92 TRANSACTIONS OF TIIK ILLINOIS 



fruit, has, at the age of fifteen or twenty years, begun to fail, and died 

 m the course of a few years. Trees upon our Mississippi blufls in the 

 same county and of equal age seem healthy, vigorous, and fruitful. 



The Larch of Imtli species does not seem to me to give promise of 

 success in our almost southern climate, whatever may be its fortune in 

 the north. I think we can do better than to grow it; but it needs farther 

 trial in a variety of soils before we can speak intelligently on the subject. 



As the })rofit of growing Conifers for timber has not yet, so far I 

 knows been proven in Southern Illinois, I will only suggest the trial of 

 the Norway Spruce as most reliable, and of the Scotch, Austrian, and 

 White Pines. Our one native evergreen, the Red Cedar, is of course 

 one of the most vigorous and healthful. 



The consideration of ornamental trees, also embraced in the scope 

 of the duties assigned us, opens a much wider field. We have a great 

 variety of native trees and a climate favorable to many foreigners. I 

 give the following notes from my own and others' experience of some of 

 the more desirable species : 



The Tulip-tree of course is most desirable ; the Great Flowered 

 Magnolia, an evergreen and beautiful tree, is grown, says Dr. Vasey, at 

 Jonesboro, and I think I have seen it at Chester. 



The Cucumber Tree is native, and of course desirable throughout 

 Southern Illinois at least. 



The Asiatic species of Magnolia I have not happened to see, but 

 several of them would no doubt succeed. 



The Papaw is a beautiful tree, but I have hardly seen one instance 

 of a successful attempt to cultivate it. It is native everywhere in the 

 South. 



The Linden is a common though not plentiful tree, and makes one 

 of the handsomest of our larger ornamental trees. 



The Ailanthus, tliough in disrepute, "has many good points ; prom- 

 inent among which are its great vitality and availability for planting in 

 places unfavorable to plant growth, and its unique foliage. 



The Horse-Chestnuts, native and foreign, succeed well and are 

 admired by many. 



The Maples, of which we have three native species, according to 

 Dr. Vasey, are all easily grown and all more or less attractive, though I 

 hear a good deal of complaint of the liability of the Soft Maple to the 

 attacks of the borer. ■ 



The Sapphora does not seem quite hardy with me, but I presume is 

 so in the southern district generally. 



The Red-Biid is found native quite commonly, and is beautiful by 

 reason both of its early flowers and later leaves; but by reason of its 

 prevalence is little cultivated. 



The Kentucky Coffee-tree is native and curious, and as such per- 

 haps admired, but I do iiot much like it. 



The Honey Locust is more common, and more ornamental. Being 

 more common it is less planted for ornament. 



