Mk. James \ ick : — In speaking of winter decorations, you mention the English Holly, and seem to regret that 
in America we have no bright berry to fill its place. Perhaps it is true that we have none surpassing or even equal¬ 
ing it in beauty, but near my home there grows a shrub, something like a Lilac bush in form, which is at this 
moment covered with very bright berries, a few of which I send you, hoping they will reach you in as beautiful 
condition as they are now. 1 hey attain their bright color about the last of September, and the berries are so close 
together that as we look out of the window they seem one perfect sheet of brilliancy. We have not been able, as 
yet, to learn their name, and hope you will be so kind as to enlighten us. I also send a portion of a darling little 
evergreen trailing plant that is not mentioned in your Guide, and we wonder why. Surely, you cannot think it 
unworthy of notice, since it is so pretty and so little 
trouble. It bears a dear little pale blue blossom 
early in April, and is proof alike against the cold¬ 
est and the warmest weather. 
The “darling little plant” is Vinca minor, 
or Perwinkle, and very hardy, and a very 
useful plant for trimming. 
Another elegant plant, and nearly allied 
to the Ilex , indeed, commonly called Holly, 
abounds in California. We had not the 
pleasure of seeing this plant in its glory, 
and therefore, feel under great obligation 
to our correspondent, who forwarded us 
with the note below a box of branches 
nicely in fruit, one of which we used to 
make the accompanying engraving: 
Mr. Vick : — I send you a specimen of the California Holly, Photinia arbutifolia . It is an evergreen, and is 
used very much here for winter decoration. It grows on rocky hillsides and on the banks of creeks. It blossoms 
late in the season ; and when winter comes it makes a very showy appearance, with its bright red berries and green 
leaves. The berries hang on the bushes until quite late in the spring. They will grow from the seed, and 1 think 
you can grow them in your climate, for they will endure a great deal of frost. The bushes are so loaded with 
berries they almost break down with their weight. They are a beautiful sight. The Indians make great use of 
the berries for food.— Mrs. D. K. D. 
We cannot close this article without introducing a favorite of our own, the Euonymus lati- 
folius , a common shrub, perfectly hardy, easily transplanted, and succeeding anywhere. We have, 
however, no shrub possessing so much beauty during our autumn months. Its fine clusters of 
pendulous violet red seed-bells, exhibiting when open its large orange-colored seeds, make it more 
than beautiful. It is known as the Strawberry-shrub and Spindle-wood, 
to show the appearance of the berries by the little engraving. 
The Mountain Asii, early in the season, is really one of the finest 
berrry-bearing trees we have, but the berries become discolored by frosts, 
and usually by the Holidays their beauty has entirely departed. How¬ 
ever, they are excellent food for the robins, tempt them to remain late in 
the season, and we believe, even in this latitude, as they become more 
plenty, will furnish these feathered friends many a Christmas dinner. By 
gathering the berries before injured, and keeping them in a cool cellar, the 
stems being placed in water, they will keep fresh a long time. 
The old Bi«;Ruf:RRY is a pleasant shrub, even in the summer, but in the 
autumn its long, drooping clusters of oval, scarlet berries make it espe¬ 
cially attractive. Then, it is the hardiest thing in the world, and the 
fruit is eatable, having a fine acid flavor, and is valuable for preserves. 
The Snow Berry, or Snow Drop, is far too good to be forgotten, 
and although no doubt known to all, it will do no harm to call attention 
to it, for our common blessings are not always appreciated or used, while 
we work and struggle for unattainable good. The Snow Berry is a very 
hardy shrub, growing from five to six feet in height. The leaves and 
branches are delicate, the flowers pink, but small, and in the autumn 
beautiful clusters of snow-white berries half an inch in diameter, hang euonymus latifolius. 
upon the plants well into the winter. In the autumn and early winter they are very beautiful. 
The Bitter Sweet, a vigorous climber with orange-colored seed vessels, and crimson seeds 
is far too valuable to be neglected, although only a native. The plant is beautiful when in fruit, 
and the “berries” very useful. l 5 
We have endeavored 
