Fringe Tree (chionanthus Virginica, Linn.), a beautiful tree of 10 to 30 ft. in height, with somewhat oval, smooth, entire leaves, white, narrow-petalled flowers in drooping racemes, and oval, purple drupes, growing wild from Pennsylvania southward to the gulf of Mexico. It belongs to the oleaceoe, and is hence a relative of the olive and the ash. Its light and pure clusters of blossoms are not only suggestive of its English name, but of the generic title of chionanthus, blossoms of the snow. It is of rather slow growth, and is not hardy north of central New York; but where it will endure the climate it is well worthy of cultivation. Some of the nursery catalogues offer the varieties angiistifolia, latifolia, and maritima, which differ somewhat from the type in size and shape of the leaves and flowers.

Fringe Tree (Chionanthus Virginica).