slightly tinged with blush); and among the whites tinged with pink 
Delicatissimum (very late). 
The Chinese Chionanthus retusa, although by no means a new plant, 
is flowering now for the first time in the Arboretum. It is related to 
the eastern American Fringe-tree or Old Man’s Beard (C. virginica), 
when in flower one of the most beautiful of the small trees or shrubs of 
eastern North America where it grows from New Jersey and Missouri 
to Florida and Texas. This plant with its long drooping clusters of flow- 
ers with their long narrow white petals is a familiar object in most 
old gardens in this country, where it is always an object of interest. 
As an ornamental plant the Chinese species is much less attractive 
than its American relative; the leaves, although darker green, are 
smaller, and the flowers, which are produced in short, nearly erect 
clusters, are much smaller with shorter petals. Except as another in- 
stance of the close relationship between the floras of eastern North 
America and eastern Asia the Chinese Chionanthus is of comparatively 
little interest. The two species are growing on the Bussey Hill Road 
just above the Lilac Group and there are plants of them both on Azalea 
Path. 
Two Andromeda-like plants are now in good condition, Leucothoe 
Catesbaei and Lyonia mariana. The former is an evergreen with long 
spreading and arching stems clothed with handsome long-pointed leaves, 
and small clusters of axillary white flowers; it is a native of the south- 
ern Appalachian region and one of the hardiest and most desirable of 
the broad-leaved evergreen shrubs which can be grown in this climate. 
For the development of its greatest beauty, however, it needs rather 
moist soil and a shady position. It has been planted in large numbers 
along the brook and in the small ravine at the base of Hemlock Hill 
and is now flowering freely. Lyonia mariana is a smaller shrub with 
deciduous leaves and larger, white, racemose flowers borne on leafless 
shoots. This plant is common in the eastern states from Rhode Island 
southward, and in cultivation is not particular about soil or situation. 
There is a large mass of it now in full flower on the right-hand side 
of the Meadow Road in front of the Horsechestnut Group; and these 
two species are in the Shrub Collection. 
In the Philadelphus Groups many plants are beginning to flower every 
week. P. coronaria, the \ Mock Orange of old-fashioned gardens, 
with its small, creamy white fragrant flowers, is already in bloom and 
near it in the Shrub Collection P. Falconeri is covered with its delicate 
white blossoms. The origin and the native country of this graceful 
shrub are still unknown. Of all the gifts which science has made to 
gardens few are more beautiful and valuable than the race of hybrid 
Philadelphus known generally as P. Lemoinei. There are a large num- 
ber of these hybrids in the collection and they will bloom in succession 
during several weeks. The earliest this year are called Boule d’Argent 
and Manteau d’Hermine. The value of these wonderful little plants 
is now recognized in many nurseries, and there is no longer any reason 
why they should not find their way into every northern garden. 
The Laurels ( Kalmia latifolia) are beginning to expand their flower- 
buds and in a few days will be in their best condition. With the fading 
of these flowers will pass the last of the great floral displays of the 
Arboretum year. 
The Arboretum will be grateful for any publicity 
given these Bulletins. 
