EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 195 



grows in every direction except upright. Populus Dudleyii, with 

 its long- narrow leaves looking like a willow, does not promise to 

 ever become a large tree. Populus betulafolia promises to become 

 a very fine tree, slightly resembling a Cottonwood, but much more 

 airy and graceful. For a fine upright silver-foliaged tree, Populus 

 bolleana promises to fill the bill. It is a noliceabl}- fine tree. So far 

 it shows no tendency toward root sprouting like the common silver- 

 leaved poplar. 



Salix. The crack willow (Salix fragilis) is doing well. For prairie 

 planting it maj^ not grow to be as large as the common white wil- 

 low, but it grows rapidly while young, and will be valuable to vary 

 the usual monotony of prairie planting. The rosemary willow 

 (Salix rosmarinifolia), though only a shrub, grows rapidly when 

 young. The glaucous bloom of its leaves makes it a beautiful object. 

 A row of it planted some distance outside of a grove would be of 

 great value to stop the snow. It grows thick and close near the 

 ground, and if snowed under will bend over without injury. The 

 laurel-leaved willow (Salix laurifolia), with its broad shining leaves, 

 is thrifty and vigorous and full of promise. It is a strikingly hand- 

 some tree. The sharp-leaved willow (Salix acutifolia) is upright in 

 growth and very promising. Napoleon's willow (Salix Napoleou- 

 ensis) seemed to be tender when first planted here, but it has passed 

 the two last winters in perfect condition. Its peculiar bluish foliage 

 will make it an ornamental shrub of considerable value. Salix vit- 

 telina when j^oixng was tender here, but it came through the past 

 two winters in perfect condition. Its red branches in winter make 

 it a striking object. It will be valuable to the landscape gardener 

 to give a dash of color to a dark shrubbery in winter. Salix 14Vor. 

 seems to be identical with Salix vittelina. Salix aurea has not done 

 well on drj-- bluff land, and Salix caprea was injured somewhat bj^ 

 drought or cold weather. 



Hicoria. Experiments with shell-bark hickorj^ do not indicate 

 any great success. The tree is making verj^ slow growth. 



Gymnocladus. The Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus Can- 

 adensis) is doing well here. This was to have been expected, for 

 Mr. Sheldon found it growing wild as far west as Brown county. It 

 is a fine tree. 



Moras. Mulberry bushes obtained from a Wisconsin nursery as 

 Russian mulberry, probably a variety of Morus Tartarica, at first 

 seemed to be tender, but have stood the past two winters without 

 injury, and last summer produced quite a crop of small, black fruit. 

 The fruit would have been of some value had it ripened more 

 evenlJ^ The birds watched it well, and gathered the fruit about as 

 fast as it ripened. 



Elaeagnus. A species of Elaeagnus received from Prof. Budd 

 under the name of Elaeagnus angustifolia, doubtless a variety of E. 

 hortensis, as described by Loudon, is growing vigorously and 

 seems to be entirely hard3^ Its bright, shining, silvery foliage 

 makes it a conspicuous object in any plantation. I believe it pos- 

 sesses much merit. It is doubtless the wild olive of the East, 

 referred to in sacred history. It is an interesting circumstance that 

 it proves to be hardy on the prairies of Minnesota. We have also 



