TREES AND THEIR PURPOSE 151 



which we are confining ourselves are not so 

 many that there need be difficulty in choosing. 

 The picturesque cannot be admitted, consist- 

 ently; only trees of orderly growth — the well- 

 behaved, conventional, and seemly members of 

 the tree race — will look at home and harmonize 

 with the sharply defined limits of suburban cul- 

 tivation. Curiously enough, although we have 

 many native to this continent which, properly 

 grown, would fulfill these requirements, exotics 

 are largely used where small trees are desired, 

 Japan and China furnishing the most of them. 

 There seems to be no goodreason for this ex- 

 cept the fact that the trees of Japan are re- 

 markably free from annoying blights; and that 

 our insects do not seem to relish them as well 

 as, they do home-grown provender — two advan- 

 tages that make them highly desirable for the 

 ordinary garden, without doubt. 



Still I do not feel that we should neglect the 

 material which is at hand when much of it is 

 of such fine quality and rare beauty — and no 

 more susceptible to blights and bugs than the 

 Japanese stock. And I have made it a rule not 

 to use exotics when native growth that would 

 serve as well was obtainable. Many times it is 

 not to be had, however, for few nurserymen 

 will work with native trees as they will with 



