39G STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



destroying ax of the settler and lumberman, and sacred only to the lover of 

 solitude such as only the forest primeval can give, and to the lover of a land- 

 scape which the hand of man has had no part in developing. 



James Satterlee. 

 Greenville, Michigan. 



ORNAMENTAL DECIDUOUS SHRUBS. 



This delightful paper was read before the Ingham County Horticultural 

 Society by Mrs. D. L. Case : 



Shrubs are generally distinguished from trees by having many stems. Shrubs 

 which are most commonly known and the cheapest are usually the finest varie- 

 ties, or at least have the greatest number of desirable qualities. The question 

 is asked, "what are the most essential shrubs for home embellishment?" 

 Before answering this it is necessary to know something of the place to be 

 embellished ; whether large or small, isolated or connected with others ; 

 whether the shrubs are to be set as single specimens or grouped in masses. 

 There are certain qualities that will apply to all shrubs to make them desirable 

 for well-kept grounds. (1.) The most essential is that the foliage be so luxu- 

 riant as to cover the branches. (2.) That they put forth their leaves in early 

 spring and retain their foliage late in autumn. (3.) That the flowers be con- 

 spicuous, of pure color, and preferable if fragrant. (4.) While they maintain 

 a shrubby character they should be free from a suckering habit. Still, there 

 are some varieties, such for instance as the lilac and flowering currant, which 

 have this bad quality, and yet are indispensable for their many good features. 



Now, if we bear in mind these most essential qualities and look over any 

 good list, we shall find the tartarian honeysuckle, snowball, syringas, dentzias, 

 and lilacs approximate most nearly to perfect shrubs. Enthusiastic amateurs 

 as well as professional gardeners hail every change with delight, not because 

 they are more beautiful, but because they are novelties. Many would be sur- 

 prised to see the beauty of the lilacs when they have a fair chance to grow. 

 Our poet Longfellow has his home at Cambridge ornamented with clusters of 

 lilacs, well cared for, and the native elm. So simple, yet a fair index to the 

 man's character. 



While the number of ornamental shrubs is great and constantly increasing, 

 yet we should rather seek a few of those that grow vigorously and bloom freely 

 than to make a collection of a great variety. Very little satisfaction can be 

 gained from a great variety by an amateur, as many of these possess no dis- 

 tinctive character, however curious and pretty they may be to the botanist. In 

 all grounds a well-appointed, well-arranged shrubbery is a most effective fea- 

 ture, and in grounds of small extent, such as the front yards of city lots, the 

 use of shrubs or trees of small growth are preferable to those of spreading 

 habit. In lawns just enough of large trees should be planted to form sufficient 

 shade, leaving the effect and general impression of beauty to be produced by 

 the proper arrangement of shrubbery. 



To obtain the best effect, care should be exercised in regard to the color of 

 foliage. In other words, we are well aware that some shrubs have dark green 

 leaves, some light, and some a yellowish tint. Shrubs whose leaves are of a 

 gray or bluish shade when seen over or between those of yellowish or bright 

 green will seem to be thrown into the distance ; thus the effect of perspective 



