31 6 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



rural highways will learn that it is next to vandalism to remove the last vestige of 

 every shrub or small tree along the roadside. They often leave a tree here and 

 there, but these are frequently damaged by the trimming. Groups or thickets 

 of native shrubbery, including vines, untouched by ax or bush-hook, are a great 

 source of delight to a well-trained person, as he views them while passing along 

 the road. As a rule, at present, all bushes and shrubs are considered by the 

 average pathmaster as entirely out of place, and not to be tolerated in any well- 

 regulated neighborhood. There never was a greater mistake, and the more we 

 talk about it, the sooner we may look for much-needed reforms. Mr. C. W. 

 Garfield writes in Garden and Forest as follows : 



" Many of the most attractive highways in the State owe their beauty to the 

 shiftlessness of the pioneers, who allowed a mass of bushes to grow up in the 

 corners of the old worm fences undisturbed for a generation ; afterward to be 

 utilized by more thrifty successors in the embellishment of the roadsides. No 

 plantations formed by man are equal in beauty to these irregular masses of trees 

 that are of Nature's planting. 



" Occasionally I note an example of the workings of some man's mathema- 

 tical mind, who has tried to clear out one of these rows, leaving a tree once in 

 so many feet, and thus ruining the effect for all time." And again, in the same 

 journal we read: "The thorns and dogwoods and viburnums, the thickets of 

 elder and hazel, the bitter-sweet and clematis and moonseed climbing over all — 

 the flora of the world has no more beautiful plants than these and a hundred 

 more which spring up of themselves and flourish until some one with a zeal for 

 ' trimming up ' attacks them with grubbing-hoe and brush-hook. And when the 

 vines are stripped from the fences, and the brush all cut, gathered and burned, 

 the roadsides are thoroughly cleared, it is true, but a desolation of rocks and 

 ashes is all that is left in exchange for the fragrance of flowers, the beauty and 

 coolness of green leaves, and the melody of the birds among them. 



" It is a comfort to note that road borders of native shrubs are being used 

 more and more in the best park work. Every one of these shrubs would grace 

 a i)alace garden, and yet, when they modestly appear along a rural highway they 

 are mowed down, to ' improve the appearance' of the country." — Flora of Michi- 

 gan. 



Those of our readers who may have more or less celery in their gardens 

 that is imperfectly blanched, or not blanched at all, may easily blanch it i>er- 

 fcctly after it is taken uj), Lift the plants from the ground, leaving a little soil 

 adhering to the roots. Take common barrels, or the cases in which boots are 

 ship|)ed, put about two inches of sand in the bottom, and on this place your 

 celery in an upright position. Pack the barrel, or ca.se, full, of course jnitting 

 only one layer. Sprinkle the sand before you put the celery in. Then put the 

 barrel or case in a cool cellar, and cover with boards loosely, so that light is kept 

 out, and in six weeks your celery will be blanched to the tips. Look at it 

 occasionally, and if seems too dry and shows signs of wilting, sprinkle it with 

 water. Care must he taken not to wet it too much, as it is apt to produce rust. 

 — Floral Instructor. 



