Ornamental Trees. Ill 



ornamental planting. This society each year publishes a 

 list of varieties recommended for that purpose. Nature has 

 been lavish in her gifts of beautiful trees to all sections of 

 our state and good taste cannot fail to find among them 

 many fine kinds for all ornamental uses. 



We have often wondered why our common sumac is not 

 more used for ornamental planting. True, as most generally 

 seen it is only a shrub, but if given room it makes quite a 

 tree, of splendid appearance in the fall when its foliage is so 

 gorgeously colored. 



Our maples are among the favored varieties used almost 

 everywhere for ornament and shade. From its rapidity of 

 growth and thrift on sandy soil the silver maple (A cerdasy 

 carpum) is mostly planted. It is not near so handsome, 

 however, as the slower growing hard maple, and its branches 

 are very prone to split down with winds or snow and sleet. 



Our native white birch is a clean, bright looking tree that 

 will grace almost any lawn, and forms a fine contrast with 

 evergreens. Among the very undesirable, even by the road- 

 side, is the Lombardy poplar. For shade it is about as ef- 

 fective as a bean pole, and for beauty is about as handsome 

 as a basket of chips. As a nesting place for bugs and 

 worms it is an abomination. There may be places where it 

 looks well and where such rank growers as Cottonwood and 

 balm of Gilead are just the things to plant. In our opinion 

 that place is just out of sight ! 



Harmony of color and form ought to be considered. Tall, 

 slender trees will not look well beside a low building 

 with a flat roof, nor broad, round-topped trees beside a tall 

 building with a sharp roof. Crimson and green foliage may 

 set off a white wall, while bronze and yellow may give a 

 discordant look. Evergreens contrast well with most colors 

 and it is well they do, for otherwise they would feel very 

 lonesome besidas some of the zebra striped and " Joseph's 

 coated " style of modern architecture. 



In planting evergreens it should be borne in mind that all 

 pines look best when of considerable size. Their style of 

 foliage and branching makes them appear coarse when 

 small. With good culture they become majestic with age. 



