STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 95 



Twelve or thirteen species of Oak, accordiriL;; to Dr. Vasey, are na- 

 tive to Southern lUinois, many, perhaps all of them, are more or less 

 attractive though not always be4utiful.,. I suppose their appearance of 

 gnarled and rugged strength excites a not less pleasurable though different 

 feeling from the symmetry or pliable grace of other trees. The White 

 and Oven up ( )aks are notable examples of this. ThePost-Oak growing 

 in clumps and groves on the borders of Southern Illinois prairies, is a 

 pleasing obiect in the landscape. The T.aurel Oak sometimes shows 

 some fine specimens of a (onical gkjssy leaved tree, when growing singly ; 

 and the Swamp Spanish Oak, as it grows upon our creek bottoms in 

 Madison county, presents occasional specimens of a perfectly formed 

 tree. But 1 know very few oaks in cultivation. 



The Chestnut is probably not native in our State, though Judge 

 Brown has seen some old trees at Caledonia, Pulaski Co., that are sup- 

 posed to have been planted by the Indians. T have already spoken of 

 it at sufficient length. 



The Beech is native in the southern end of the State and probably 

 in Edgar county, on the eastern side, and in Vermillion, and is one of 

 the finest trees though difficult to transplant, and is restricted by nature 

 to a very limited area in our State. 



The Red Birch is our only southern native Birch, and I have never 

 seen it planted, though I know a nice tree of it growing solitary, miles 

 from any other, on a farm adjoining my own on the upland. I do not 

 find in my experience or observation that the White or Black Birch is very 

 successful in the South. I think the climate is not favorable. 



The Willows of course are found in considerable abundance, both 

 native and introduced, but none of natives seem to have attracted atten- 

 tion. I have seen one apparently native willow that seemed worthy of 

 ornamental ))l,nnting. but I do not know its botanical name. Of foreign 

 species the \\ ee[)ing Willow is sometimes found witii us a handson'-e tree ; 

 and Ciolden Willow is attractive in spring-time, as well as the Goat Wil- 

 low with its early catkins. 



'i'here are said to be four native sjiccies of Foi)lar in our .Southern 

 District, of which the Cottonwood is chief. The White and I.ombardy 

 Poplar from Europe however are the species chiefly planted for ornament. 

 The I.ombardy is considerably planted by our Cicrman immigrants, 

 in memory, probably of tlie fatherland, where it is much planted along 

 the roadsides. 



Of Pines we have no natives except that the \'ellow Pine has strayed 

 over from Missouri (there is a Pine Hill m Union county). The Scotch 

 Pine, though not one of the most handsome, is healthy and a rapid 

 grower wherever I have met it. The .Austrian is not so healthy, and 

 owing to its f)])en top is altac ked and bored by the saf)-sucker. The 

 Heavy-wooded Pine gnjws well, but may be liable to the same attacks. 

 A single specimen of the Red Pine does fairly with me, and I know spec- 

 imens of the White Pine thirty years old, in our countv, that thus far are 

 hale and thrifty. The Stone Pine of nearly an equal age is thrifty and 

 handsome, in its kind. 



