Possibly what I am about to say may not be news to the majority of your readers. I wish to say, what a beautiful ornamental shrub is the Cornus alternifolia, often called blue dogwood. The flowers are not very attractive, and it is not to them it owes its character, but chiefly to the fruit, which when ripe in July and August, gives to the shrub a character unapproached by any other shrub I know. Even without the fruit it is a pretty object, on account of the drooping habit of its branches. The tendency of the shrub is to become spreading, having what is termed a depressed head. This makes the fruit, which is usually borne in great profusion, quite conspicuous, and is what gives the peculiarly desirable character to the tree. The fruit itself is of a purplish blue color and has reddish stems. This is in pleasing contrast to the deep green of the leaves and branches.

There is not enough use made in landscape gardening of trees and shrubs chiefly valuable for their ornamental fruit. There is a great variety of such sorts, and when it is remembered that their chief attraction is in the late summer and fall months, when flowers are generally scarce, it is an additional reason for the more extended use of them.

[The vase-like form is unique. - Ed. G. M.]