STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1 7 



Such men as Ellwanger and Barry, B, K. Bliss, and others nearer home 

 seem to understand it. 



II. 



Ornamental Horticulture, 



though very attractive, of course, makes comparatively slow advance 

 in our new country. It appeals to the aesthetic part of our nature, and, 

 therefore, can only receive due attention after hunger is satisried, and the 

 more immediate necessities of life provided for. 



1. Ornamental Trek planting, with the exception perhaps of some 

 faint attempt at flower growing — the pathetic effort of a wife or daughter 

 to redeem the arid desert of a corn and hog-grower's front yard, naturally 

 comes first. An ornamental tree or shrub, in a farmer's eye has the 

 immense advantage after once established, of taking care of itself. And 

 this leads me to say, as N. P. Willis has before me, that trees, or sh^ong 

 shrubs, and grass are the cheapest and fairest oniamcntation. 



In ornamental tree planting we may plant many ti'ees not very valu- 

 able on account of their beauty of form or foliage. The white elm is 

 a conspicuous example of this kind. The linden is one of the finest, to 

 my mind; and the white and burr oak are magnificent species, com- 

 bining the picturesque with the beautiful. 



The study of these trees, singly and in mass; their characteristics of 

 height and outline; shape of foliage; its shade of green and its autumn 

 colors, as well as the eflbct of their blossoming, are important as prelimi- 

 nary to the grouping and contrasts of landscape gardening. 



As a rule, trees of heavy foliage and dense shadow, like the catalpa 

 and linden, with pendant rather than horizontal spray, as the white 

 elm and the willow, and of varied tints, as the locust, in the different 

 shades of its younger and older leaves, or the sugar maple in its change 

 from summer to autumn hues, are most admirable for planting singly. 



2. Flower Gardening I can only commend in its results. If 1 

 had the time, I have not the experience to speak merely of even a few of 

 the wide range of flower and foliage plants that adorn our gardens, our 

 sitting-room windows, our green-houses and conservatories. Modern 

 art has compassed the globe, and bronght to our homes the floral treasures 

 of ancient Asia and the isles of the sea. But flower culture, attractive 

 as it is to the more refined tastes of woman, and all who sympathize with 

 her, commends itself to us as one of the most innocent of amusements, 

 and one of the most instructive and refining of pursuits. It has too — 

 though that seems little thought of, its market value; and the increasing- 

 demand for flowers by those who can not or will not grow them, will 

 give an added interest to the occupation; and the early roses of South 

 Pass go to Chicago markets with her early fruits. 



3. Landscape Gardening may be said to include the whole, of 

 which ornamental trees and flower culture are parts. Here we bring 

 under consideration the configuration of the surface; the surrounding 

 landscape ; the effects of grouping and massing trees, shrubs, and flowers 

 of diflTerent colors and shades of color; the massing of single colors, and 



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