306 HORTICULTURE FOR SCHOOLS 



North America. This is one of the grandest trees and is 

 extensively used in ornamental planting. The maple, known 

 technically as Acer, has several species native to North 

 America and, like the elm, is magnificent for ornamental 

 purposes. There are also a large number of coniferous trees : 

 spruce, hemlock, fir, cypress, and others, some of them native 

 to North America and some imported from other countries. 

 In general, the landscape-gardener will attain good results by 

 using plants native to the locality where he is working, but 

 this should not prevent his drawing on the rich abundance of 

 material which is available from foreign lands. 



431. Lawn grasses. The most important single factor of 

 the landscape is the lawn or open space. It is the center 

 about which the whole plan is drawn . If properly prepared , no 

 feature of the landscape is more beautiful, but if neglected, it 

 will show defect very quickly. The first thought of the land- 

 scape-gardener should, therefore, be to have the ground in 

 the best possible condition as regards both texture and rich- 

 ness of the soil, as well as evenness of surface. 



A large number of different grasses are available for lawn- 

 planting and the choice will depend to a considerable extent 

 on the experience of the community. Kentucky blue-grass 

 alone or in combination with white clover is used with success 

 in many sections of North America. In some parts of the 

 South, Bermuda-grass is practically the only material which 

 can be employed since it grows so readily as to displace any 

 other plant. The objection to Bermuda-grass is its appear- 

 ance in the winter, as the leaves turn light brown, and the 

 lawn appears dead during a considerable portion of the year. 



Another plant sometimes used, especially in the warmer 

 parts of California, is Lippia canescens. This thrives under 

 circumstances so unfavorable that no other material could 

 live. It endures a great amount of drought and persists each 

 year even when subject to much tramping. On that account 

 it is commonly used in school-yards. The plant is a trailer, 



