216 MINNESOYVA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Prof. Green: I want to make a little criticism on Mr. Smith’s 
remarks. In the first place, Mr. Smith cannot name a single 
desirable shrub or flower, that cannot be obtained of the nur- 
serymen. The nurserymen are very glad to buy anything, that 
they can get hold of, that is at all desirable. Then I want to 
say another thing. We have not a native rose that compares 
in foliage, flower or fruit with the cultivated ones, and the im- 
proved ones are about as hardy. We have not a native weep- 
ing tree that will compare with the weeping birch for pretty 
effect upon the lawn. That is a foreign tree. I admit that 
some of Mr. Smith’s remarks are true about the tendency of ~ 
people to buy high-priced plants, etc., in preference to some of 
the beautiful flowers that are cheaper. But it is better to buy 
of the nurserymenu than to go into the woods. One reason why 
the simple plants seem to do better in the woods than upon 
our lawns is that the conditions for their well being is better in 
some respects in the woods than upon the lawn. That is one 
reason why they grow better. I am very much interested just 
now in the introduction of the Rocky Mountain evergreens. I 
believe that that is a field,in which there is a great opportunity 
for developing and bringing out plants, that will be of special 
interest to us here. The climate there is fully as severe as 
here, and I see no reason why the experiment will not be a 
success. Now, while I agree with Mr. Smith in the most of 
what he says, yet we want to get all the plants,and shrubs, and 
trees that we can. We want all the variety that we can have. 
I think when purchasing, it is a good plan to consult a good 
catalogue, and be guided in some degree by the suggestions 
that it contains. 
Mr. Smith: Ido not want Prof. Green to misunderstand me, 
I said that before they go and buy these high priced things 
that are said to be so very nice, they should look around and 
see how much better effect they can produce with our native 
plants and shrubs. I have growing in my yard now a native 
elm, an almost weeping tree, and I would not exchange it for 
all the weeping birches I ever saw. 
