SHRUBS | 11 
SHRUBS 

VITEX 
(Incisa negundo) 
This long-lived shrub or small tree furnishes abundant 
bloom which the bees work freely and constantly over a 
long blooming period in late summer and fall. Attractive 
in both foliage and flower it is unsurpassed as an orna- 
mental shrub for latitude of central Missouri and south- 
ward where it reaches height of from eight to fifteen feet. 
In Iowa it often kills to the ground in winter, growing 
from the crown the following season. It is one of the very 
best shrubs to plant for nectar in the South and has value 
further north. We consider it very worth while here in 
our gardens. Though it often kills back in winter it is 
winter hardy. It is a nice ornamental and a favorite of the 
honey bee. 
The seed germinates slowly and requires favorable con- 
ditions. Plant in garden seedbed early in the spring. 
Water often to keep the soil constantly moist during ger- 
mination period which is usually two to four weeks. 
Seed, packet, 20c; 2 ounces, $1.00; postpaid. 
LESPEDEZA BICOLOR 
This is a shrubby lespedeza which bee-keepers may 
well heed. It blooms freely in late summer, is very at- 
tractive to the bees and can be expected to be a good 
source of surplus honey where it can be popularized to 
become sufficiently plentiful. It is attractive in both fo- 
liage and flower and is a long lived perennial suitable for 
screen or hedge. ‘The seed is a preferred food of quail and 
for this reason it is being used rather extensively in some 
sections to serve a dual purpose of erosion control and fur- 
nish cover for wildlife. It will not usually mature seed in 
Northern States but will provide a good fall source of 
nectar as far north as central Iowa and central New Eng- 
land. It is reported winter hardy at Brandon, Manitoba, 
Canada. We have a planting of the Lespedeza Bicolor 
and Cyrtobotra which is more than ten years old. We like 
them both for their ornamental value and attractiveness to 
bees. 
Fairly easy to grow from seed, the seed can be planted 
on prepared ground where it is wished to remain; for 
small plantings it is better to start the seed in garden row 
and transplant to permanent vosition the following spring. 
Plant the seed in the spring when moisture conditions are 
good any time after severe frosts are past. 
Seed, per packet, 20c; per pound, $2.50; postpaid 
LESPEDEZA CYRTOBOTRA 
Lespedeza Cyrtobotra is another shrubby species from 
Asia. It is perennial and requires about three years to 
reach full maturity. It begins blooming in the second sea- 
son and is very attractive to the bees. This species appar- 
ently yields more nectar than any lespedeza that we have 
thus far been able to secure. It reaches a height of about 
six feet on our grounds. Fall bloomer. 
We do not have seed of this item at the time this is 
printed but expect to have some later on. You may order 
