158 American Hortlcnllural Society. 



and slirubs is another coniinon mistake. It requires great skill and 

 foresight to guard against this tendency to crowding, and it takes 

 nerve and decision nf ])ur[)ose to thin out such overcrowded grounds 

 before serious consequences follow. Over-triniining also frequently 

 occurs. If I were to criticise California metlKnls, it woidd be in 

 this latter paiticular. Hedges and topiary training are admissible 

 to a limited extent only. The natural hal)it, but slightly restrained, 

 of the tree or shrub, as a rule, is far preferable to an excess of shear- 

 ing and training. A rich, luxuriant turf, well kept, with a few rep- 

 resentative trees and shrubs, is the acme of beauty and perfection 

 in the adornment of either public or private grounds. 



Mr. liadi.sil/, of California — Deciduous trees are preferable in 

 countries where there is a large rain-fall. Here we have something 

 of an ai'id atmosphere, and evergreens succeed best. The pepper 

 tree is one of our best street trees. The eucalyptus succeeds well 

 also. The Monterey cypress is a very po))ular tree. 



Prof. Biidd, of Iowa — Cypress and peppers are very handsome, 

 but why is it that we don't see more magnolias here? 



Mr. Rndisill — Eleven years ago Magnolia avenue was planted, 

 but our climate has proved too dry for them, and they are now gen- 

 erally replaced with the pepper, eucalyptus, grevilleas, palms, etc. 



Mr. Van Deraan — One of tiie vices of California methods is too 

 much trimming. Such mutilation is injurious to the tree, and bar- 

 barous in the sight of cultivated tastes. 



Mr. Manson — The cypress hedges, as we see them in California, 

 may be excepted from the general rule condemning trimming. It 

 certainly seems admirably adapted to this artificial mode of training. 

 I am glad tliis discussion has sprung uj». Wv have been devoting 

 too nuich of our time to fruits in thesr meetings. This is the 

 dawn of an {esthetic atj^e when we should j;ive more attention to the 

 beautiful in nature. 



Col. \\(il. of Texas — It seems to nie that the (lennneiation of 

 trimming has been carried too far. To niv eve <iieh training pro- 

 duces forms jdeasing to look upon. 



Mr. V(in Dnnan — This is largely a matter <•(" taste, although it 

 iiiav sometimes be bad taste. 



