SHADE TREES FOR ORNAMENT ABOUT THE HOME. 183 



If there is a dusty street along- the south side of your premises, 

 or if the country in that direction is open, you will need some pro- 

 tection from the dust and from the hot south winds. For this pur- 

 pose I think there is nothing- better than an irregular shrub border. 

 Here I would plant Lilacs in a dozen different varieties.Bush Honey- 

 suckles, Caraganas, Russian Olives, Philadelphuaes, Prunus 

 Maackii, Pyrus Tortingo, Prunus Tomentosa, Manchurian Maples 

 and other hardy shrubs. 



Few foreign trees have so far proved to be of much value in 

 Minnesota; but we have a rich sylva of native trees. The Bur Oak 

 has already been referred to as one of the grandest of the oaks. It 

 grows throughout the state, but the Bur Oak of the rich prairie 

 lands of the west is a far different tree from the Bur Oak of the sand 

 barrens of Minneapolis. 



The Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) is a native tree in eastern 

 Minnesota, and will probably grow with a little encouragement 

 throughout the state. It is of this tree that Thoreau has written so 

 beautifully in his wonderful essay on Autumnal Tints. A few Scar- 

 let Oaks might well find a place on your home grounds. 



The Basswood (Tilia americana) is entitled to a place on your 

 home grounds if your soil is rich enough. It is not adapted to 

 sandy ground nor to a dry location. It is subject to sun scald and 

 needs some shelter. It may be grown on the prairie by allowing it 

 to sprout freely from the ground, as it is naturally inclined to do. 



The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is so grand a tree that one can 

 scarcely resist the temptation to plant it. If your home ground is 

 very rich and moist, and there are cottonwoods near by, the chances 

 of success with it are quite good. 



The Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a small sized picturesque 

 native tree, and may be introduced into your home ground with 

 advantage. 



The Hop Hornbeam (Ostyra virginiana) is a small sized native 

 tree, very attractive in foliage and fruit, and may well find a place 

 on the home grounds. 



If the home grounds are of considerable extent, and especially if 

 part of it runs off into a ravine or some rather low ground, or toward 

 a lake, you should not fail to plant the Russian Golden Willow and 

 the Salmon Barked Willow. These two willows are regarded by 

 botanists as varieties of Salix alba, but they are very distinct in 

 cultivation. The bright golden and red twigs of these willows give 

 a touch of brightness and color to the winter landscape that is very 

 desirable. 



If your home grounds are small you will not have room for many 

 trees; and in any event do not overcrowd them. It is better on 

 your home grounds to depend mostly on hardy shrubs for decora 

 tion. Use the list printed in the last volume of the report of our 

 society, and you will have something that has been tested and sure 

 to succeed with a little good cultivation. An irregularly planted 

 shrub border surrounding your lawn and defining the boundaries of 

 your home acre will give you more satisiFaction than a crowded 

 collection of dwarfed and starved forest trees. 



