DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE. 139 



The wild crab, Pyrus coronaria, is very attractive when in flower. It 

 should find a place in the shrubbery. 



The Fringe, Chionanthux Virginica, is hard^^ The English ]u^wthorn, 

 Cratcegus oxyacantha, has not been hardy. 



Our three lilacs, the common, Syrinqa vulgaris, Persian, aS'. Perdca, and 

 the Josika, .S' Josihcea, are hardy and satisfactory. The latter is to be re- 

 commended because it blossoms three or four weeks la^er than the other 

 sorts. 



Tamarix Gallica, Tamarisk, was injured last winter. Hitherto it had stood 

 well. 



The chaste little Deutzia gracilis, with some protection of leaves, is very 

 desirable. 



From Spi7'a}a triloba we get onr most profuse white flowers. 



Attempts at Rhododendron culture have so far proved unsatisfactory. 



Double-Jlowering Alnwnd was iujirred last winter. 



The Mock Orange, PhiladelpJius coronarius, is always hardy. 



The Kose Acacia, Kohina hispida, is hardy and very attractive. 



The Missouri or Bulfalo Currant, Eibes aureum, is hardy and popular. It 

 is often sold by nurserymen under the name of Ribes fragrans. 



The Japanese Quince is not hardy. 



Hercules Club, Aralia spinosa, although hardy, is scarcely desirable as an 

 ornamental plant. 



DECIDUOUS TEEES. 



The American Ehn is certainly queen of the American landscape. 



The Red or Slippery Elm is too stiff and straggling for ornament. 



The Corh Elm is a curiosity, very picturesque, but never beautiful unless 

 in the soft aspect of its leaves. These three native elms are readily distin- 

 guished as follows: 



Red elm — buds globular, hairy; leaves very rough. American elm — buds 

 long, not sharp; top diffusely branching; branches slender, drooping. Cork 

 elm — buds long, very sharp ; trunk usually continuous through the top ; 

 branches mostly horizontal; young branches bearing corky ridges of bark. 

 The English elm, Ulmus campedris, is not desirable; in fact, it is not per- 

 fectly hardy. 



The Maples are desirable in the following order: Norway Maple (Acer 

 phuitanoides). Black (a variety of the hard maple), Hard or Sugar Maple, 

 Silver Maple, Red or Swamp Maple, Sycamore Maple, of Europe (A. Pseudo- 

 platanus). Field Maple, of Europe (A. carapestre). \Yiefs cut-leaved Maple, 

 a form of the Silver Maple, is the best horticultural variety we have tried. 

 The Sycamore Maple was injured somewhat by the last winter, but it has 

 now nearly recovered. Acer campestre is not hardy. 



The best of the Oaks for ornamental purposes is the Swamp AVhite Oak, 

 Quercus bicolor. This is followed by the Burr Oak, a highly picturesque tree, 

 and the Chestnut Oak, Quercus Primus. Tlie White Oak ranks next, fol- 

 lowed by the Black Oak (Quercus tinctoria), Scarlet' Oak, and Red Oak. The 

 English Oak does not appear to be hardy. 



The best of our ashes for ornamental purposes is the Black Ash. ^yhen 

 the tree is given plenty of room it forms a symmetrical and very graceful 

 top. 



The Wisconsin Weeping Willoiu (evidently a variety of the old Salix Baby- 

 lonica) is perfectly hardy. The ordinary Weeping Willoio is not hardy. 



