BERLIN, MARYLAND, U. S. A. 45 



Department of Ornamentals 



It is almost needless to say that trees and shrubs greatly increase the value 

 of any property; yet you may ride through some of the best farming sections 

 and find that the owners have given little, if any attention, to the home sur- 

 roundings. Fortunately, the articles in the farm papers from time to time, 

 combined with the efforts of civic improvement societies, are having a noticeable 

 effect in changing this situation. 



The majority of men, whether in the country or in the city, do not need any 

 arguments to convince them that home plantings will improve the looks of 

 their place and add to their home comforts; the only reason that we can see 

 why they have not taken advantage of these things is that they believe it takes 

 too much money, too much skill and care to plan the grounds and plant them 

 in proper order. This is an entirely wrong idea; the expense is comparatively 

 slight, the labor of planting amounts to very little, and almost every home- 

 owner can make a reasonably good selection of trees and shrubs that ought to 

 be around his place. Only on the very largest places would the services of a 

 landscape architect be needed. 



Of course one ought to know something about the habits of the trees and 

 shrubs used, and select those that are adapted to the location, to the soil, and 

 to the climate; otherwise the results would not be altogether satisfactory. The 

 foundation walls can be screened with low-growing shrubs like the Barberry, 

 Anthony Waterer Spirea, or with the low-growing evergreens; at the curves 

 in the drives and walks, clumps of evergreens, groups of flowering shrubs, or 

 peonies may be used to advantage. 



About the lawn. Maples, Arborvitae, and Spruces can be used with good 

 effect, and a Privet or Barberry hedge is far superior to the most elaborate fence. 

 Cold winds and hard storms may have their force broken by thick windbreaks. 



The worst "barn of a place" can be changed into an attractive and desirable 

 residence so far as the outside surroundings can make it so, and the merely 

 expensive home can be changed to a really beautiful place. Each tree and shrub 

 has a definite use, and nine times out of ten the average home owner will 

 select and place these trees and shrubs so that he secures at little cost the 

 home appearance that he has so ardently longed for. 



Through the whole list of handsome and quick-growing trees and shrubs we 

 have desirable specimens to offer. They have been grown on good soil, under 

 the best conditions, and by men who understand growing deciduous and ever- 

 green trees. Particularly would we call your attention to the large stock of 

 Norway Maples listed on page 46, Koster's Blue Spruce, the Hemlock Spruce, 

 American Arborvitae, California Privet, and Silver Maples. 



It may be well to state here that the Barberry used for hedges and known as 

 Berberis Tbunbergii is not the Barberry condemned by various agricultural 

 departments as the host of the wheat rust. Berberis Tbunbergii does not harbor 

 this pest and can be planted anywhere with entire safety. 



Planting Hints. In preparing the ground for the trees, dig at least 2 feet 

 deep and 3 feet wide. Thoroughly mix the soil you take out, and then you can 

 put about a foot of it back, A recent development is to use a small amount of 

 dynamite in preparing the holes. Run a bar down 30 or 40 inches, and explode 

 a third, a half, or a whole stick at the bottom of the hole. The charge should 

 not throw out the dirt, but heave it. 



Start the trees 10 inches deeper than you want them to set. Sprinkle fine dirt 

 in among the roots, and, as you continue to do this, jolt the trees up and down 

 so as to settle the dirt in among the fine roots. As the hole fills up keep packing 

 the dirt. Use a heavy maul and come down on the dirt with all your weight. 

 You cannot get it too tight about the roots. The top inch or two of dirt, how- 

 ever, should be loose to conserve moisture. Trees finally should set just about 

 2 inches deeper than they did in the nursery. 



After planting, you may water the trees liberally. We strongly recommend 

 that you mulch immediately underneath newly planted trees. Hay, cut straw, 

 and buckwheat hulls are good material to use for this. A layer 6 inches thick is 

 not too deep. Such a mulch will keep the ground damp all the time, and will 

 prevent nearly all evaporation. Unless you use this mulch it will be necessary 

 to hoe around the tree every week or so to keep a mulch of dust on the surface 

 to conserve the moisture. The after-treatment is determined easily. 



