Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
list, published in 1875 by the Park Commissioners, in 
their third general report, upon the completion of the 
Park ; a list now valueless, owing to the subsequent dis- 
appearance of many species not suitable to our climate, 
and the addition, in recent years, of many choice foreign 
plants. 
The utility of the following account, in its relation 
to the Park, is not limited to even the large numbers 
that frequent these splendid grounds; for the orna- 
mental growth here is of so representative a character 
as to comprise most of the species cultivated anywhere 
in the Northeastern States, the identification of which 
is made possible in these pages without resorting to text- 
books. It may also be added that, for a considerable 
amount of the foreign growth herein described, which is 
becoming widely popular for lawns and parks, no de- 
scription, sufficiently detailed for identification, is else- 
where to be found in any American publication, nor 
can all of it be found in any single foreign work. In 
recent years the treasures of Japan and other parts of 
Asia, as well as of Europe, have been extensively drawn 
upon for landscape decoration, and the following pages 
afford a ready reference for determining the leading 
species in the three distinctive types of growth herein 
considered. 
At the same time it is a matter for pride that our 
own sylva is worthy of so large a representation in this 
notable collection ; and those unfamiliar with our native 
species may be surprised to find that some of the most 
stately and picturesque effects in forestry, and some of 
the most brilliant and graceful forms of shrub and vine, 
2 
