Changes

The familiar snowball is seriously attacked by aphids. Fortunately its place can be taken by a Japanese species that is even more satisfactory. (Fig. 3923.) The berries of its fertile type, V. tomentosum, are a brilliant scarlet, changing to black. The foliage of this snowball is also remarkably beautiful. The leaves are olive-green with brownish purple or bronzy margins, and their plicate character makes them very distinct and attractive. The bush is entirely free from insect pests. The single and double forms of the Japanese species differ as shown in Figs. 3922 and 3923. Unfortunately these "single" and "double" forms have been confused in many nurseries, and only the trained eye can tell them apart in the nursery row. The double or snowball type is, of course, the one destined to the greater popularity, though the single form is a shrub of great value, especially for large estates and parks. The double form is known to nurseries as V. plicatum, but its proper name is V. tomentosum var. plenum. While it is hardy in New England, it is not a shrub that can be transplanted as easily as many other species. Hence it should be transplanted every second year in the nursery until it is sold. The double form may be propagated by cuttings of half-ripened wood in close frames, or by layers, which in some soils would better remain two years. French nurserymen propagate it by layering. The layers seem to suffer from winter and, to be on the safe side, it is best to cover them well with moss or leaves when the ground is somewhat frozen, so that the frost may be kept in until spring. The clusters are about as big as oranges and pure white. They are in great demand for Decoration Day in New York. The single form, unlike the double, is easily transplanted. It is also readily propagated by layers or cuttings. Both kinds are hardy in the North and make compact bushes 6 to 8 feet high.

The familiar snowball is seriously attacked by aphids. Fortunately its place can be taken by a Japanese species that is even more satisfactory. (Fig. 3923.) The berries of its fertile type, V. tomentosum, are a brilliant scarlet, changing to black. The foliage of this snowball is also remarkably beautiful. The leaves are olive-green with brownish purple or bronzy margins, and their plicate character makes them very distinct and attractive. The bush is entirely free from insect pests. The single and double forms of the Japanese species differ as shown in Figs. 3922 and 3923. Unfortunately these "single" and "double" forms have been confused in many nurseries, and only the trained eye can tell them apart in the nursery row. The double or snowball type is, of course, the one destined to the greater popularity, though the single form is a shrub of great value, especially for large estates and parks. The double form is known to nurseries as V. plicatum, but its proper name is V. tomentosum var. plenum. While it is hardy in New England, it is not a shrub that can be transplanted as easily as many other species. Hence it should be transplanted every second year in the nursery until it is sold. The double form may be propagated by cuttings of half-ripened wood in close frames, or by layers, which in some soils would better remain two years. French nurserymen propagate it by layering. The layers seem to suffer from winter and, to be on the safe side, it is best to cover them well with moss or leaves when the ground is somewhat frozen, so that the frost may be kept in until spring. The clusters are about as big as oranges and pure white. They are in great demand for Decoration Day in New York. The single form, unlike the double, is easily transplanted. It is also readily propagated by layers or cuttings. Both kinds are hardy in the North and make compact bushes 6 to 8 feet high.

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