No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 311 



question to discuss at this time. In the present case, for the tree 

 down in the yard near the fence, the best one would be a Norway 

 maple. It has a certain strong individuality of character not com- 

 mon to native maples. The tree near the walk might be a cut-leafed 

 birch, a catalpa speciosa, a European linden, or a European horse- 

 chestnut. I will dismiss the shade tree question with a single refer- 

 ence to two trees which have been greatly overlooked. I refer to 

 the Scamston weeping elm and its cogener, the Camperdown elm. 

 As we get them from the nurseries, they are grafted upon rigid 

 stocks eight or ten feet high and fall in fountain form like the Kil- 

 marnock willow. The Scamston will, in a few years, have the top 

 resting with its trailing branches upon the ground, and there are 

 trees where a doorway has been cut in one side of the canopy leading 

 into an arched umbrella-like arbor of great beauty. Both varieties 

 grow a little oblong in form of top. The foliage is much larger 

 than the common elm. 



There was a beautiful specimen in the Boston Public Gardens 10 

 years ago, which I sketched, and the drawing, with quite a number 

 of other sketches of weeping trees, was printed in Vick's Monthly. 

 In shape it was like a large load of hay, the tips of the pendant shoots 

 nearly touching the ground. The largest leaves measured 6x9 

 inches and the whole growth was luxuriant and pleasing beyond de- 

 scription. The Camperdown has more rigid branches, is quite flat 

 on top, and is an ideal tree to plant in a small yard near the house 

 to hang a hammock under. The only good specimen I know is in 

 Akron, Ohio. The two trees are confused in nurseries and there are 

 not more than three or four places in the country where I should ex- 

 pect to get the kind I ordered true to name. 



Now, my friends, perhaps I have occupied all the time I am entitled 

 to and yet have barely touched upon all that might be said upon this 

 topic. I do not want anyone to go home and copy exactly the plan 

 talked about. I have just supposed a square dooryard in front of 

 the house, not because it was the best form, but because it could be 

 easily made to show the A, B, C principles of correct planting. A 

 really artistic dooryard should extend back some ways and be wide 

 enough to show considerable side lawn on at least one side. Then 

 again, the balancing of sides with similar shaped groups is not in 

 the best taste, and is rarely possible except in laying out wholly new 

 places in a clear level field. 



The shrubs and trees I used to illustrate the work are old varie- 

 ties and form a very small part of the material which modern nurser- 

 ies have gathered in the ornamental line. What I used answered 

 the purpose of showing the planting as to placing of sizes, and also 

 gave hint? in regard to adapting planting to the whole gt the year, 



