GROW ING HARDY ORNAMENTAL TRF.ES AND SHRUBS. 403 



planting the wild crab. By the wild crab, I mean our wild native 

 crab with its green fruit, wdiich we all refuse to eat. 



The wild crab apple is also suitable for grafting on the 

 ordinary apple root, and while it does not take well to the 

 common seedling apple root, you can succeed with it on that 

 stock. It can also be grown from seed or grafted on its own 

 roots. 



We have a few evergreens in this state that I think deserve 

 more attention than they receive. The white pine is very suit- 

 able for transplanting and makes a beautiful tree. The white 

 spruce is also a fine tree and one that will thrive over the entire 

 state ; the white pine will not do this. In southwestern Minne- 

 sota the white pine does not prove hardy. It does not take to 

 a dry climate. I consider it of little value west of Mason City, 

 Iowa, except in sheltered spots. 



Then there are the arbor vitae and red cedar, they also have 

 a place in hedges. 



Among native shrubs we have the bladdernut, the prickly 

 ash, the smooth bark and staghorn sumach. If these two 

 sumachs can be planted together they will produce a very de- 

 sirable combination. The staghorn grows to a small tree, while 

 the dwarf sumach is a low growing shrub. The staghorn dififers 

 from the dwarf by the twigs being covered with a mossy sub- 

 stance like that found on the moss rose. It does not sucker 

 badly, although it does to some extent, but not so much as the 

 smooth bark. They are both worthy of receiving more at- 

 tention than they now have. 



Another shrub which should receive more attention from 

 nurserymen is the high bush cranberry. I speak of this not so 

 much on account of its fruit as because of its ornamental 

 value. The fruit on the high bush cranberry is of a bright red 

 and remains on the bush until spring, and when a bush is 

 covered with the fruit it is a beautiful sight and makes a beau- 

 tiful ornament for any home. 



Among the hardy ornamental trees not native of this state 

 that are worthy of planting are the European mountain ash, 

 the weeping mountain ash, cut leaved birch and catalpa speciosa. 

 We can also grow in the southern part of the state the water 

 ash, or hop tree. This is scarcely more than a shrub. It is a 

 native of this country and grows perhaps fifteen feet high, with 

 very deep green, glossy, three lobed leaves. The fruit has a 

 light wing which extends entirely around the seed, which has 

 a strong hop odor. It is a very pretty shrub in some places. 



