172 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



EVEKGKEENS. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON EVERGREENS. 



CLARENCE AVEDGE, ALBERT LEA. 



Until given this subject to write upon, it had never occurred to me how 

 important were the uses of the class of trees commonly called evergreens. 

 As I look over my own farm premises, I discover that if all that was 

 furnished by evergreens were removed there would be little left but the 

 nakedland. Thedwelling, barns, sheds, yards, windmill andfence posts all 

 came from the grand old pines and cedars of the North. And if to this 

 were added the needed and proper use of the living trees for windbreak 

 and ornament, we may easily place them at the head of the list of valu- 

 able trees. Nature has furnished boundless forests to our ready use for 

 constructive purposes, but it is left for our effort to plant and nourish the 

 banks of living green that should shelter and beautify our homes. A 

 light and cheerful task to those who have learned the arts that do assist 

 tree-nature, but to many a hard and doubtful one, ending in failure and 

 disgust. 



Evergreens for shelter may be planted in groves or, as we prefer, in 

 belts of double rows, with space between the belts of several rods to 

 admit of air and light. If planted in groves, the lower limbs die in time 

 for want of light and give opportunity for the wind to blow through 

 underneath the tops; while, if planted in belts, the lower outside limbs 

 will always receive light enough to maintain their life. If several belts 

 are planted they should each be of a different variety. The Scotch pine 

 being of a rapid growth and obtainable at the lowest price will make 

 the quickest and cheapest windbreak, but it is inclined to become thin in 

 the foliage of its lower branches. The white spruce is of slow growth 

 but of unequalled density of foliage, especially in its lower branches, thus 

 making it one of the best varieties to alternate with the belts of pine. In 

 growing an evergreen shelter the greatest care should be used to give the 

 young trees clean culture. With the exception of the red cedar, there is 

 no tree that in its youth is more likely to succumb to weeds and especially 

 blue grass, than the evergreen. On the other hand, there is no tree that 

 responds more surely to intelligent care and clean culture. 



Planted with taste the evergreen is indispensable for ornamental plant- 

 ing, but its use therefor has been generally abused. The answer made by 

 Professor Budd at the Humboldt meeting, when called upon for his 

 choice of the five best varieties forornamental planting, was to this point: 

 "If I had to choose for planting, as evergreens are usually planted, 

 directly in front of the house, I should choose just as few and just as 

 dwarf varieties as possible." The habit of making the front yard the 

 catch-all of every tree and bush that comes to hand is simply abominable, 



