222 , TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL 



Little by little much has been learned in forty years by western 

 nurserymen as to the growing, planting, uses and care of evergreens, 

 each one should and will gladly contribute their mite to the common 

 fund. These lovely prairies must be made far more beautiful and com- 

 fortable by the liberal use of evergreens. Slowly but surely their value 

 is being appreciated by the masses. Let us hope that the day is not 

 far distant when no prairie home will be considered as finished until 

 properly sheltered. With this result accomplished the labors of those 

 who have led the way to its consummation will receive ample reward. 



EVERGREENS FOR ORNAMENT, FOR WIND-BREAKS, AND * 

 HOW TO HANDLE THEM. 

 BY H. R. COTTA, FREEPORT. 



In driving through the rich farming districts of Northern Illi- 

 nois, it is easy to see that the beauty and value of evergreens is not 

 generally appreciated, as it should be, by the tillers of the soil, or 

 that many over-estimate the cost of growing them. Nothing com- 

 pared with the investment of time and money can add so much to 

 the value and beauty of farm property as properly planted single 

 specimens, groups, hedges, screens and wind-breaks of evergreens; 

 especially at this season of the year, when all out-door flowers are 

 gone and all other ornamental trees are bleak and bare; when the 

 mercury registers below zero, and the wind whizzes and roars and 

 reaks and howls. 



I will endeavor to give a few hints which I hope will be of 

 benefit to at least a few in adding beauty and comfort to their 

 homes and farms. The varieties adapted for general planting are 

 quite numerous, so one need not be confined to a few. On large 

 lawns plant groups and screens of Norway spruce, white spruce, 

 balsam fir, white pine or, American arbor vitse, surround it with 

 hedge of spruce, arbor vitse or hemlock. Plant a few trees of the 

 more rare varieties. One of the most beautiful of these is the Color- 

 ado blue spruce. A tree of this variety stands on Mr. Whitney's 

 ground in front of his " No. 20 " residence. Of this specimen, the 

 late Dr. John A. Warder once said : " It will pay a person to travel 

 one hundred miles on purpose to see it." Trees of this variety are 

 quite variable in color; the bluest are the most beautiful. The gol- 

 den arbor vitae is perfectly hardy; remains yellow the year round 

 and makes a good contrast with the blue spruce. Pyramidal and 

 Siberian are very beautiful arbor vitals and should be planted more 

 freely. Dwarf evergreens are more suited for small door yards than 

 large growing varieties. 



If you have no wind-break to shelter your stock-yards, orchards 

 and buildings from the wind, by all means plant one, and the sooner 



