112 Nebraska State Horticultural Society. 



HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



By J. H. Hadkinson, Benson. 



When I received word that the Society, through the Secretary, 

 assigned the above subject to me, I wondered if they had in mind the 

 ornamental trees as classified in the general nursery catalogue, or if 

 they intended to allow me to put my own definition on this, which I am 

 going to take the liberty to do, and it is: 



Trees that are hardy in any respective locality and are well trained, 

 are ornamental. I shall have to let the reader be the judge of hardi- 

 ness, except in localities where I shall quote them found gi'owing and 

 doing well in our state. A reliable way to find out the hardihood of 

 trees is to skirmish as close as possible to the locality where they are 

 to be planted, and find out how the respective variety that you wish to 

 plant is thriving and under just what conditions. Then use as near as 

 possible these conditions and plant the tree or trees decided upon. Do 

 not get disappointed on first trial if it is a failure, for we all have 

 these experiences of planting, and fail with some kinds once in a while 

 and after getting disheartened, find that a neighbor had succeeded 

 probably with less care than we had used. 



Trees are almost human, not excepting tender varieties, for they 

 will not flourish or grow fat on wind and sun; they might on sun and 

 water or wind and water, but to get plain facts, thorough cultivation 

 is essential, also thorough care after planting. This is especially true 

 for the first few years, but even so in future years -^vhen we experience 

 a season of continual dry weather. Hardy ornamental trees are planted 

 like any other kind. Good generous holes should be dug, eight to 

 twelve inches deeper than needed, also much wider, then the bottom 

 should be filled in with six to twelve inches of rotten straw, hay or 

 trash of a similar nature, and covered with soil six to eight inches, 

 owing to the size of the trees to be planted. This material in the bot- 

 tom acts as a reservoir for water for future use of the tree. If the 

 trees are planted with a frozen ball of dirt, fill in with fine dirt pre- 

 viously prepared and covered with fresh stable manure to prevent 

 freezing. Never use frozen chunks; in fact, use fine dirt all the time, 

 well worked in amongst the roots and leave no air pockets. 



The reason why trees succeed so well when the holes are slushed 

 with water, is that this water percolates, through the soil and causes 



