
showing opportunity for still further variation and improvement. Of the 
species and varieties var. Fortunei is now the most generally used and 
the most vigorous and desirable garden plant, although F. suspensa , with 
its long slender drooping branches is best suited for draping high walla 
or steep banks. The European species is of much less value as a garden 
plant, and F. viridissima the first species cultivated in Europe and Amer- 
ica and the latest of all to flower, is of comparatively little ornamental 
value. 
The Buffalo Berry ( Shepherdia argentea) is in flower in the Oleaster 
Group on the left-hand side of Bussey Hill Road just above the Lilacs. 
The Buffalo Berry is a shrub or small tree with handsome silvery leaves, 
minute, clustered, axillary, precocious flowers, and small handsome 
crimson or yellow subacid fruits. It is a common inhabitant of the 
borders of streams from Saskatchewan to the Rocky Mountains as far 
south as New Mexico. In recent years much attention has been paid to 
it as a fruit plant in the dry cold interior parts of the continent. 
The earliest of the Peaches, Prunus ( Persica ) Davidiana , is in flower, 
although the plants in the Arboretum are blooming sparingly this year. 
This is a native of the mountains of northern China, and some writers 
have considered it the wild type of the cultivated Peach. There are 
pink and white -flowered varieties. This tree flowers, however, so early 
that the flowers are too often destroyed by frost and therefore it is not 
of great importance as a garden plant here. 
The earliest of the Cherries to flower, Prunus tomentosa, is also from 
northern China, and will be in bloom within a week. This is a broad 
vigorous shrub of excellent habit which every spring is covered with 
large flowers, the white petals more or less tinged with red toward the 
base. The small, bright red, slightly hairy fruits are of good flavor. 
This interesting shrub was raised from seeds sent to the Arboretum from 
Peking in 1882 and is now somewhat cultivated for its fruit in Alberta, 
Dakota and in other cold dry interior regions of the continent where 
other Cherries are not hardy. It should be much better known than it 
is in northern gardens. Very large specimens can be seen along the 
Boston Parkway between Perkins Street in Jamaica Plain and Forest 
Hills, and there are small plants on the right-hand side of Forest Hills 
Road, entering from the Forest Hills Gate. A number of interesting 
forms of this plant discovered by Wilson in northern China have recently 
been described. 
An illustrated guide to the Arboretum containing a map showing the 
position of the different groups of plants has recently been published. It 
will be found useful to persons unfamiliar with the position of the differ- 
ent groups of plants. Copies of this guide can be obtained at the Admin- 
istration Building in the Arboretum, from the Secretary of the Massa- 
chusetts Horticultural Society, 800 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, from 
The Houghton, Mifflin Company, 4 Park Street, Boston, at the Old Cor- 
ner Bookstore, Bromfield Street, Boston, and at the office of the Harvard 
Alumni Bulletin, 50 State Street, Boston. Price, 30 cents. 
The Arboretum will be grateful for any publicity 
given these Bulletins. 
