the leaves appear. The former, is a shrub which may in time be ex- 
pected to grow to the height of ten or twelve feet and to spread to a 
diameter equal to its height. It is perfectly hardy and one of the most 
beautiful of all early spring flowering shrubs but, like several of the 
other early flowering Magnolias, it blooms too early and the flowers are 
often injured by late frosts. This is true, too, of Magnolia kobus and 
its variety. The latter is a larger and more vigorous tree than the 
typical Magnolia kobus, which in the Arboretum has remained shrubby 
in habit. These two plants, in their young state at least, do not produce 
large quantities of flowers and their flowers are less beautiful than 
those of many Magnolias, but the northern tree grows rapidly, is very 
shapely and covers itself with dense, dark green, handsome foliage. 
Other plants now in bloom are the European Daphne Mezereum and 
Erica camea. The former is a small shrub sometimes growing to a 
height of eighteen inches or two feet, and is ornamental when it is 
covered with its small flowers, and later in the season when its red 
fruits are ripe. It may now be seen in good condition on the lower 
side of Azalea Path. Erica camea is one of the few Heaths which are 
hardy in this climate and the first of the genus to flower here. The 
red and white-flowered varieties may be seen in the Shrub Collection 
and among the Rhododendrons at the base of Hemlock Hill. 
The interest in native birds is now so great, and fortunately so rap- 
idly increasing, that it may be interesting to make known some of the 
resources of winter bird-food which can be found in the Arboretum. 
In March a representative of the Department of Agriculture at 
Washington came to the Arboretum to study the plants found here 
which might furnish birds with winter food. His examination revealed 
the. fact that fleshy fruits of the sort eaten by birds were still hanging 
on the branches, and in good condition, of one hundred and ten species 
of trees and shrubs, and that the fruit of fifteen other species, although 
dry, was still available as bird-food. These one hundred and twenty- 
five species belong to thirty genera. Of the species only forty-nine are 
natives of the United States and only thirty of New England. In the 
course of a few years, moreover, the number of plants producing win- 
ter food for birds will probably be largely increased in the Arboretum 
by recent introductions. 
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, 300 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. 
