4 
temperature of the winter of 1917-18. This is one of the handsomest 
of the early spring flowering shrubs which can be grown in this part 
of the country and one of the important Arboretum introductions. The 
largest plant in the collection is on Hickory Path near Centre Street 
and is now covered with flowers. A small plant of another Japanese 
species, C. paudflora, growing on Hickory Path near C. Gotoana, 
is also now covered with flowers. This is unusual, for although the 
plant is hardy the flower-buds are often killed by cold, as are those of 
another Japanese species, C. spicata. The stems and branches of the 
Chinese species, C. Veitchiana and C. Willmottae are uninjured but 
the flower-buds are killed. These plants have flowered in the Arbor- 
etum, but two years ago they were killed to the ground and there is 
little hope that these handsome shrubs will prove useful for New 
England gardens. 
Prinsepia sinensis. The value of this handsome shrub becomes more 
and more apparant with the passing years. The first plant in the Ar- 
boretum to unfold its leaves, these are already nearly full grown and 
by the time this Bulletin reaches its Boston readers the plants will be 
covered with bright yellow flowers. This Prinsepia is a perfectly hardy 
vigorous and fast-growing shrub; the young leaves and the flowers have 
never been injured by spring frosts, and it can be said of it that it is 
the best contribution Mongolia has made to our gardens. Prinsepia 
sinensis has proved difficult to propagate, but two years ago it pro- 
duced for the first time a little fruit and this seed has germinated. It 
is possible, too, with skill and patience to increase this plant by cut- 
tings, but until the Arboretum plants produce good crops of fruit Prin- 
sepia sinensis will not be common in this country. If it could be ob- 
tained in sufficient quantities it would make a beautiful and impenetra- 
ble hedge as the stems and branches are armed with sharp spines. 
Early Flowering Rhododendrons. Only three or four of the Rhodo- 
dendrons which bloom before the first of May can be grown in this cli- 
mate. The handsomest of these, Rhododendron mucronulatum, which 
has flowered every spring in the Arboretum for nearly twenty years, has 
perhaps not before been as thickly covered with flowers as it has been 
during the past ten days. A native of northern China and Korea it is 
a tall deciduous-leafed shrub inclined as it grows old to a straggling 
habit, with long slender branches and pale rose-colored flowers which 
open before the leaves appear and have never been injured here by 
April frosts. This is one of the handsome April flowering shrubs which 
can be successfully grown in this climate. The flowers are still in good 
condition on the plants in the large group on the lower side of Azalea 
Path. Rhododendron danricum, which begins to bloom a few days 
earlier than R. mucronulatum y has been unusually handsome this spring 
as the flowers which are generally destroyed by frost have not been 
injured. It is a native of eastern Siberia and Manchuria, with bright 
rose-colored flowers and dark green leaves which in this climate remain 
on the branches until midwinter. There is an evergreen variety, (var. 
sempervirens) , which has also flowered well this spring with the species 
on the upper side of Azalea Path. The flowers of the hybrid between 
Rhododendron dauricum and the Himalayan R. hirsutum, known in 
gardens as R. praecox, “Early Gem," are also in good condition this 
year; usually they are ruined by frost. 
