186 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



foliage of the pines. Tiie hemlock is a most graceful tree, and 

 with me does well. The European larch, although strictly speak- 

 ing, not an evergreen, should find a place m every collection of 

 ornamentals ; its upright and conical form is most pleasing and in 

 striking contrast with most other trees, and so also is the foliage. 

 Arbor Vitas should be found in every collection, and the Irish and 

 trailing junipers add both beauty and variety to any lawn or bit of 

 grass near the dwelling. 



All of these may be obtained at less price from well established 

 nurseries than they can be grown. The most of these may be 

 planted amongst the yonng peach and maple trees, with a view to 

 remove them in the course of three or four years. They make the 

 most ornamental as well as most effective wind break, and should 

 be so planted as to protect the dwelling. Their greatest beauty is 

 made most conspicuous when planted in groups or clumps. In all 

 ornamental planting — strictly speaking — there should be a well 

 defined design or plan, more or less elaborate, according to means 

 and advantages of the owner ; without this for a starting point, 

 most precious and irrecoverable time will be squandered, and also 

 some money. 



I shall not in this paper make any attempt to give instruction 

 in landscape gardening, for the very good reason of want of ability. 

 I am conscious that the best I am able to do will be fragmentary. 

 If I can say a word, however, which will in any way improve the 

 home of even the humblest free-hold of a few acres, I shall be 

 well repaid for this effort. We all understand that next to pro- 

 tection in winter, shade is desirable in the hot summer months ; 

 and in ornamental planting we should bear this in mind. For a 

 new home we need the most rapid growing trees — already brought 

 to view — with a view to their removal after more desirable varieties 

 have become well established, and to these latter we must from the 

 start give also the best locations with a view to permanency. But 

 while shade is. desirable and grateful, sunshine in and around a 

 dwelling is an absolute necessity if the dwellers within would enjoy 

 good and permanent health. 



Little by little, as the want becomes apparent, we can add to 

 our ornamentals ; m some instances a shrub or vine w^ould add 

 grace and beauty, while in others only a tall and wide branching- 

 tree would fill the space satisfactorily. Some of these can be 

 selected from indigenous varieties — nursery grown always prefer- 

 able — such as the elms in variety, and the ash and hard maple, the 

 catalpa, tulip and coffee tree, the European linden and Scotch 



