138 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BULLETINS. 



The Hemlock Spruce is perhaps the most graceful of evergreens ; but, 

 although native to higher latitudes than this, it is not entirely hardy in 

 exposed situations here. It suffers from scorching suns and winds rather 

 than from low temperature. When planted behind sheltering groups of 

 trees they appear to attain their highest excellence. 



The Oriental Spruce, AMes orientaUs, is an elegant tree, but was severely 

 injured last winter. It is recovering, however. Once before our speci- 

 men had the same experience. This spruce excels in the perfection and 

 enduring greenness of its lower limbs. 



Two Relinosporas, R. squarrosa, and R. pisifera are hardy. 



Juniperus Sahina var. pi'ocumbens, the native Savin Juniper, is hardy 

 and attractive. It is probably our best procumbent evergreen for small 

 places. The Irish Juniper, J. C07mnuiiis, var. Hibernica, is unique, formal, 

 and comely. Occasionally it has been somewhat injured by winter. The 

 Swedish Juniper, /. communis var. Suecica, is more hardy, but not so 

 attractive. 



Of the Pines, Pi7ius C'embra, the Cembrian Pine is the prettiest. It closely 

 resembles a small and shapely white pine. A slow grower ; very hardy. This 

 and the gray or scrub pine of northern Michigan, Pinus Banksiana, are the 

 only upright growing sorts suitable for planting near dwellings. The scrub 

 pine takes well to cultivation, and is neat and graceful in habit. I suspect, 

 however, that old specimens will exhibit too much of a straggling habit. 

 Pinus resinosa, the red or Norway pine, is growing upon the grounds, but 

 is yet too young to exhibit character. Three other pines are in common 

 cultivation, and in regard to general desirability they should stand in the 

 order named, in my estimation: Native White Pine, Scotch Pine, Austrian 

 Pine. The dwarf or straggling pine of Europe, Pimis pumilio, is always 

 hardy and desirable for rough and rocky places. 



The Balsam Fir and native Black Sjyruce are attractive while young, 

 but they lose their beauty in ten or fifteen years. The common red cedar, 

 Jnniperus Tirginiana, if well grown is a graceful tree when young, but 

 it loses its beauty with age. 



DECIDUOUS SHRUBS AND VINES. 



The Imperial Cut-leaved Alder is hardy. The thinness of its tops gives 

 the plant an appearance of poverty, however, and the persistent old cones 

 are unsightly. 



The wild climbing bittersweet or wax- work, Celastrus scandens, is desirable 

 for a rear building or rough object. A very pretty covering for a tree-trunk 

 is a mixed festoon of bittersweet and Virginia Creeper. The contrasts in 

 autumn coloring of foliage and berries are striking. The Virginia Creeper 

 is still our popular climber. Some individuals do not climb well. Dr. 

 Beal propagated two plants from one parent, but they are quite dissimilar 

 in habits of clinging to a building. The Japanese Ampelopsis will p-'obably 

 prove hardy when once established. The Chinese Wistaria is not hardy. 



The ordinary choke cherry, Primus Virginiana, is one of our most beauti- 

 ful shrubs; so also is the common flowering dogwood, Gornus fiorida. The 

 flower buds of the dogwood were killed last winter, however. 



The smoke tree, Rhus Cotinus, both the white and purple sorts, are always 

 desirable. 



The common wild dwarf sumach, Rhus copallina, is one of the very best 

 small shrubs for autumn coloring. 



