22 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



often practicable for several neighbors to unite in sending an 

 order and thus get wholesale rates. 



4. In making a selection of flowering trees and shrubs, aim 

 to secure a succession of bloom, in order that the grounds may 

 be attractive all summer. Among the earliest flowering hardy 

 shrubs are Daphne mezereum and the Forsythias which bloom 

 before putting forth leaves — usually about the first of May. 

 Following these shrubs are the magnolias, the red bud or judas 

 tree, the hawthorns, the apple and the cherry among small trees. 

 The magnolia will succeed only in the southern counties. Some 

 of the best second early shrubs are the azalias, bush honeysuckle, 

 Japan quince, double flowering plum, flowering almond, lilacs 

 in variety and the earlier spiraeas — especially Van Houteii, 

 prunifolia and Thunbergii. A little later come the weigelas and 

 mock orange (Philadelphus) and the Japanese Rosa rugosa. In 

 late summer we have the late spirseas — as Bwnalda, Billardi, 

 Callosa, etc., — the "smoke bush" (Rhus cotinus) and, best of 

 all for massing, the hardy hydrangea. 



The brightness produced by bulbs and hardy perennials will 

 well repay a small outlay in this direction. In earliest spring 

 we have the christmas rose (Helleborus niger), the snowdrops 

 (Galanthiis), crocuses and pansies. A little later tulips and 

 hyacinths appear, and these are followed by columbines, lily- 

 of-the-valley, "bleeding heart" (Dicentra) and peony. In sum- 

 mer and early fall, the Japan anemone, the golden columbine 

 (Aquilegia chrysantha) the foxglove, hollyhock, plantain lily 

 (Funkia) and the numerous species and varieties of true lilies 

 are all very effective and are easy of culture. 



W^HEN TO PLANT. 



But for the difficulty of obtaining well matured stock in the 

 fall, I should advocate setting most trees and shrubs in Septem- 

 ber and October; because of this difficulty, however, spring 

 planting is usually advisable. All planting should be done just 

 as early in the spring as possible, that the trees or shrubs may 

 become well established before the leaves are put forth. 



Hardy herbaceous perennials such as phlox, digitalis, holly- 

 hock, columbine, etc., should, as a rule, be planted in Septem- 

 ber. The same is true of most bulbous plants, including the 



