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depends on knowledge which can only be obtained by the constant 
study at all seasons of the year of living plants. Opportunity for such 
study is found in the Arboretum, in which nearly every tree and shrub 
which can grow in the northern United States is established. The 
leaves on some individuals of a species turn more brilliantly than on 
other individuals of the same species and this individual character is 
constant from year to year. It is therefore possible to increase the num¬ 
ber of trees with exceptionally handsome autumn foliage by grafting or 
budding, grafts or buds being taken from selected trees worked on stock 
of the same species, as trees with pyramidal or pendulous branches are 
propagated. The value of propagating trees for the autumn color of 
their leaves is shown by the Red Maple-tree which stands on the left- 
hand side of the Meadow Road directly opposite the entrance to the 
Administration Building. This tree was obtained by grafting a Red 
Maple seedling with a branch ofj a tree growing in Brookline with 
crimson autumn foliage. The leaves of the grafted tree have the same 
color as those of the Brookline tree, and for more than two weeks this 
tree has been the brilliant object of the Arboretum. Near it are stand¬ 
ing two seedling Red Maples. The leaves of one of these trees turned 
pale yellow and are fast falling; from the other the nearly green 
leaves have already fallen. 
Plants for the Edge of Beds of Large Shrubs. A correspondent of 
the Arboretum writes: “Can you recommend several shrubs suitable 
for edging planting before taller shrubs? I have used Xanthorrhiza 
considerably, but it is almost the only shrub that I find low enough 
for that purpose. I want to bring some Cornels down to the edge of 
a drive and I also want to plant in front of Privets and Thorns.” 
There are not many shrubs with deciduous leaves which can be suc¬ 
cessfully used for this purpose. The best which has been tried in the 
Arboretum is the Fragrant Sumach {Rhus canadensis, or as it was for¬ 
merly called Rhus aromatica). This widely distributed North Ameri¬ 
can shrub rarely grows more than five feet tall, and when planted in 
good soil is often broader than tall with lower branches spreading flat 
on the ground, and upper branches erect spreading or drooping. In 
early spring before the leaves appear the branches are covered with 
clusters of small bright yellow flowers which in June are followed by 
dull red fruits which are pretty much hidden by the small compound 
leaves. Among the small shrubs in the Arboretum few are more bril¬ 
liant at this season of the year for the leaves turn gradually to bright 
scarlet and orange. This Rhus has been largely planted along some 
of the drives and this week it is a conspicuous feature of the Arbore¬ 
tum. The Xanthorrhiza has also been largely and successfully used 
here. It makes a neat border plant, and it is also well suited to grow 
under tall shrubs or trees. The Xanthorrhiza spreads rapidly by un¬ 
derground stems which do not grow more than from twelve to eighteen 
inches high; the small purple flowers which are arranged in drooping 
clusters, appear as the leaves unfold; these are pinnate, of a cheerful 
green color and in the autumn turn pale yellow. Some of the North 
American Roses might be used to edge beds of larger shrubs although 
most of them are too upright in habit to be really useful for this pur¬ 
pose. There is a dwarf form of the Choke-berry (Aronia nigra) in 
the Arboretum collection which might be used to advantage for this 
