DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
187 
when fully ripened, some mode of preparing it by baking or 
otherwise, may render it palatable. 
As an ornamental tree, the Osage orange is rather too 
loose in the disposition of its wide-spreading branches, to be 
called beautiful in its form. But the bright glossy hue of its 
foliage, and especially the unique appearance of a good 
sized tree when covered with the large orange-like fruit, ren- 
der it one of the most interesting of our native trees ; while 
it has the same charm of rarity as an exotic, since it was in- 
troduced from the far west, and is yet but little planted in 
the United States. On a small lawn, where but few trees 
are needed, and where it is desirable that the species em- 
ployed, should all be as distinct as possible, to give the whole 
as much variety as can be obtained in a limited space, such 
trees should be selected as will not only be ornamental, but 
combine some other charm, association, or interest. Among 
such trees, we would by all means give the Osage orange a 
foremost place. It has the additional recommendation of 
being a fine shade tree, and of producing an excellent and 
durable wood. 
The stout growth and strong thorns of this tree, have been 
thought indicative of its usefulness for the making of hedges ; 
a method of fencing, which sooner or later must be adopted in 
many parts of this country : and from the experiments which 
we have seen made with plants of the Osage orange, we 
think it likely to answer a very valuable purpose ; especially 
in the middle and southern states. The Messrs. Landreths 
of Philadelphia, have lately ofiered many thousands of them 
to the public, at a low rate, and we hope to see the matter 
fairly tested in various parts of the Union. 
A rich deep loam is the soil best adapted to the growth of 
this tree ; and as it is rather tender when young, (though 
