168 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Discussion. 



William C. JStrong said that all would agree that the paper 

 which had been read contained many valuable suggestions. He 

 was pleased with its tone, and with the idea that every man might 

 become his own landscape gardener. Planting trees so as to bring 

 out their individual characteristics is ver\' desirable when it is 

 possible, but sometimes we must have groups of trees for shelter, 

 or rows for wind-breaks, where individual characteristics are lost. 

 He liked the idea of planting vines to keep houses dry. The 

 Kenilwoith and P^nglish ivies are not suited to our climate ; but 

 we have a wealth of material in our native vines. The woodbine 

 is more graceful than either of the two just mentioned. We want 

 sunlight, and must take care not to make our houses dam|) by 

 planting trees too near. He had seen cases where he would have 

 put the axe to trees, because they were too near the house. He 

 liked the elm for a roadside tree or to grow near a house, because 

 it is not dense like the maples, but lofty and open so as to admit 

 air beneath. 



Dr. Bowen said that he was not a professional landscape gard- 

 ener. His idea is that even the simplest country dweller, living 

 in the humblest home, can render his abode as attractive as any 

 of the cottage homes of England, of whose beauty so much has 

 been said ; and this would not be expensive, for the materials are 

 near at hand. 



John G. Barker said that the suggestions of the essayist are 

 such as we shall all agree to. He lives in a brick house covered 

 with Ampelopsis Veitchii^ which is better than [)aint. He did not 

 know that the vines made any perceptible difference in the damp- 

 ness, but they improved the appearance very much. The remarks 

 made in regard to planting trees near houses reminded him of a 

 plan made for improving the grounds around his house, which in- 

 cluded a clump of white pines on the northeast side, that would 

 have shut off tiie view from the dining room and sitting room win- 

 dows. He made a yard which it was desired to hide from view, 

 and here a trellis was built, in front of which were planted lilacs, 

 Hydranrjca paniculata grandijiora, Paul's scarlet thorn and other 

 shrubs; and, in front of tiiese, herbaceous plants, some of which 

 are in flower from early spring to autumn. He can sit at the sec- 

 ond story window and look over the tops of the shrubs. 



