72 



[May, 



Jmi anil ^amlsc-ape. 



HINTS ON LAWN PLANTING-, 



The most attractive feature of a rural or 

 suburban home is a nice, well-kept lawn. No 

 matter how unpretending the dwelling, the 

 lawn, if judiciously planted and well kept, is, 

 especially in spring' and summer, not the 

 least charming and attractive feature of the 

 whole. Ideas and tastes respecting this fea- 

 ture of landscape gardening, are as diverse 

 and varied as they are regarding the clothing 

 and ornamentation of our bodies, and often 

 with as little regard for "the eternal fitness 

 of things." It is a subject on which there is, 

 and ever will be, a wide range of opinion and 

 practice ; but to my view, no lawn worthy of 

 the name will be without its smooth, close- 

 cut, lovely given carpet of grass. This should 

 be as large as the size of the grounds will 

 admit, and as little unbroken by promiscu- 

 ous tree-planting as consistent. 



The tree-planting should be confined to the 

 corners and sides of the lawn, leaving an un- 

 obstructed view from the dwelling to the 

 street. Tall-growing Evergreens are only 

 admissable on the extreme outskirts of small 

 lawns, to act as wind-breaks, to form back- 

 grounds for the smaller deciduous shrubbery, 

 and serve as framework for the pictures they 

 are designed to surround. Beds of flowering 

 shrubs, Ehododendrons, Azaleas, Roses, 

 etc., should also border the lawns, leaving 

 the field of grass intact as far as possible," So 

 that the lawn-mower can perform its office 

 with the least possible hindrance. If for any 

 reason the domain of the lawn proper must be 

 invaded by trees, these should be only of the 

 rarer and choicer kinds of moderate growth, 

 such as Magnolias, purple and weeping 

 Beeches, Kolreuteria paniculata, Salisburia 

 adiantifolia, etc. 



The practice very much in vogue a few 

 years ago, of planting lawns thickly with 

 promiscuous trees and shrubs in an indis- 

 criminate manner, is not as popular as it 

 was. People seem to realize that a close-cut 

 grass lawn, surrounded with a limited quantity 

 of well selected trees and shrubs, is quite 

 as attractive, and far less troublesome and 

 expensive to keep in order. 



It seems to be one of our national traits to 

 go to extremes, and the aesthetic landscaper, 

 professional or amateur, is no exception; his 

 love for trees and shrubs is so extensive, 

 that in grounds of limited extent he is very 

 apt to crowd and overdo the matter — an error 

 he does not consider or discover till the 

 growing and spreading trees crowd each 

 other and demand a change. 



The larger the grounds the better the op- 

 portunity for the planter to exercise his skill 

 and gratify his desire to possess a large num- 

 ber of his favorite and desirable trees ; but in 

 grounds of limited dimensions, there is the 

 greater necessity for wise and discriminating 

 judgment to secure the best results, and the 

 desires and inclinations conflict so frequently 

 with the space at one's disposal as often to 

 render the task a difficult one. Observation, 

 and a little judicious reflection as to the 

 future growth and development of the trees 

 and plants used for lawn decoration, will 

 enable any planter to avoid many of the com- 

 mon errors so frequently witnessed. 



E. Williams. 



THE HAWTHORN. 



( Cratcegus.) 



This distinct and interesting genus is de- 

 serving of far more attention than it has 

 generally received. If nature be taken as 

 a guide in the effects produced by the em- 

 ployment of different varieties of trees in 

 adorning and individualizing sylvan scen- 

 ery, the Hawthorn will stand among the 

 best types of arboreal picturesqueness and 

 a certain boldness of beauty. Among or- 

 namental trees it should be accorded a high 

 rank; as an English enthusiast observes, 

 " it brings the fragrant breath of summer 

 — the purity, freshness, and perfume of a 

 real June day." No less on account of its 

 beauty of bloom, however, than for its 

 other many valuable characteristics, should 

 it receive acknowledgment as an important 

 factor in landscape adornment. All of its 

 many varieties are perfectly hardy, thriving 

 in almost any dry soil. In general they 

 produce fine-shaped, low trees, occupying 

 comparatively little space, and whose wealth 

 of green foliage and compact heads form 

 most pleasing objects, the tree being scarce- 

 ly less attractive diiring winter in its rugged 

 picturesqueness of naked lines. The flowers 

 are conspicuous, of varied colors, from 

 white to crimson, the single varieties espe- 

 cially possessing a fine aromatic perfume. 



During autumn and early winter, when 

 the beauty of most deciduous trees remains 

 only as a memory, most of the species stand 

 out in brilliant array, covered with bright 

 red and yellow fruits. Many garden birds 

 remain as long as the berries are plentiful, 

 and on the fruit of trees skirting woodland, 

 the grouse and other birds are in the habit 

 of feeding in the fall. In addition to its 

 other qualities, the Thorn is of much value 

 for its wood, which is almost equal to that 

 of the much prized Box, and is even finer in 

 color. No more advantages can be enu- 

 merated for any other genus of ornamental 

 trees. The blooms of the double flowering 

 varieties, together with the single scarlet 

 and pink, are very desirable for decorative 

 purposes. They are also fine objects for 

 conservatories, forcing well and flowering 

 finely. For this purpose the Hawthorn has 

 also been unjustly neglected ; and by utilizing 

 it florists might add largely to their store 

 and variety of valuable flowers. 



Among native varieties the scarlet fruited 

 is particularly worthy the attention of the 

 landscape gardener. On our own grounds 

 we have a large tree of this charming vari- 

 ety upon which, perhaps, a hundred sum- 

 mer suns have shone, which nature kindly 

 planted in a corner of a line fence. No 

 tree in our arboretum is more admired when 

 in bloom or in fruit. The flower is large, 

 of a pure white, the berries flashing a deep 

 scarlet, and being quite pleasant to the 

 taste. 



The double varieties I have referred to — 

 Paul's Double Scarlet, the Double White, 

 and the Double Pink — are all European 

 sorts of the Cratcegus oxyaccmtha.type, and 

 are specially recommended for small town 

 gardens, as well as for large lawns and 

 parks. These are all profuse bloomers, 

 covering the trees with miniature Roses. 



The English, appreciating the beauties of 

 the Hawthorn, employ it for hedges more 

 than any other material ; and any one who 

 has traveled through English lanes in the 

 flowering season will remember with after- 



delight the pleasing impressions to .sight and 

 smell. Most of the American species are of 

 more robust growth than the European, and 

 therefore better adapted in our climate for 

 hedge purposes. 



The Coekspur Thorn, which is widely dis- 

 tributed over the Northern and Middle States, 

 is one of the most vigorous growers, and, if 

 planted in good soil and well taken care of 

 for the first few years, will make an impene- 

 trable barrier for animals. 



It does not take up as much room as the 

 Osage Orange and Honey Locust, and can 

 be kept under control with the shears. The 

 Thorn is also more lasting than either of 

 these commonly employed hedge plants, be- 

 sides being easier cared for, and more orna- 

 mental on account of its beauty of flower 

 and berry. 



Some of the most distinct varieties in the 

 very large list that have come under my 

 observation are herewith presented, without 

 adding any particular description which may 

 be found in the Ornamental Catalogues. It 

 may be stated that the most ornamental are 

 the double varieties previously referred to, 

 and which I place at the head of the list, as 

 deserving the very highest commendation : 



Double Varieties. — Paul's Double Scarlet, 

 Double Red, or Superb, Double White, 

 Double Scarlet. 



Single Varieties. — Gumpper's Variegated 

 Scarlet-flowering, Pink-flowering, Common 

 White, Variegated-leaved, Scarlet-fruited, 

 Douglass, Azarole, Glossy-leaved, Hybrid 

 Smooth-leaved, Black-fruited, Tomentosa, 

 Oriental, Parsley-leaved, Coekspur, Tansey- 

 leaved, Pyramidal, Maple-leaved, Medlar- 

 leaved, Apple-leaved. 



While the double-flowering varieties may, 

 perhaps, be chosen in preference for single 

 specimens where space is limited, the various 

 single varieties are almost equally deserving' 

 a place in larger collections where the space 

 will admit. As to choice among the many 

 excellent sorts, this may best be left to in- 

 dividual taste.— George Ellwanger, before the 

 Western New-Yorlc Horticultural Society. 



WALKS IN LAWNS, 



In most ornamental grounds there are too 

 many walks and roads. To keep walks neat 

 and clean through the year costs often more 

 than their original construction and the care 

 of the entire grounds. Roads without any 

 actual or apparent object or use are an 

 anomaly, and mar the harmonious effect of a 

 landscape. 



Main roads which are much traveled, and 

 which connect the principal buildings of a 

 place with each other, should not unneces 

 sarily deviate much from a straight line, as 

 utility is their first object. Walks leading 

 to the minor objects of the grounds are more 

 pleasing to the eye when winding in graceful 

 curves, but even here an object or obstacle 

 must be or should be made apparent for 

 every turn. This may be a tree, a rockery, 

 an elevation in the ground, or a group of 

 shrubs, all of which will produce a better 

 effect for thus being suddenly brought before 

 our view by the turn in the path. 



In laying out walks through pleasure- 

 grounds, another leading consideration 

 should be to place them so that in passing 

 over them all the most interesting objects 

 of the place and the most extensive vistas 

 are successively brought into view. 



