THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
689 
NOTES ON EARLY, HARDY, SPRING, 
FLOWERING SHRUBS 
By JOHN CRAIG, Ithaca, N. Y. 
THE FORSYTHIAS 
The spring procession of flowering shrubs is headed by 
forms of Forsythia (Golden Bell), of which Viridissima and 
Suspensa are leading examples. One of the handsomest 
displays of the latter which I have seen was on view here in 
Ithaca from the latter part of March until well into April as 
a living curtain of gold overhanging a rocky embankment 
several hundred yards in length, forming one boundary of a 
street which cuts its way along the somewhat precipitous 
face of a rocky hillside below Cornell University. The 
plants set out some six or seven years ago have now become 
thoroughly established, many of the tips having layered 
themselves naturally, there being adequate moisture to 
encourage rooting. The outer face of this rough, natural 
terrace was festooned with this beautiful hanging mass of 
gold in blossom for an unusually long period, owing to the 
peculiar character of the spring. The Forsythias always 
bloom most freely following a winter which is characterized 
by small fluctuations of temperature. Warm periods are 
likely to cause early development of buds which are fre¬ 
quently killed or injured by subsequent cold. The past 
winter was most favorable in this locality for full flowering, 
and the Golden Bell, as it is called, developed splendidly and 
received full appreciation this spring. The more upright 
form—-viridissima—is desirable for mass effects and exhibits 
few or none of the trailing characteristics of suspensa. The 
plants are easily propagated by cuttings or layers. 
THE CARAGANAS 
These belong to the family of legumes and are mostly of 
East European origin. The common name—Pea tree— 
indicates their leading characteristics of blossom and leaf. 
The yellow, pea-like blossoms appearing with the opening 
leaves early in spring, are succeeded by slender pods con¬ 
taining small black seeds not unlike sweet peas. The 
principal form is C. arborescens, a small, round-topped, 
shrubby tree, usually exhibiting several stems, is perfectly 
hardy in all localities up to 42d or 43d parallel of north lati¬ 
tude. In fact, this shrub is reliable even in Manitoba. 
Other forms are dwarfer and some are larger flowered than 
C. arborescens described above as the type. The easiest 
way to propagate them is to grow them from seed, and this 
can be done with great readiness. The yellow pea-like 
blossoms appear with or soon after the leaves. 
THE JAPANESE QUINCE 
This old door-yard favorite is becoming less popular, 
largely on account of the fact that it seems to be a favorite 
host for the San Jose scale. On the other hand, the two 
types mentioned above—Forsythia and Caragana—are not 
infested to any serious extent. It is usual for hedge pur¬ 
poses it is true, but when grown in this form it is most 
difficult if not impossible to free it from scale when such 
infestation occurs. The magenta or pinkish red blossoms 
appear before the leaves but their beauty is considerably 
diminished by the ungainly outlines of the bush. The old 
wood should be cut out regularly. 
A BEAUTIFUL CRAB 
Following the quince we have an attractive array of 
flowering crabs, of which the most desirable form in my 
estimation is the native variety known as Bechtel. This 
combines beauty, hardiness, and ease of propagation with a 
very extended range of adaptation. 
jj* Two or three trees on the Cornell campus were rarely 
beautiful the past spring, exhibiting all the beauty of a 
double prairie rose combined with the stature of a small tree. 
THE NATIVE THORNS 
Among the thorns we have a group of unusual value, 
owing to the fact that they are practically as handsome in 
fruit as in flower. One of the drawbacks to their cultiva¬ 
tion is that they provide such a congenial host for the 
codling moth. They are, however, more immune to San 
Jose scale than most other forms of the rosaceous group. 
Among the best from the standpoint of attractive characters 
of flowers and fruit are Crataegus coccinea (Scarlet Thorn) 
flowering in April and May; C. mollis with showy flowers 
and bright green leaves. The fruit is particularly attrac¬ 
tive and ripens in September. The Cockspur C. crus-galli 
is recognized by its horizontal branching habit. It runs 
into several varieties, all very attractive. The English 
Hawthorne in single and double flowered forms is fairly 
hardy, but unlike the native types falls an easy victim tc 
San Jose scale, besides being attacked by pear blight in 
addition to one or two fungous diseases. 
PRICE OF CHERRIES AT NEWARK, N. Y., CANNERY 
Prices are as follows, June 22, 1910: 
Opening prices for sour cherries, currants and gooseberries will 
be as follows: 
For Louis Phillippe cherries, first quality—six cents per pound. 
For all other varieties sour cherries, first quality five and one- 
half cents per pound. 
For red currants, first quality—large varieties— four cents per 
pound. Small varieties—three and one-half cents per pound. 
For gooseberries, first quality—large varieties—four and one- 
half cents per pound. Small varieties—four cents per pound. 
All fruit to be delivered at our factory in good merchantable 
condition; * and inferior quality fruit, if accepted at all, will be at a 
reduced price. 
No produce of any kind received on Saturday. 
Terms: Cash on delivery. Prices subject to change without 
notice. 
