promise to be more beautiful than ever before. Unfortunately Primus 
subhirtella is still rare in gardens. It is not known as a wild plant, 
and its seeds produce plants of the type of which it is a form, a tall tree 
of the Japanese forests known as Primus subhirtelia var. ascendens, 
a much less desirable garden plant. Prunus subhirtella therefore can be 
increased only by cuttings or by grafting it on its own seedlings. The 
Sargent Cherry {Prunus serrulata var. sachalinensis), for the first 
time since the trees in the Arboretum were old enough to flower, has 
not many flowers this spring except on the upper branches, but the Yo- 
shino {Prunus yeddoensis), which often loses its flower-buds from ex- 
treme cold, promises an unusual bloom this year, as does the white- 
flowered Prunus incisa, one of the best of the recent additions to the 
Arboretum Cherry Collection. 
Several Apricots were in full bloom on April 6. The most conspicu- 
ous w'ere a Japanese form of Prunus Armenaira, known as “Mikado,” 
and the Siberian Prunus mandshurica. The flowers of the so-called 
“Black Apricot” {Prunus dasycarpa) are a few days later and prom- 
ise to be unusually abundant. The flowers of the Canada Plum {Prunus 
nigra) and of the Chinese Plum (Prunus salicina), and of an Almond 
of northern China {Prunus triloba) are also opening their flowers— fore- 
runners in a season which now promises an unusual flowering of all 
plants of the Rose Family — Cherries, Plums, Pears, Apples, Haw- 
thorns, Quinces and Roses. 
Andromeda floribunda, often called Pieris Jioribunda, was covered 
v/ith its pure white, fully expanded flowers on the 3rd of April. This 
is one of the handsomest of the broad-leafed evergreen shrubs which 
are perfectly hardy in this climate. It is a round-topped plant occa- 
sionally eight or ten feet across and four or five feet high, with small, 
pointed, dark green leaves and terminal clusters of bell-shaped flowers. 
The flower-buds, which are fully grown in the autumn, are conspicuous 
and ornamental during the winter. This southern Appalachian shrub 
is an old inhabitant of gardens, and is still much propagated by nur- 
serymen. After the Laurel (Kulmvi latifoliu) and a few Rhododen- 
drons it is the most valuable broad-leafed ever green which can be 
grown in the northeastern states. 
Mr. J. G. Jack of the Arboretum staff will conduct a Field Class on 
Saturdays during the spring and early summer, to assist those who wish 
to gain a more intimate knowledge of the native and foreign trees and 
shrubs which grow in New England. Instruction will be given in in- 
formal outdoor talks and in the examination of the plants. Different 
botanical groups will be examined at each meeting, although any trees 
or shrubs found may form subjects for study. No technical knowledge 
or special preparation is required in order to join the class as the in- 
struction is intended to be simple in character, affording opportunities 
for questions and answers relating to the specimens under observation. 
Unless otherwise notified the class will meet promptly at 10 o’clock in 
the morning, on Saturdays, in the Arboretum, at the Forest Hills 
entrance. 
A low temperature, with a heavy snowfall, on April 11, will probably 
destroy the flowers and flower-buds of many plants. 
