34 AMERICAN THOUGHT AND ACTION [May 



President Parker Earle would rather lose his apple-trees than his 

 evergreens. In fitting up a home, he would plant ornamental trees 

 first and fruit afterward. 



Mr. Cassel, of Mississippi, said that the holly, as found growing 

 wild, was thin-foliaged and not very attractive, the berries being 

 found on the tops of the older and taller trees. It was difficult to 

 transplant from the forest, which was one reason that it was not 

 more generally used for ornament in Mississippi, Grown in the 

 nursery from seed, on very ricli ground, and shortened in with the 

 pruning-knife, it made a compact and beautiful growth. Like other 

 evergreens, frequent transplanting when young multiplied their 

 chances for doing well when finally removed to ornamental grounds. 



Mr. Jessup, of California, said that each region had native trees 

 and shrubs that were exactly adapted to it. Such trees were 

 cheaper, easier to be obtained, and in many cases more desirable 

 than high-priced exotics. 



Vice-President Muuson said that he would not fence a place either 

 with boards or evergreens, so as to exclude the public from enjoying 

 its beauties. In planting for landscape effect, knowledge of the hardi- 

 ness and probable size of a tree was necessary. In Northern Texas, 

 the golden arbor vitai was one of the most beautiful of the smaller 

 evergreens. The wild evergreen peach was a tree peculiar to 

 Texas, of great beauty, and easily grow^n. The chaparral, an ever- 

 green native to Texas and New Mexico, was highly ornamental 

 when cultivated. It had greyish leaves, with thorns upon the 

 edges. It was the Bcrbcrris trifolius. 



Mr. Wright, of Iowa, said that the subject of home ornamentation 

 was not only neglected by farmers, but by horticulturists as well. 

 The old-fashioned Lombard poplar is not hardy in Northern Iowa. 

 There are varieties that do succeed, however, and one that greatly 

 resembles the old type, flourishes as far north as Minneapolis. The 

 common berberry was a good hedge plant in Iowa. The subject of 

 beautifying our home surroundings should be kept constantly 

 before the people. 



Mr. Pagan, of Missouri, wondered that the holly was not more 

 generally grown by nurserymen. Mr. Francis of Missouri said that 

 the difficulty of transplanting was the chief reason. Dr. Hape said 

 that he pruned back severely, and removed the leaves when trans- 

 planting. Thus treated, it could be removed without difficulty. It 

 would withstand 10° or 12° below zero, if the ground around the 

 roots was protected from prolonged and severe freezing. 



