March 24, 1897.] 



Garden and Forest. 



"5 



adapted to our soil and climate, and some of them harmonize 

 with native species which have not been generally planted, and 

 which, indeed, it has been difficult to obtain because nursery- 

 men have not kept them on sale, and it has been harder to 

 obtain many native shrubs and trees than to secure plants 

 from distant continents. Fortunately, American nurserymen 

 are now giving- greater attention to our needs in this direc- 

 tion, they are propagating our native trees in quantities, and 

 the supply promises to be abundant. In speaking of native 

 trees for ornamental planting, Mr. Watson omitted many of 

 our best trees because they have been largely planted and 

 their qualities are well known. Among these are the Sugar 

 Maple, the Buckeyes, the Tulip-tree, the Chestnut, Catalpa, 

 Elms, Ashes, Kentucky Coffee-tree, Box Elders, Hop Horn- 



its red llowers and fruits, together with the yellow " pussies " 

 of the Willow, give distinct warmth to the landscape in early 

 spring. Acer spicatum, the Mountain Maple, is a small tree 

 and often a tall shrub in the north, with a good habit of growth. 

 The coloring of its abundant fruit in early autumn is very in- 

 teresting. It succeeds well in partial shade, and is a good 

 plant for any use wherever a rapid-growing tree of moderate 

 size is needed. 



Amelanchier Canadensis, the Shad-bush, in all its forms, is 

 a thoroughly good plant. It gives a mass of flowers in early 

 May, and when well grown it makes a symmetrical small tree. 

 The fruit is edible, and its foliage is interesting at all seasons, 

 although it is sometimes attacked by the cluster-cup, a fun- 

 gous growth, against which no remedy is as yet known. This 



Fig. 14. — Pinus palustris, near Bordeaux, France. — See page 



beams, Poplars. Locusts, Prickly Ash, with all the conifers and 

 broad-leaved evergreens ; but I send in a condensed form 

 some of his notes on certain trees which ought to be more 

 widely used, omitting the shrubs for the present. 



The Scarlet Maple, or Swamp Maple, is a smaller tree than 

 the Sugar Maple ; it is of slow growth, sturdy habit and good 

 proportions, suitable for either swampy or well-drained ground, 

 although it is usually found in the former situation. Its special 

 merits are its scarlet flowers in very early spring, which are 

 followed by scarlet fruit, while in autumn its foliage is of the 

 brightest yellow and scarlet. Its bright scarlet twigs in winter 

 should also be noticed. It is an admirable tree for the borders 

 of ponds and along the banks of streams. A most pleasing 

 effect can be obtained by planting it with the White Willow, as 



plant varies widely in form and size, some varieties being low 

 shrubs, while others make sturdy trees forty feet or more in 

 height. 



The Canoe Birch is somewhat slow in showing its pure 

 white bark, but when this feature comes it remains, and the 

 tree is a long-lived one. The glittering trunk and the airy 



an especial beauty. The 



head of the mature trees give them 1 

 Yellow Birch is a sturdy,' broad-he 



.u, u „ ij.i^.. ,= a amrdy,' broad-headed tree with lustrous 

 bark. The Black Birch, with its fragrant branchlets, its beau- 

 tiful aments in the spring and its clear green foliage, is attrac- 

 tive all the year round. The Red Birch has a richly colored 

 bark, and all are trees of singular grace and beauty, and have 

 a certain distinction which adapts them for use in the most 

 pretentious parks. 



