112 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETT. 



Pyramidal, Compacta, Siberian and Tom Thumb, and presumably all 

 the dwarf varieties of American Arbor Vitte, are perfectly hardy and 

 satisfactory as far as I have observed. But when it comes to any of 

 the Oriental or Chinese varieties, it is equally safe to exclude them 

 from our localities. 



By way of experimenting, I have the Ponderosa Pine, which seemed 

 last year to be winter hurt, but Mr. Douglas tells me it is subject to a 

 fungus, on account of which he has abandoned it. The Dwarf Pine 

 (Mayho) shows some very nice specimens, low, wide and compact, but 

 quite variable from seed. But it shows some brown like the Austrian, 

 or perhaps like the Ponderosa, which induces some misgivings for the 

 present. The Douglas Spruce and Blue Spruce (Menzesii) both looked 

 badly damaged this spring, but are coming out fairly well. It is pos- 

 sible that young, small plants might be so affected, and withstand our 

 rigorous winters when older, but hardly likely, and Mr. Douglas claims 

 that only seed from Colorado will make hardy trees. This would seem 

 a point of valuable indication to those in search of other iron-clads. 



CHAS. PATTERSON. 



OUR HOMES. 



BY MRS. REV. E. D. PEARSON, LOUISIANA. 



There are themes so great, that arising before us in their magni- 

 tude they almost appall us w^ith their grandeur, and we are dumb with 

 "wonder. There are subjects so woven and interwoven with the best 

 interests of society that they never grow old, but call upon us yester- 

 day, to-day and to-morrow for a careful hearing. There are chords in 

 the human heart that beat and vibrate, as if set to sweet music when 

 a them.e so dear to every heart as home is mentioned — when the best 

 interest of our fellow-man are brought to view, and we are made to 

 feel and know that we can benefit, tbat loe can give pleasure where no 

 sweet pleasures grow, or that we can bring order out of confusion and 

 cause the wilderness to blossom as the rose, in short ; that we can and 



