374 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



transplanted, be stocky and well shaped ; the holes for them should 

 be dug large, from 3 to 4 feet in diameter and 18 to 24 mches deep : 

 plant carefully and leave the ground basin-like around the tree af- 

 ter it is well tramped down. This space around the tree should be 

 stirred up occasionally with a hoe, and spaded out wider every year. 

 In case of groups it is generally better to have the whole space be- 

 tween kept open ; in a dry season it may be necessary ro water oc- 

 casionally. Avoid planting too close to the house and directly in 

 front; it is generally safe to plant liberally in the rear and on one 

 side of a dwelling. Mulch in the fall with spoiled hay, flax straw 

 or any other straw. 



While the evergreens are pretty, if we had nothing else around 

 our home they would get monotonous, so it is well to have a fair 

 proportion of deciduous trees for variety and shade and, above all, 

 plenty of flowering shrubs. There is nothing more effective in sum- 

 mer than well arranged clumps and borders of shrubbery, and as 

 they are so cheap, easily planted and taken care of there is no rea- 

 son why every family cannot have at least a fair collection of them. 

 The lilacs are perhaps the hardiest shrub we have and deserve a 

 place in every yard, but do not plant too many of the common pur- 

 ple lilac as they spread all oyer; choose rather the Persian, white 

 and Chas. X. As it will take too long to describe all the different 

 shrubs, I will simply name those which from experience I have 

 found perfectly hardy and satisfactory for this western country ; 

 and first of all I will name the Spirea Van Houtii, "the queen of 

 all the spireas ;" then the Snowball, High Bush Cranberry, Hy- 

 drangea, Paniculata Grandiflora, Honeysuckle, Mock Orange, the 

 different varieties of Barberries, which however are a little tender 

 "but don't root kill. The Caraganas, or Siberian Pea Tree, the Choke 

 Cherry, the common and Golden Elder, Flowering Currant, Rosa 

 Rugosa, or Japanese Rose, Red Dogwood, Nine Bark, or Golden 

 Spirea, Snowberry, Buffalo Berry, Russian Olive and English Buck- 

 thorn for hedge. 



Climbing Vines — Of these I know nothing better than Vir- 

 ginia Creeper, Trumpet Honysuckle and Wild Grape, which are 

 very effective for covering unsightly objects that cannot, perhaps 

 be hid from view any other way. While in Europe a year ago I 

 saw the Virginia Creeper used very extensively by landscape gar- 

 deners everywhere. 



Perennial Flowers — These are especially suited for the busy 

 farmer as they require very little care when once planted, and in- 



