STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35 



There a^e iu the Arnold Arboretum mau\' speeimeus which have uot 

 been planted moi-e than fifteen or sixteen jears which are five or six 

 inches through at the butt. This is true of the pin oak especially; it is 

 one of the quickest growing oaks we have. These oaks were grown 

 under favorable circumstances, thej' were cared for as you would care 

 for a peach tree. 



The same thing is true of the hickory, butter-nut or shag-barks, but if 

 you try to move them from the woods you experience diflicultj' on 

 account of that long tap root. But if j'ou grow them in the nurser}^ you 

 get plenty of fibrous roots and the}' will respond quickly to generous 

 treatment. 



The American chestnut is oue of our best trees; so also is the beech. 

 A man does not want to plant manj- purple beeches but one or two are 

 desirable. 



For quick-growing ti'ees we ha^e the various birches which are highh- 

 to be recommended. The European white birch is one of the fastest 

 growing trees we have ; wherever it is planted even if iu poor soil it will 

 grow and flourish. Willows and poplars have their uses: for wet land 

 there is nothing better than the white willow or the golden variety. 



EVERGREEN SHRUBS. 



Among evergreen shrubs the Rhododendrons and mountain laurel rep- 

 resents the large and important class of broad-leaved evergreens which 

 are hardy and thrive in Xew England. 



The Hybrid Rhododendrons under careful treatment, — one of the 

 most important factors of this treatment is seeing that they do not suft'er 

 from lack of water during the summer months and planting in favorable 

 situations in a deep, rich soil, — are likely to thrive in almost any 

 localities throughout Xew England. There is a diftereuce in them ; some 

 are hardier than others. It is somewhat difticult to draw up a proper list 

 of Rhododendrons without having a knowledge of the locality or experi- 

 menting with the plants themselves. 



The mountain laurel is hardy throughout Xew England and also 

 Edododeudron Maximum, although they suffer more or less from hot 

 and dry seasons. Whether it is the winter's cold or the dryness of the 

 summer it is hard to say, l)ut the probabilities are that it is the dryness 

 of the summer which affects the plant so that it is unable to stand the 

 winter. The turning brown of the leaves does not appear until spring 

 and we are in the habit of laying it to the winter, but I think it is the 

 dryness of the preceding summer which has done the damage. 



In deciduous shrubs the list is a very extended one. Beginning 

 with barberries, I would like to say a good word for the new Japanese 

 barberry which has lately been introduced, a low-growing, very compact 

 shrub, it has a great amount of fi-uit and I wish especially to recom- 

 mend it to anyone who is planting with the intention of feeding game 

 birds, quail, partridges, or song birds during the winter mouths. The 

 fruit is better, although not more abundant, than tliat of the common 



