270 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



"to show how fruit trees may be arranged to take the place of purely ortiamenta 

 trees in pleasure grounds. (See article on this subject at page 443, in flerl 

 1859.) I regret that just at present my daily duties prevent me from entering upon the 

 details of this matter ; but I have rapid!} dotted a mode on the enclosed sheet which 

 indicates such an arrangement as 1 would adopt. That is grouping the trees, making 

 the outline of the groups irregular, while the trees may be placed in a formal manner 

 in the interior of such groups. Each group may contain a certain class, or variety of 

 class. Occupying the center of such groups, upright growing kinds, such as the 

 Buffum, among pears, the Lady apple, among apples, may be planted in the extreme 

 outlines, set with pendant varieties. Avenues (straight) planted with the cherries, will 

 be suitable. Dwarf apples and pears will make a fine, effective outline, surrounding 

 the larger trees. For shrubbery, currants and gooseberries will answer. Raspberries 

 should be placed in an arrangement by themselves. These, and strawberries cannot 

 be made to produce much effect in landscape. 



" Many of the fruit trees are of beautiful habit of growth, as fine as any other decid- 

 uous trees, but the mode of planting an orchard would make any tree look common- 

 place. An acre of Norway spruce or sugar Maple planted 25 feet apart would look as 

 formal as any apple orchard." 



Mr. Saunders, in the plan' alluded to, places winter apples in one group, summer 

 apples in another, winter pears in a third, etc. 



This idea of Mr. Saunders followed out will afford an interesting study for our fruit 

 growers, atid can be used to produce a profitable ornamentation. Many varieties of 

 greater or less value suggest themselves as aids in so doing. Thus among apples, we 

 have the Lady Benoni and other fastigate forms, suitable for planting the inner lanes of 

 a farm, or even the public highways, after the German custom. We have such beauti- 

 ful masses of foliage as are presented by the Siberian crab in its varieties. The Early 

 Strawberry, Northern Spy, and Red Astrachan, I find suggested in the Horticulturist, as 

 apple trees of good shape, as well as the Tyson, Onondaga, and Finneo pears, and the 

 Black Tartarian, Belle de Choisey and Coe's Transparent cherries. The Carolina Red 

 •June, Domine, Summer Queen, and other sorts suggest themselves as having value in 

 their several ways lor ornamental purposes. 



In the interior arrangement of orchards, planting on the corners of equilateral 

 triangles affords probably the greatest variety to the eye, with the greatest regularity 

 for cultivation. 



■ Irregularity of outline favors the desirable practice, in grounds of uneven surface, of 

 planting on the tops of ridges or hills, and avoiding the lower slopes and hollows, and 

 leaving them for other purposes of cultivation, in which the necessity of avoiding cold 

 air, frosts, etc., is less essential. W. C. Flagg. 



FRUIT LISTS OF THE ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Reports of Special Committees being first in order, W. C. Flagg, Chairman of Com- 

 mittee appointed at Jane meeting to revise the list of fruit trees, etc., adopted by the 

 State Society, so far as relates to this locality, submitted the following ; 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 

 The Committee appointed at the June meeting to report lists of fruits, respectfully 

 report that they consider their action limited by subsequent votes and common under- 

 standing to a list of apples ; and report herewith in tabulated form, their individual 



