Annual Meeting at St. Joseph. 187 



maple. All of these have beautiful foliage in spring and summer, 

 while others are in the greatest glory in autumn. The most beau- 

 tiful tree I ever set eyes on is the weeping cut-leaved birch, which 

 stands near the office in the grounds of Ellwanger & Barry, Ro- 

 chester, N. Y. There are other varieties of birch whose pale green 

 foliage and silver white trunks are really ornamental, especially 

 when brought into contrast with the dark foliage of the evergreens 

 or hard maples. But in our selections and plantings we must have 

 reference to the natural habits of the trees. Some are very up- 

 right, the branches hugging the trunk, an example of' which may 

 be found in the Lombardy poplar — not desirable by the way except 

 for a landmark and near or on the highway — others like the maples 

 and evergreens naturally assume the conical form, wtiile still others 

 are spready, with more or less drooping branches, like the elms, 

 the larch and the hemlock ; these last should be allowed a good 

 deal of space. Yet, notwithstanding these natural tendencies, 

 most trees can be trained at pleasure in their general outline, but 

 it needs good judgment and persistence to do so effectively. 



The subject of planting ornamentals cannot be dismissed 

 without some reference to blooming shrubs and flowers, because 

 their varied forms and colors are full of charm and beauty. Among 

 the shrubs I will mention first, because of its earliness, the pyrus 

 japonica — by some called the burning bush — deutzia, crenata and 

 deutzia gracilis ; the althea, the snow ball, the lilac, both the 

 Persian and European, the blue, the purple, and the white, the 

 white fringe, etc., though the flowers of but few of these are desir- 

 able for bouquets. The Japan quinces and annual roses will also 

 make a nice bit of hedge to hide some iiidispensable but otherwise 

 ill looking feature, of farm or village lot. The trumpet creeper, 

 the passion vine and the Virginia creeper are desirable for like 

 purposes. 



Speaking of roses, there are two climbing varieties well 

 adapted to be trained so as to intertwine ; namely, the Queen of 

 the Prairie and the Baltimore Belle. The last named grows its 

 bloom in thick clusters, is a great bearer, and is fragrant, while the 

 bloom of the Queen has no odor. An eastern exposure suits them 

 best, because a full southern exposure with the resulting reflection 

 from a building, is too hot, and will make the bloom too transient. 



And who among all the sons of men does not admire and love 

 flowers ? 



