ILLINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 273 



side, widest at the bottom. The great and peculiar beauty of this tree 

 we conceive to be its property of assuming a deep scarlet tint in autumn. 

 At that period it may, at a great distance, be distinguished from all 

 other Oaks, and indeed from every other forest tree. It is highly 

 worthy of a place in every plantation." — Downing. 



Oh, if we could only plant or build old trees — trees of from fifty 

 to two hundred years' growth ! What can give such an air of grandeur 

 to a homestead as two or three of these patriarchs of the sylvan world 

 standing around, wearing their glorious old crowns so proudly .-' But 

 one thing we can do, if we have space enough. We can plant one or 

 more trees of kinds that will live long and grow large. We can give 

 them plenty of room and good culture, so that in time somebody will 

 see them fine old spreading trees. But let us beware of placing them 

 where they will finally crowd our dwelling, or shut out from our vision 

 some interesting view. 



FLOWERS AND SMAT,LER PLANTS AND SHRUBS. 



These form no unimportant feature of the landscape, as of the 

 smaller garden. 



Here, in this sunny angle, where two walks diverge, your wife will 

 have a fine bed of hybrid perpetual Roses. On the other side, which 

 is slightly shaded, she will plant out Geraniums and other bedding 

 plants. While, still farther in front, a slight artificial knoll will blaze 

 with Verbenas. Just in the shade of that north wall will be her Pan- 

 sies. These are all the flowers proper that she will admit in front of 

 the house. These bloom all summer long, and will never cease to be 



gay. 



The Holland bulbs, and annuals, and border flowers generally, — all 

 those things that are in beauty only for a short season, — will l)c placed 

 modestly to the right and left, a little in the back-ground. Still further 

 to the right and left, ranging some distance from the building, will be 

 her plantations of Lilacs and Snow-balls, Weigelia, Spireas, etc. 



Half retiring under the sheltering base of the veranda, will be some 

 of the more hardy and serviceable species of native ferns, decorating 

 that line which is usually so unsightly. In yonder thicket your daugh- 

 ter will deposit the store of wild flowers, and ferns, and mosses, which 

 she is ever and anon bringing home from her ramble in the woods, 

 until ere long you will find a choice botanic garden centered there. 



In this retired nook you will plant a Weeping Ash, which she will 

 train into a shady scat (the only thing the WeejMng Ash is good for). 

 Around that fine large forest tree, your boys will build a rustic bench 

 where they may sit back to back, and "crack nuts and jokes." Yon 

 rough wall and board fence, which cannot be dispensed with, shall be 

 covered with American Ivy {Atiipclopsis). These bare white columns 

 of the veranda must be twined with climbing Fumitory {A(ilumia), 

 and Virgin's Bower {Clematis) both so light and deciduous as to con- 

 tract little dampness in summer, and to be wholly removed in winter. 



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