In the group of plants belonging to the Elaeagnus or Oleaster Fam- 
ily, on the left-hand side of the Bussey Hill Road above the Lilacs, 
Elaeagnus angustifolia is a conspicuous object. This small tree is a 
native of southern and southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, and south- 
western Asia. It is now in flower but the small, pale yellow, fragrant, 
axillary flowers are almost hidden by the leaves, and it is in the leaves 
that the greatest beauty of this tree is found; these are long and nar- 
row like those of some Willows and they are silvery white, retaining 
this color during the season. No other tree or shrub which is hardy 
in New England has foliage of such silvery whiteness, and where it is 
desirable to produce in this climate in a plantation a striking effect by 
the use of a tree with white foliage Elaeagnus angustifolia is the best 
plant for the purpose. It has sometimes been called the Wild Olive- 
tree for the reddish brown fruits which ripen in summer resemble in 
shape small olives. 
The native Cornels (Cornus) have been largely used in the Arboretum, 
and the late-flowering species are beautiful here from the middle to 
the end of June. One of these plants, Cornus rugosa, sometimes called 
C. circinata, is a common native shrub and one of the handsomest of 
the whole genus. It has green branchlets, broad, rounded pale green 
leaves, paler and hairy on their lower surface, and conspicuous clus- 
ters of creamy white flowers which are followed by beautiful light blue 
fruits. Like a few other Dogwoods, it is difficult to transplant, but 
once established it soon spreads into large masses. There are several 
individuals in the Cornel Group at the junction of the Meadow and 
Bussey Hill Roads, and large shapely plants can be seen on the bank 
just above the group of Sassafras trees on the right-hand side of the 
Bussey Hill Road and below the Benzoin Group. Among the Hickories 
on the right-hand side of the Meadow Road there are also large groups 
of this plant. A smaller plant and less showy, perhaps, Cornus race- 
mosa, sometimes called C. paniculata or C. candidissima, is just be- 
ginning to open its flowers. This is a common inhabitant of roadsides 
and wood-borders in this part of the country, and is a round-headed 
shrub with slender erect stems and creamy white flowers produced in 
compound oblong clusters. The plant is as beautiful in October as it 
is in June for the flowers are followed by translucent white berries 
borne on bright red stalks, making this one of the most interesting of 
the shrubs which ripen their fruit in mid-autumn. The Silky Cornel 
(C. Amomum ) is the last of the native species to flower. This is a 
large, widespreading shrub and requires abundant space in which to 
show its beauty of habit. For this reason it should be planted as an 
isolated specimen or on the borders of ponds or streams, a purpose for 
which it is admirably adapted. Its purple stems are attractive in win- 
ter and the bright blue fruits which ripen in the autumn add materi- 
ally to the attractiveness of this shrub. 
The Arboretum owes much of its early summer beauty to four shrubby 
species of native Viburnums which have been planted in large numbers 
through its border plantations and which can be compared in the Vibur- 
num Group on the right-hand side of the Bussey Hill Road near its 
junction with the Valley Road. The first of these shrubs to flower, 
Viburnum dentatum , is already beginning to shed its flowers which 
during the summer will be followed by clusters of bright blue fruits. 
This is a common roadside and meadow shrub in the northeastern part 
of the country and, like the other American species, improves by cul- 
tivation, producing better foliage and handsomer flowers and fruits. 
The second species of this group, Viburnum cassinoides, is now in 
