2 University of California Publications in Botany. [VOL. 4 



INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



The people of California are slowly coming to a realization 

 of the fact that the climatic and soil conditions of this state are 

 suitable for the growth of the best ornamentals that the world 

 affords, and that they have the opportunity here to develop a 

 high-class system of landscape gardening. This realization is 

 leading to a demand for more information concerning the better 

 sorts of ornamental shrubs and trees. The object of the present 

 paper is to aid in supplying such information and is at the same 

 time a critical botanical study of the species here presented. 



Many of our best ornamentals are scarcely known outside 

 of the grounds of a few wealthy citizens who have introduced 

 them for their own pleasure, others are appreciated only by 

 certain communities. Some of these desirable sorts are here 

 given attention in order that their use may become more general. 

 It is especially hoped that small grounds and yards may be 

 planted with only the best, but it is also hoped that those inter- 

 ested in laying out villa sites, public parks, school-grounds, ceme- 

 teries, railroad parks, and the li'ke, will be stimulated to more 

 care and discrimination in the selection of trees and shrubs, 

 since their choice affects the pleasure of many people throughout 

 many years. 



Aside from their ornamental value, many of the plants men- 

 tioned in this paper will doubtless be found useful in the work 

 of reforestation. Several species of Hakea, and especially the 

 more drought-resistant sorts of Pittosporum and Melaleuca, are 

 among the most promising shrubs and small trees for chaparral 

 planting in our foothill districts. Certain of the plants here 

 considered will be of much value in California, when better 

 known, because of their edible fruits or nuts. This particularly 

 applies to Feijoa Sellowiana, and to Macadamia ternifolia, both 

 trees of high ornamental value. 



The greatest confusion exists among California gardeners, 

 nurserymen, and architects, concerning the names of many of 

 our plants. This is due, in part, to the fact that they are not 

 grown in eastern or European gardens; hence they are not de- 

 scribed in the standard gardening dictionaries. For most of 



