WISCONSIN SUMMER MEETING, 1895. Ah 
the arbor vitaes for low ornamental hedge purposes—of which the 
American justly takes the lead—the spruces, white and blue, the red 
cedar, Austrian pine, cluster pine and balsam fir. For its compact 
growth, beautiful color and symmetrical shape, I would place the 
blue spruce at the head of the list for single specimens in lawn 
planting. For grouping in parks and large grounds, the pines and 
Norway spruce are excellent. As a rule,these single specimens have 
to be planted in the sod. If properly done, this is all right, but it is 
a waste of time, effort and money to chuck an evergreen or any other 
tree, in fact, into a tough sod, where only a small hole has been dug 
barely large enough to receive the roots. The right way is to cut 
out a nice, true circle, at least four feet across, peel off the sod and 
replace with nice mellow earth, spading the whole up together thor- 
oughly and deeply and plant as before directed, keeping the ground 
within this circle well cultivated for two or three years and then al- 
lowing it to grass cover. 
Another excellent use for evergreens, especially in suburban 
grounds,is the screening of unsightly objects,such as out-build- 
ings and the unsightly back yards of adjacent lots. Here, again, the 
spruces are excellent,and should be planted about the same distance 
apart as directed for the shelter belt. 
One word of caution to those who are planting in lawns and small 
grounds, and I will bring my paper on this subject to a close, and, 
that is, to carefully take into consideration the ultimate size and 
spread to which your tree will attain. Don’t plant too thickly. A 
cluttered lawn or yard is an abomination, both unsightly and un- 
wholesome. Few have the courage to take a tree out after they have 
grown itfor years. Plant sparingly and seek to develop perfect 
specimens. 
HORTICULTURE IN CONNECTION WITH OUR 
COMMON SCHOOLS. 
MISS LULU PHILIPS, WEST SALEM, WIS. 
(Read at the Summer Meeting, 1895, Wisconsin State Horticultural Society.) 
To be plain and practical we will define horticulture as the grow- 
ing of fruits, flowers, vegetables and ornamental plants. By far too 
many of us find when we engage in the active business of our lives, 
that while our education in grammar, history, philosophy and al- 
gebra has been thorough, that some of the minor studies have been 
sadly neglected, which would add so much value to us as teachers 
and citizens. While there may be exceptions,I believe the boy 
who is taught early in life to plant and care for trees and flowers 
on the school ground will be more interested in his studies and will 
have more respect for his teacher, if the latter will take pains to ed- 
ucate him in the work. Hewill give better satisfaction and com- 
mand better wages to work in the garden or on the farm, or will be 
better fitted to be the owner or manager of the farm and home. 
He would also be more likely to grow fruit for his family or beau- 
