84 State Horticultural Society. 



ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



UM. J. Wragg, Des Moines, Iowa.) 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Missouri State Horti- 

 cultural Society: 



I am pleased to have the opportunity of adding some little to 

 the subject of Ornamental Trees, as assigned me by your Secretary. 

 The great State of Missouri, like my own state and others of the 

 prairie region, has just passed through its pioneering stages in the 

 way of tree planting. We are now in the age of development. We 

 are not so much interested now in looking for trees for utility, for 

 wood on the farm and for quick windbreak purposes; but for 

 beauty, symmetry and general ornamental characteristics — trees 

 for giving landscape effect, for adorning our home grounds and 

 embellishing our parks and cemeteries. The subject "Ornamental 

 Trees" appeals to us particularly at the present time, as it is one 

 that is attracting attention more today than ever before. 



Any tree, to have value, must either have qualities or hardi- 

 ness, or be indigenous to the section of the country where it is to be 

 planted. There is no beauty in trees that are exotic, that cannot 

 stand the rigor of our winters or the drouth, of our summers, that 

 are weakened by our different climatic conditions. So in the choice 

 of our ornamental trees in the great Northwest the question of har- 

 diness is the first one to consider. 



As to what constitutes an ornamental tree, I consider that 

 every tree has its place, and has certain beauties and characteristics 

 not found elsewhere. One must consider the location where it is 

 to be planted and its environment before judging as to its qualities 

 as an ornamental tree. Trees must be grouped in such a way that 

 they add to the harmony of the whole and at the same time con- 

 trast in such a way as to bring out the individual beauty of each 

 tree. We never noticed this so well exemplified as we did a few 

 days ago in visiting our old home, where there were some old Cut- 

 leaf Birch, with their swaying branches and snowy bark, sugges- 

 tive of airy grace and beauty ; and a short distance away were some 

 specimens of the Kentucky Coffee Nut, with their strong, stout 

 branches, standing in bold relief, making a striking contrast and 

 beautiful background for the swaying, graceful birch, and giving an 



