Our northern shrubs and how to identify them; a handbook for the nature-lover

Front matter

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OUR NORTHERN SHRUBS

Preface

The shrubs described in this volume are those which find their most congenial home in the region extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from Canada to the northern boundaries of our Southern States ; together with those imported shrubs which have so long adorned our yards and gardens that we have almost forgotten their foreign origin.

The volume is prepared not only for the amateur botanist who seeks a more complete description of plants than the text-books in common use afford ; not only for the lover of nature who desires a personal ac¬ quaintance with the bushes that grow in the fields and the fence corners; but also to serve those who are engaged in the establishment and decoration of city parks, roadways and boulevards; those who are seek¬ ing to beautify country roadsides, school-yards and railway stations, as well as those who, in the decora¬ tion of their own home grounds, would gladly use our native shrubs were their habits and character better understood.

It is hoped that this volume may lead to a clearer appreciation of the wonderful variety, the exquisite beauty and the real value of that neglected part of our native flora, the shrub.

PREFACE

The author is glad to acknowledge her indebtedness to the following books of reference : Britton and Brown’s “Illustrated Flora of the United States and Canada,” Bailey’s “ Cyclopedia of American Horticul¬ ture,” Emerson's Report on the I rees and Shrubs of Massachusetts, Gray’s “ Manual of Botany,” Britton’s “ Manual of the Flora of the Northern States and Canada,” Bailey’s “Evolution of Our Native Fruits,” Card’s “ Bush Fruits,” and the magazine Garden and Forest .

The extracts from the works of Lowell, Emerson, Whittier, Torrey, Thoreau, and Higginson are used with the permission of the publishers, Messrs. Hough¬ ton, Mifflin & Co.; that from FredW. Card, with the permission of the Macmillan Co. ; that from Joseph Y. Bergen, with the permission of Ginn & Co.

The quotations from the writings of Professor L. H. Bailey, Mr. J. G. Jack and Mr. Jackson Dawson are made by the kind consent of the authors.

Especial acknowledgment is due to Professor Charles S. Sargent, who so generously placed the magnificent resources of the Arnold Arboretum at the service of the author ; and also to Mr. Alfred Rehder, whose ex¬ pert knowledge has been invaluable in deciding every case of doubt.

The full page illustrations are from photographs, many of which were made by Mr. Alfred Rehder of the Arnold Arboretum, the remainder by Decker & Co., and by the Edmondson Studio Co., both of Cleve¬ land, Ohio.

The outline pictures are the work of Miss Mary Keffer of Lake Erie College, Painesville, Ohio,

PREFACE

Thanks for specimens kindly sent upon request are due to Mr. Watson of Plymouth, Mass.; Gen. G. W. Shurtleff, of Oberlin, Ohio, and Mr. Michael H. Hovarth, landscape gardener and forester of the parks of Cleveland, Ohio.