6 
globosa) which except in the shape of the fruit is like the species. 
This is one of the handsomest of the small trees which have been in- 
troduced by the Arboretum in cultivation. The third of the Bret- 
schneider Pears has been named for him, Pyrus Bretschneideri. This 
tree does not appear to grow to so large a size as the last, but it is per- 
fectly hardy and the flowers and foliage are nearly as handsome. The 
fruit i3 globose or subglobose, about one inch in diameter, pale yellow, 
juicy and of good flavor. This is probably the tree from which at least 
some of the excellent and very juicy pears which are largely cultivated 
in the neighborhood of Peking have been derived. It is possible that 
this tree will prove useful to cross with some of the garden Pears in 
the hope of obtaining varieties which may prove hardier than any now 
in cultivation. Another Chinese Pear is one of the most distinct and 
interesting species of the whole genus. The leaves of most Pear trees 
fall in the autumn without change of color or turn to a dull bronze 
color, but the leaves of this tree late in the autumn turn as bright a 
scarlet as those of any American Red Maple or Gum tree. The fruit of 
a few Pear trees is globose, but its usual form is obovoid, that is the 
broad end is at the apex and the narrow end at the insertion of the stalk, 
but the fruit of this tree, unlike that of any other Pear tree, is ovoid, 
that is, it is broad at the insertion of the stalk and tapers to the apex. 
The fruit is about an inch and a half long, yellow, and of fairly good 
flavor. This tree was introduced into Europe nearly fifty years ago 
probably from northern China and has been known there as Pyrus 
Simonii. That name, however, had been given to a different species 
and this tree has now been named Pyrus ovoidea. It is possible that 
this species has also played some part in the development of the Chin- 
ese garden Pears. Pyrus ovoidea is one of the first of the Pear trees 
to open its flowers which are now fully expanded. The flowers of the 
other Chinese species and those from Europe will open during the next 
week. A supplementary collection of these trees has recently been 
planted at the base of Peter's Hill, and the new species discovered by 
Wilson in western China have also been planted in a special Chinese 
collection on Bussey Hill. 
The Shad Bushes. The Arboretum is now gay with these plants 
which have been largely used here in the plantations along many of 
the drives. The general collection is in the border between the Meadow 
Road and the parallel walk on the left-hand side entering from the 
Jamaica Plain gateway. The distribution of these plants is peculiar. 
One species, a small shrub, occurs in the mountain regions of central 
Europe; another shrubby species is rather a rare plant in Japan, with 
a variety in western China where it is common and sometimes grows 
to the size of a small tree. In North America the genus is distributed 
from Labrador to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the northwest coast 
region, with several species in the dry interior region of the continent 
as far south as Arizona. The common name for these plants and their 
fruit among several of the northern tribes of Indians, Saskatoon, has 
been adopted for what is now an important city in Saskatchewan on 
the river of that name. Several species are common in the northeast- 
ern states and these in early spring add greatly to the beauty of 
