38 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



winter, then all coarse matter raked off early in the spring, is a good 

 way to keep up the lawn as well as the trees. While it would not 

 be possible for many to save on their grounds a park like Wild Cat, 

 they can, in many instances, save beautiful groves, and every village 

 should have at least one natural park, if possible, if not, an artificial 

 or planted park. 



When contemplating this part of my subject, I wrote several 

 gentlemen to obtain what information I could in regard to trees and 

 shrubs suitable for park planting, and am under obligations to the 

 following for their kind responses: Park Commissioners, St. Louis; 

 Superintendent Lincoln Park, Chicago; Robert Douglas & Sons, 

 Waukegan, Report of Forestry; Joseph Heinl, Jacksonville, List of 

 hardy trees and shrubs; Samuel C. Moon, Morrisville, Pa., for quite 

 a lengthy letter, which I can do no better than to give you in full. 

 Mr. Moon says: "Purple Beech, a fine tree that can be used to ex- 

 cellent advantage, with admirable effect, in many places, and should 

 be placed more conspicuously before the public. Avenues of purple 

 beech, or of purple and plain green beech alternated, are very effec- 

 tive but rare. One cause of their scarcity in large plantations has 

 been the small size of trees usually sold, from nurseries; another is 

 the idea of their slow growth and that they are difficult to trans- 

 plant. The way to get avenue trees is to work them high and grow 

 as standard trees on well-grown stocks of American or European 

 beech. Well-grown nursery trees that have been frequently trans- 

 planted will form fibrous roots, and, if carefully handled, can be 

 moved with as little risk as maples. They need mulching heavily 

 for two summers after transplanting, as the roots are particularly 

 sensitive to heat and drouth. In some seasons it is sometimes neces- 

 sary to shade the trunks in very exposed situations. Another orna- 

 mental idea not much used is Crimson Dogwood for hedges. In 

 winter the bark is bright, glo.«sy crimson; a dense mass of it is very 

 conspicuous, particularly when the ground is covered with snow. 

 Run two strands of barbed wire over the hedge while it is small, and, 

 as the plants grow, twist them around the wires, and in two or three 

 years there will be a beautiful, effective fence without the objection- 

 able rampant, thorny plants used for hfedges. Pyrus Japonica, Japan 

 quince, is one of the best hedge plants. It is thorny enough, but 

 not too thorny: roots run very deep but do not spread, consequently 

 do not interfere with close farming. 



"Arbor Vitae, 'George Peabody,' the new golden Arbor Vitae, is 

 very hardy and beautiful. It is a brighter golden color than any 

 other variery, is scarce, but will be very popular as soon as known." 

 In hardy shrubbery Mr. Moon mentions two new Japan varieties, 

 very hardy and excellent — Exochorda grandiflora and Rhodotypus 

 kerrioides. 



While some of the trees and shrubs recommended by Mr. Moon 

 may not stand our severe climate, I would be pleased to see thera 

 tried, as we need more variety. 



