ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 299 



Dot SO fii-eat us we. in our ifiuoraucc, are wont to iiiianiuo; but that when we can know and eonforui 

 to the hiws (jf tree idiysiolo.uy in its ailaplatiou lo rliiuute, wc sliall timl the "• balance of power "' 

 iu our favor. 



But, as this is only a suggestive article, 1 will l)rielly state some of the conditions which seem most 

 favorable to the development of these affections of tree and fruit before named: 1st. All heavy clay 

 soils— and of those the uudraiued— esijecially those alon;;- the western shore of Lake Michigan. 2d. 

 Those orchards and locations not well cultivated the dry year of lSii7, showing want of vitality. 3d. 

 Certain varieties. 



But, as under these heads there has not been sulHcient in(|uiry to set forth fully, I will leave the 

 snbject for the consideration of your highly esteemed body. 



Very truly, J. V. PLUilB. 



KTTRAL ART. 



Tlie popvdation of the rural districis show a ik'plorable want of artistic taste, in the embellishment 

 of their homes with trees, fruits and flowers. People often make the excuse that want of means 

 prevents them having their homes surrounded witli appropriate attractions; but we imagine tliat, 

 in a majority of eases, it Is no lack of means, but a want of taste in rural art, for •' where there is a 

 will there is a way, ' " and nowhere on this green earth will it pay better than on the bleak prairies of 

 tlie northwest: its transforming influence is magical. 



The first thing to be considered in constructing a desirable home on the prairies, is to surround it 

 with a suitable winil-break of trees. They may be evergreen, or other trees— or a portion of each, 

 according to your fancy, fhey may l)e planted in regular rows, at regular distances: or they could 

 stanil irregular, after the manner of our native forests. In ornamenting your groumls, study to at- 

 tract the attention of the passer-by: let others see youi-good works, that they may go and do likewise. 

 Hide unsightly objects by evergreens, &c. For tliat reason, never have your barnyards adjacent to 

 the public highway: it is bad economy, as well as not in harmony with nmdern taste. 



The stylo of houses most appropriate for prairie homes is one-and-a-half story "farm cottages," 

 Inilf gothic; more costly It is true than plainer styles, hut then, all things considered, we think it 

 will pay better. If you wish to sell, a man of means and taste will pay for it. Then it is easier to 

 perform the labor in low liouses than high ones; so, if the first cost is considerably more, there is a 

 saving in the wear and tear of muscle. The position that one building sustains to another shoiUd he 

 studied. To avoid wholesale destruction in case of fire, do not huddle buildings too m\ich. To 

 maintain harmony in the landscape, the buildings should not be scattered over too much territory. 

 Let them have the appearance of a little village. The appropriate color for the painted buildings of 

 a prairie home, nestling among the green trees in the distant view, is white. 



As I am a belter worker tli:in writer, I close with an invitation to the Itinerant Committee to visit 

 me, and see if I practice as I preach. W . WICKS, ill. Carroll. 



FOREST EVERGREENS. 



As forest evei'greens :ire being planted (|nite largely throughout the west, i( may be well to con- 

 sider some of the poin'.s in the trade which compose some of the elements of success in this branch 

 of horticulture. The first one of which is very essential is the proper handling in removing them 

 from their native bed and proper care until boxed; secondly a proper selection of plants as regards 

 size, and grown in exposure and in soil to secure good fibrous roots, as for instance the Balsam Fir 

 in some soils will have a plenty of fibrous roots, while in others they will be almost destitute of those 

 snudl fibers so essential to their success; the same with Arborvita' when taken from a low, moisteand 

 rich soil, the small roots will be alnnnlant a\id plant.s will be much more stocky, while on uplands, in 

 sand, the plants grow fine a\id spindliug and almost worthless for nursery purpose. 



The American Spruce also when taken from a in-oj)er soil will prove to be one of the most success- 

 ful in transplanting, but on the other hand if taken from the low swamp they can never become 

 ornamental. One very important thing is to select proper sizes; such as I have succeeded the best 

 with are a class rumiing from six to eight inches, they being small enough by proper culture to 

 become fine and stocky and at the same time stand nn)re exposure than smaller plants, and then we 

 gain a few years' time, an item that is of some consideration in this fast age of progress. 



The "White Pine and Hendock are rather more tender to transplant than the others betore men- 

 tioned, still if taken of proper size ami soil to secure the small roots will prove successful. The Red 

 Pine or (Norway) is the most difficult of all the natives to transplant, and at the same time one of tlxe 

 most ornamental of the Pines, and still it seems al)out the only way to secure tliis stock, it being very 

 difficult to procure the seed us our friend Douglass and others can testify. 'While I have spoken of 



