208 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



clinging to bare bluff's, in the rainless, treeless region ; but I cannot agree 

 with Mr. Flagg, page 41, that "it is the one evergreen that the 

 drought of the plains cannot kill." We see the Pinus Plexitis, P. Contorta, 

 P. Ponderosa, P. Aristata, and other evergreens, enduring as severe 

 drought, and as severe a climate as the red cedars. True, we do not find 

 them extending down the Platte valley quite so far as the red cedar, 

 because their seeds could not germinate so well. The red cedar seeds are 

 encased in a hard shell and covered with a pulp or berry ; this pulp must rot, 

 through the action of frost, or heat and moisture, before it can germinate, 

 and is thus admirably fitted for endurance. We find them coming up in 

 our nursery beds, from seeds sown five or six years ago, although the 

 ground has been worked over several times during that period ; and we 

 may see how they may drop on the dry, bare bluffs of the Platte, and be 

 covered by the soil that is constantly crumbling and sliding, especially as 

 the frost is leaving the ground in spring, and there lie, till a moist spring 

 may give them the proper amount of moisture ; it is reasonable to sup- 

 pose that seeds have lain buried deeply, in this way, for many years, and 

 then, after another slide, and an unusually moist spring, have found the 

 right conditions to germinate. It must be borne in mind that there were 

 very few red cedars on the bluffs of the Platte when I saw them twenty- 

 five years ago ; there were none to be seen when I went that way lately. 

 It will be seen that had these pines occupied these bluffs with the red 

 cedar years ago, of which I have little doubt, it would have been impossi- 

 ble for them to remain, as their seeds, if covered deeply, would perish, 

 and if not covered deeply, could not find moisture to sustain them till 

 well rooted ; but up in the Black Hills, a little further west, a kindh- 

 rock gives them opportunity to draw moisture till rooted. 



ORNAMENTAL AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



BY J. P. BRYANT, MEMBER OF STANDING COMMITTEE. 



What should horticulturists do to encourage landscape gardening ? 



In thinking over the subject of landscape and ornamental gardening, 

 with a view of getting up an essay that would add, if it were possible, to 

 the stock of information already within reach of my hearers, or one that 

 would present old thoughts in a new and more interesting shape, I came 

 to the conclusion that there had been so much said, and so well said, on 

 the subject, that it would be useless for me to go over the ground again 

 with the usual formula of trees, lawn, flowers, beauty, refinement, home 

 attractions, etc. — at least until people in general, and horticulturists in 

 particular, show more interest in the subject than they now do. 



That they care very little (at the most do very little) about improv- 

 ing their places, is evident enough to the most casual observer ; but it is 

 more for want of stirring up, and from a general indifference to the sub- 

 ject, than for lack of the means for information among those who ought 

 to do better. Not but that most persons like to see beautiful places, and 

 have a desire for something better than they usually have. Every one of 



