160 NEBRASIvA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



male of a type of Southern cottonwood and cannot seed or shed 

 cotton. The Norway has seeds like the trembling aspen, without the 

 cotton. Ultimately the Norway has a much larger leaf. It does not 

 waste itself in side branches, but retains its size better than any tree I 

 know of, which makes it valuable for lumber. It splits readily, and while 

 it might not do for weather boards, yet for framing and sheeting it will 

 be as good as pine. We deem ourselves fortunate in finding this tree. 



THE NIOBE WILLOW. 



This is the Russian golden weeping willow introduced by that inde- 

 fatigable explorer, Professor Hanson, who ransacks the world for the 

 best things. They are rapid growers, the hardiest willow on earth and 

 in form and habit much like the Wisconsin weeping willow. 



LILACS. 



We have gathered fifty kinds and have commenced growing from 

 seeds, and hope to originate some new and choice varieties. While in 

 Manitoba we noted a hedge of Charles the Tenth seedlings, and they 

 varied much, and the superintendent said that among them were many 

 of rare beauty. In Massachusetts last year we noticed a wide variation 

 in seedlings of the Villosa. 



We are planting the broad-leaved and late-blooming sorts, the 

 Villosa, Dr. Bretschneider, the Emode and the Jaseicae, near together 

 and not far from the June-blooming tree lilacs, and we are confident 

 we will have some fine new sorts if we are spared long enough to see 

 the results. Some are trying for new things by planting seeds of the 

 old Vulgaris, but as like produces like all such attempts are useless. 



We have the Japan and Chinese tree lilacs, which grow nearly as 

 fast and large as our native green ash. I knew there was another of the 

 tree form which I had been hunting for for years, and found it among one 

 hundred and fifty other sorts in the Boston arboretum, and have the 

 promise of it. It is called the Amaurensis. 



We have listed ten kinds of Tamarisks, but find the Russian superior 

 to them all, and the demand for it for hedges every year exhausts the 

 supply. This is called the Russian, the Silver, the Amaurensis and the 

 Odessiana. They are all one and the same thing. 



PERENNIALS. 



We are gathering material for a manual of these hardy flowers, and 

 every year we add to the list. We want something of exceptional hardi- 

 ness for our trying climate. 



Among other things, we have a splendid collection of the iris and are 

 more than pleased with their wonderful beauty, hardiness and readiness 

 of propagation. We were fortunate in securing the very finest of the 

 German family, the Pallida delmatica, one that is very robust in habit, 

 a glorious flower and very fragrant. It is quite rare. In a trip to the 



