130 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[Mai/, 



dictate; rustic baskets and vases, and even in 

 many instances where artificial styles prevail, 

 the topiary art may be called in and good effects 

 result from the use of the knife and shears on 

 certain plants. 



Trellisses and stakes for climbing plants and 

 vines should be put in at or before setting out 

 the plants. These plants always seem to grow 

 witl) more freedom and vigor when they can 

 find something at once to cling to. Climbing 

 vines add greatly to the interest of a garden. 

 They can be trained into all sorts of forms and 

 shapes ; and many of them, for gracefulness of 

 form, or beauty of their flowers, cannot be ex- 

 celled by any other tribe of plants. 



In the first mowing of lawns remember what 

 we have often said about close mowing. If cut 

 too close the grass plant is weakened, and 

 little creeping weeds have a good chance to 

 grow. Under no circumstances should less than 

 a half inch be left on the plant. If the grass 

 has been injured by too close mowing for a few 

 years past it may be renovated by leaving the 

 grass high in proportion to its weakness. In 

 veiy bad cases it may have an inch or even an 

 inch and a half of herbage left uncut. 



proved and you should consider it of suflflcient 

 value to adopt, I would ask your assistance in 

 improving the arrangement so that it may not 

 be necessary to make any subsequent altera- 

 tions. I have endeavored to make up the list 

 of the most useful and ornamental trees suitable 

 to this part of the country, as follows : 



A, Ash. 



B, Beech. 



C, Cherry. 



D, Dogwood. 



E, Elm. 



F, Fir. 



G, Gum. 



H, Hemlock. 

 I, Buttonwood. 

 J, Juniper. 



N, Norway Spruce. 



O, Pin Oak. 



P, Poplar. 



Q , Quercitron BPk Oak 



R, Red Oak. 



S, Sassafras. 



T, Tulip Tree. 



U, Horse Chestnut. 



V, Am. Arborvita'. 



W, Willow. 



K, Kentucky Coftee Tree X, Apple. 



L, Linden. Y, Yellow Beech. 



M, Maple. Z, Pear. 



NUMBERS OR DATES. 



COMMUNICA TIONS. 



A LIVING TREE ALPHABET. 



BY JONATHAN REES, PHCENIXVILLE, TA. { 



I have been trying to arrange a tree alphabet so j 

 that a tree will stand for or represent a letter or 

 figure, and can be planted so as to spell a name 

 or commemorate an event. I find the initials 

 of our most valuable trees comprise nearly all 

 the letters of the alphabet, and can be placed 

 so as to be read as easily as the alphabet by 

 those who make themselves acquainted with the 

 letters the trees are intended to represent. Far- 

 mers could have their names planted in groves 

 along the roads bordering on their property, 

 with the date of planting, and it would be both 

 interesting and instructive to be able to tell by 

 these who occupies the premises bj' reading the 

 planter's name in his trees. 



If an arrangement of this kind were approved 

 by the committee of horticultuie and the trees 

 placed in alphabetical order on your grounds (in- 

 cluding the numbers), it would likely stimulate 

 many with a desire to plant trees as a memorial. 

 If an arrangement of this kind should be ap- 



1, White Pine. 



2, Chestnut Oak. 



3, White Walnut. 



4, Black Walnut. 



5, White Oak, 



6, Locust. 



7, Hickor}'. 



8, Chestnut. 



9, Mulberry. 

 0, Cedar. 



If we wish to plant to spell Charles Baker. 

 1878, it could be arranged thus, (I prefer placing 

 the date first, as the two first figures are changed 

 but once in a century, and therefore would be 

 easier known): 



1 White Piiip. 



8 Cliestnut. 



7 Hickorj-. 



8 Chestnut. 



C 

 H 

 A 

 R 



L 

 E 



s 



Cherry. 



Hemlock. 



Ash. 



Red Oak. 



Linden. 



Elm. 



Sassafras. 



B Beech. 



A Ash. 



K Kentucky Coffee Tree. 



E Elm. 



R Red Oak. 

 A person passing along a road seeing a White 

 Pine and Chestnut would know it was intended 

 for a date, and would feel anxious to find out the 

 others, and would thereby become more inter- 

 ested in the names of trees. 



