argentea from northern Europe and Siberia, and S. gracilistyla , a shrub 
three to four feet high from Japan. These plants can be seen on the 
left hand side of the walk not far from its entrance to the Meadow 
Road. 
One of the first plants in the Arboretum to unfold its leaves in the 
spring is a shrub of the Rose Family, Prinsepia sinensis. The small 
but numerous, clear yellow, axillary flowers appear soon after the leaves 
and can now be seen on a well established plant on the upper side of 
Hickory Path near the Centre Street wall. This north China shrub i3 
still rare in cultivation, but is well worth a place in any collection for 
its beauty and for its botanical interest. 
The Arboretum is often asked about the best shrubs for ground cover, 
that is to cover the ground under trees or among larger shrubs. The 
two deciduous-leaved shrubs which have proved the most successful in 
the Arboretum for this purpose are both natives of the United States. 
They are the Fragrant Sumach ( Rhus canadensis or aromatica) and the 
Yellow Root ( Zanthorhiza apiifolia). The former is rather a straggling 
plant with slender stems sometimes three or four feet high, although 
in one of its forms this plant grows much more compactly. The flow- 
ers are bright yellow, on short axillary branches appearing before 
the three-lobed leaves, and followed by red fruits which ripen in 
June. This has been found a useful plant in the Arboretum, although 
as a ground cover it has not proved as successful as the Yellow Root. 
This does not grow so tall, and, spreading rapidly by underground 
shoots, soon covers the ground with its erect stems. The small purple 
flowers are produced in terminal erect racemes and open before or with 
the leaves which are clear bright yellow in the autumn. Unfortunately 
this plant, which is a native of the Appalachian Mountain region, will 
not thrive in limestone soil. These two shrubs have been largely 
planted in the Arboretum and are now in flower. 
Some of the forms of Lonicera coerulea are in flower in the Shrub 
Collection. This is a bush Honeysuckle which encircles the northern 
hemisphere and is attractive in habit with its creamy white flowers and 
bright blue fruits. 
One of the broad-leaved evergreens, Pieris {Andromeda) japonica, is 
in bloom among the Rhododendrons at the base of Hemlock Hill. This 
is a hardy plant with handsome foliage and clusters of large white 
flowers which, however, are usually spoiled here by spring frosts. A 
better plant for this climate is Pieris ( Andromeda ) floribunda , a native 
of the southern Appalachian Mountains and one of the best broad- 
leaved shrubs which can be grown here. It forms in cultivation a 
broad, low, rounded head; the leaves, although small, are dark green, 
and the creamy white flowers are produced in profusion. The flower- 
buds are conspicuous through the winter and just now are beginning 
to open. There is a large specimen of this Andromeda in the bed on 
the north side of Hemlock Hill Road opposite the Laurels. 
The Arboretum will be grateful for any publicity 
given these Bulletins. 
