Winter Meeting. 349 



shows off the buildings. Train the stem from bottom to top and don't 

 allow any limbs to grow in opposition to the stem. Forked trees 

 break. Every tree in the forest has this straight stem. These new tree 

 laws will kill the tree butcher — why didn't we think about this before? 



I leave the cultivation to my Shetland pony herd, but they w-ill 

 improve the lawn more than the trees, and if they should find a young 

 Cottonwood tree it would have to be peeled. The tops of this tree are 

 relished by my Shetland pou}- herd, and serve as a tonic from Clirist- 

 mas till spring. 



Some ornamental trees are affected by destructive insects at times. 

 For that reason, spraying should be practiced when necessary, and also 

 birds should be cultivated. 



ON ORNAAIENTALS. 



(H. C. Irish, Mo. Botanical Garden, St. Louis. Mo,) 



As chairman of Committee on Ornamentals, permit me to make a 

 brief report bearing upon that subject. Much has been wTitten and 

 many urgent appeals have been made for the planting of ornamentals 

 about our homes and public highways. It is encouraging to note 

 the progress that has been made and the renewed interest that has been 

 taken on every hand. In looking over the reports I find that much 

 more has been said about the kinds and methods of planting shrubs and 

 heibaceous plants, and much less about trees, except, perhaps, along 

 public highways. I wish particularly to call attention to the planting of 

 trees around the home, especially in rural communities. It is trite to 

 repeat the practicability of planting, and the added value to a place so 

 treated. 



There are many kinds of trees suitable for planting in rural dis- 

 tricts, while the number is quite limited in the crowded district of a 

 large city. In selecting a list for home planting, I prefer only a few^ 

 of a kind; just as many kinds as there are room for. I would also 

 look for trees which produce some sort of a crop, providing they are 

 equally as ornamental, and I think there are a number of such kinds. 

 Among them I would especially mention the nut bearing trees, the wal- 

 nut, butternut and the Japanese walnut, which are quite rapid growers 

 and are good trees for protection and shade. Different varieties of 

 chestnut are even more ornamental, but more slow growing. I would 

 include a persimmon tree or two, which might give considerable pleasure 

 in addition to its use as an ornamental or shade producing tree. In 



