PLANTING AND CARE OF TREES 71 



foreign species of trees and slirubs. The attempts at formal 

 gardening in rural districts are becoming less frequent and it is 

 encouraging to note that there are fewer people nowadays who 

 believe that it is necessary to trim trees in a variety of fantastic 

 shapes to bring out their beauty. The tendency at the present 

 time is to use fewer of the exotic forms and to depend more upon 

 the native flora^ especially in respect to trees. As suggested for 

 roadside planting, the rural home builder would do well to go to 

 a neighboring forest for his trees. The foreign species are not 

 so well suited to the soil and climate, and this is an additional 

 reason for choosing native forms. 



On the small or medium-sized place it is not always practicable 

 to engage a trained landscape gardner. The owner will probably 

 get more pleasure from the home surroundings if he can claim 

 some credit for their creation. The style may not be correct in all 

 its details, but it is likely to supply the needs of the family and 

 to increase the knowledge and interest of the owner. For the 

 planning and planting of large estates it is usually advisable to 

 engage a landscape architect of ability and reputation. There are 

 many so-called landscape gardeners soliciting contracts of this 

 kind who are wholly unreliable and who are likely to do more 

 harm than good. 

 -^ The Function of Trees in Home Decoration — The fundamental 

 uses of trees around the home are to furnish the great masses of 

 vegetation with which to frame the home picture, to direct and 

 restrict the views along desirable lines, to screen objectionable 

 objects, to emphasize the elevations of the ground, to vary the 

 sky-line, to furnish shade and shelter, and to give to the surround- 

 ings the ex23ression of comfort and homliness. Trees contribute 

 to these purposes mainly by their foliage which varies not only 

 with the species, but with the changes in season. Their flowers 

 and their fruit, while largely incidental, are valuable attributes 

 and should receive careful consideration. Even in their winter 

 condition, trees possess great beauty, although of a different kind. 



Shrubs — It is difficult to discuss home planting without taking 

 into consideration the use of woody shrubs. In conjunction with 

 trees they are useful in the production of great banks of foliage. 

 As a rule, trees require much less attention than do shrubs, and by 

 the careful selection of species very satisfactory results may be 

 produced by their exclusive use. It is always well, however, to 

 include a few shrubs, even in the most unpretentious plantings. 



