ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS FOR MONTANA 15 



fruit are bright red. It is valuable for border planting along walks 

 and drives. In 1898, plants of Berberis Thunbergii were set in 

 the experimental nursery. The terminal growths sometimes kill 

 back, but not enough to seriously injure its vigor. In the spring of 

 1904 seeds of Berberis Thunbergii were planted in seed beds and 

 later the seedlings were transplanted to the experimental nursery. 

 In the winter of 1908-9 they killed back about one-third. Old plants 

 grown on the college campus were not injured at that time, indicat- 

 ing that they will endure colder weather than will young plants. 



Holly Barberry : (Berberis Aquifolium) This is the only 

 evergreen barberry that has been tested at this station. In the spring 

 of 1903 ten plants were obtained from Pennsylvania and planted in 

 the nursery. When given shade or slight protection during the 

 winter they were hardy, but they are not hardy when grown in an 

 exposed place. 



Oregon Grape : (Berberis repens] This is a native ever- 

 green barberry and is valuable to grow in shady and protected 

 places. 



THE BIRCHES. 



The birch genus, Bet^da > includes a number of trees and 

 shrubs. The leaves are alternate and deciduous, the flowers are 

 monoecious, apetalous in catkins and open in the spring with the 

 leaves. The staminate catkins, usually long and pendulous, are 

 formed in the fall and remain on the trees naked during the winter. 

 Trees in this genus are found as far north as any trees that grow. 



The birches are very ornamental trees and are found in parks 

 rind lawns throughout all the northern states and in Canada. They 

 are propagated from seeds which should be sown in sandy soil soon 

 *fter they mature. Some of the rare species are propagated by 

 grafting or budding while some of the shrub forms are propagated 

 by layers. 



European White Birch : (Betula alba) This tree sometimes 

 reaches a height of 80 feet. The bark on the trunk and larger 

 branches is white ; the leaves are slender and ovate, with an acute 

 point. It is a native of Europe. In 1898 several European white 

 birch trees wiere planted in the experiment station nursery. In 

 1902 they had reached a height of 17 feet and were at that time 

 transplanted to the college camlpus, and at this time they are hardy 



