56 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



While traveling over the late Ute Reservation on the Uncompagree and 

 Gran I rivers, we saw many varieties of flowering plants and shrubs we had 

 never met before. They were not found in such quantities or varieties along 

 the valleys, but on the high mesas and mountains, even to the very snow line 

 we would pass through acres of wild flowers of the most gorgeous hues. 



We can not close our account of the natural horticultural resources of the 

 mountain regions of Colorado, without referring to a few varieties of the 

 Rocky Mountain evergreens. The Spruces, especially, are worthy of con- 

 sideration. The Abies Menziesli, a blue spruce, are admired by all true lovers 

 of beautiful trees. 



The A. Douglasii, Douglass spruce, has a soft foliage with branches as tough 

 and pliable as the willow, enabling it to resist both wind and snow. They 

 seem well adapted to the plains and prairies of the West. We have trans- 

 planted thousands of them from their alpine homes on the mountains to 

 our grounds in Denver, with as little loss as any tree we ever handled. The 

 rules we observe, is in selecting trees from the open grounds — careful dig- 

 ging and handling, then planting as close together in a bed shaded with 

 brush or lath, and giving them plenty of water. The next year they can be 

 transferred to the nursery row, or any where else, with perfect safety. 



Referring again, briefly, to the Sheperdi, or Buffalo Berry. We have been 

 experimenting with it as a hedge plant, and find it admirably adapted to 

 that purpose— especially in localities too cold for the Osage. The Honej' Lo- 

 cust, White Willow and Osage Orange, belong to the class of trees, while 

 this is a bush, easily kept within bounds and does not affect the crops grow- 

 ing near, as is the case of the Willow and O.sage Orange. It is easily trans- 

 planted, comes early to maturity, and being found growing in a natural state 

 in the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to British Columbia on the head 

 waters of the Missouri, there can be no question as to its ability to withstand 

 the extremes of both heat and cold. We hope the syndicate of gentlemen 

 forming the Mississip])i Valley Horticultural Society, especially those mem- 

 bers representing Northern latitudes, will give this hedge plant a trial. 



DISCUSSION ON IRRIGATION. 



President Earle — The essayist lives in the Rocky Mountain re- 

 j^ion while most of us live in the more level districts of the Mis- 

 sissippi valley, so the discussion of this paper will be of particular 

 interest. to us. 



Mr. Pearce, of Ohio — Mr. Grimes said one inch of water was 

 sufficient, but did not tell for how much ground. 



Mr Grimes — I find that very few, not living in Colorado, under- 

 stand our terms. I should have explained. The water is brought 

 to us in Humes twelve inches wide, and there are gates to regulate 



