A HALF-CENTURY OF ORNAMENTAL TREE PLANTING, 33 
action of the frost upon the earth renders it more friable and 
more easily incorporated among the roots. Thoroughness in filling 
.the spaces among the roots is of essential importance to successful 
tree planting. 
The constantly increasing variety of Ornamental Trees that 
thrive in the central part of.the state is so large that I can but 
briefly allude to even the most prominent — those that are 
approved by long experience, and those of newer sorts that 
promise well. Many trees that were considered but half hardy 
years ago have seemingly become acclimated, and now withstand 
our extremes of temperature, adding very much to the landscape 
in their variety and effect. Of the hardy sorts there are quite 
enough properly to embellish rural homes with a most agreeable 
and pleasing variety. 
The Maples (Acer) have been for a long time and are now 
prominent in their variety and conspieuous both in landscape 
and streets— a favorite tree which well repays the attention it 
receives. 
I have growing more than twenty sorts; most prominent are 
the Sugar, Norway, Schwedleri, Reitenbachi, Geneva, Wier’s 
Cut Leaved, Sycamore, and Purple Leaved, Tataricum, Ginnale, 
Pennsylvanicum, Negundo, and the Japanese Maples and others 
which I will omit to mention. In fact the whole family is one of 
great beauty, and its members are in the front rank of decidu- 
ous trees; as ormamental trees some of them will fit any soil 
or situation. I have many large trees planted near the streets 
and roads which give abundance of shade and are the glory of 
the autumn. 
The Magnolias are among the most magnificent trees for orna- 
mental planting. Fifty years ago but few were considered hardy. 
The varied forms of the trees, with the size and verdure of 
their foliage and the beauty and fragrance of their flowers, place 
them in the front as ornamental trees where the soil and exposure 
prove favorable. I have some fifteen varieties, all proving hardy 
save one. They are M. acuminata, M. glauca, M. macrophylla, 
M. tripetala, M. Alexandrina, M. conspicua, M. Kobus, M. 
Lennei, M. purpurea, M. parviflora, M. hypoleuca, M. Soulan- 
giana, M. speeiosa, M. stellata, and M. Thomsoniana. Some 
of these trees are thirty feet high and their season of flowering 
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