Elaeagnus

ELAEAGNUS ARGENTEA.--Silver Berry. North America, 1813. A spreading

shrub 8 feet or 10 feet high, with lanceolate leaves clothed with

silvery scales. The flowers are axillary and clustered, and are

succeeded by pretty, silvery-ribbed berries.



E. GLABRA (_syn E. reflexus_).--From Japan. This is one of the

handsomest species, forming bushes of delightful green, leathery

leaves, and with a neat and rather co pact habit of growth. It grows

with great freedom when planted in light, sandy soil, big globose

bushes being the result of a few years' growth. Being perfectly hardy

it is to be recommended if only for the ample leathery, deep green

foliage. The flowers are inconspicuous. There is a form having the

leaves margined with pale yellow, and known under the name of E. glabra

variegata.



E. LONGIPES (_syn E. edulis_ and _E. crisp a_).--Japan, 1873. This

species, is also worthy of culture, whether for the ornamental flowers

or fruit. It is a shrub 6 feet high, bearing an abundance of spotted,

oval red berries on long footstalks. Quite hardy.



E. MACROPHYLLA.--Japan. This is of robust growth, with handsome, dark

green leaves, and purplish branch tips. The leaves are thick of

texture, often fully 3 inches long, glossy-green above, and silvery

beneath. The latter is all the more remarkable, as the leaves have the

habit of curling up their edges, and thus revealing the light, silvery

tint of the under sides. It thrives well in light, sandy peat, and may

be relied upon as one of the hardiest of shrubs.



E. ROTUNDIFOLIA.--An interesting and perfectly hardy species, growing

about five feet high, and remarkable for the great wealth of pretty

scarlet and amber-coloured berries. The flowers are not very showy, but

this is made up by the beautiful silvery leaves, most pronounced on the

under sides, and wealth of fruit, which hangs on long stalks like

Cherries.



Other species of less interest are E. pungens, of which there is a

variegated variety; E. Simoni, a neat Chinese shrub; and E. latifolia,

of good habit and with large leaves. The various species and varieties

of Elaeagnus may all be cultivated in light, free soil, and from

experiments that were recently made, they have been found of great

value for planting by the seaside. They are popularly known as the Wild

Olives and Evergreen Oleasters.