• 2:2 
preity white flowering shrubs or small 
trees. 
33 — Jasmium nudiflorum is one of the 
earliest yellow flowering trailing shrubs 
to flower — so early, indeed, that a por- 
tion of its bloom is almost sure to suf- 
fer from inclement weather, so if it 
can have a southern wall it will be apt 
to show itself to better advantage than 
when trailing on the ground. 
Forsytliias suspensa, intermedia and 
viridissima are still more prominent as 
early spring flowering shrubs. It seems 
■strange in this age that it should be 
necessary to caution anyone against 
■clipping these or any other shrubs like 
convict’s heads, but examples are only 
too common. Shrubs generally should 
merely have their exhausted wood re- 
moved or shortened after flowering, in 
time for the current season’s growth 
to perfect itself for another year’s 
'bloom. Forsythias treated in this way 
and encouraged to produce long wand- 
like, well-ripened growths have an 
airiness and golden gracefulness in 
bloom which contrasts sharply with the 
■stunted scrubs so often seen. If they 
can be planted loosely on a south slope 
•covered with Vinca minor, whose rich 
purple flowers appear simultaneously, 
■the combination will be a perfect one. 
Fraximis ornus is the flowering ash, 
but is much later in flower. 
Syringa, the lilacs, are now in such 
great variety that extensive and charm- 
ing groups may be formed which, north 
to the coldest parts of Canada, will 
form one of the pleasing features of 
the spring gardens. They may be had 
in single and double forms of reddish 
and bluish lilac and in white. Every 
■effort should be made to get healthy, 
good varieties on their own roots. 
Fdntanesia phillirseoides and Fortunei 
may be planted in this group, and such 
herbs as Amsonia Tabernsemontana, 
Spigelia Marylandica, and possibly Gen- 
tiana acaulis iri favorable half-shady, 
moist, sheltered places. Varieties of 
the Ash may be planted at will to di- 
versify this group. 
34 — This group cannot be represenetd 
by any trees or shrubs at the north 
other than a few Lyciums and Solan- 
urn; these may be planted as supports 
for a group of beds filled with such 
spring flowers as Phlox subulata vars. 
P. divaricata, P. stellaria, P. amcena, 
and P. maculata southward. Polemo- 
nium caeruleum and its variegated form 
will also form beautiful beds ; reptans 
and Richardsoni may also be used. 
Hydrophyllums may possibly find a 
place. 
Omphalodes verna, Lindeloha specta- 
bilis, Pulmonaria azurea, Urtensia pul- 
PARK AND CEMETER 
monarioides Myosotis sps. Onosma- 
echioides southward, and Anchusa 
maculata are plants of considerable 
beauty which may be combined in a 
very charming way. 
33 — Here again there is but little of 
KALEVTA LATIFOLIA 
SASSAFRAS OFFICINALIS 
arboreal growth for the northern spring 
garden. Sometimes the Paulownia and 
even the Catalpas will flower before the 
end of May from central New Jersey 
southward, but often the group is rep- 
resented only by an early Veronica or 
two. There are dwarf and variegated 
Catalpas as shrubs. 
36 — The sage group is much better 
represented by early flowers. There 
are several Thymes and Hyssops, Cala- 
mintlia alpina. Salvia pratensis in two 
or three very pretty varigeated forms ; 
Nepeta glechoma vars. ; Dracoccphelum 
nutaus ; Scutellaria sps. ; Lamium al- 
bum, maculatum, ■ and Galeobdolon ; 
Ajuga reptans, and Genevensis; and a 
few species of Teucrium. 
41 — There is now a gap of several 
numbers without any especial represen- 
tation until we reach the sweet-smelling 
Daphnes. 
The Sassafras and Lindera, together 
with Eleagnus Hippophae and the 
Shepherdias will supply a background 
for masses of Daphne mezereon in va- 
riety, D. cneorum, D. alpiria, D. Genkwa 
and D. Blagayana, wherever they do 
well. 
45 — A few species of Birch, Alder, 
and Hazel-nut will supply a represen- 
tation of the Catkin tribe. 
46 — So, too, a few select Willows 
and Poplars may be planted for the 
sake of their “pussy” flowers. 
And the whole of these charming 
masses should, in my opinion, be hid- 
den in pine woods, or surrounded 
by a plantation of conifers for the 
pinetum towards the end of spring 
clothes itself with the most entrancing 
shades of green and blue and gold. 
James MacPherson. 
TAX EXEMPTION FOR FOR- 
EST RESERVATIONS 
As an inducement for farmers of 
Iowa to set out and cultivate fruit and 
forest trees, the last general assembly 
passed a law providing for tax exemp- 
tions 'on certain tracts on which trees 
have been planted. In order to be 
amenable to this act the forest reserva- 
tions must contain not fewer than 200 
trees to the acre and fruit tree reserva- 
tion not fewer than 70 to the acre. 
Groves may also be considered when 
used as border shade or as protection 
to orchards. The assessors of Iowa, 
for the first time, will this spring se- 
cure all forest and fruit tree reserva- 
tions and return them to the county 
auditor, who will report to the secre- 
tary of the State Horticultural Society. 
Owners of such reservations will be 
obliged to pay tax on only one dollar 
assessed value an acre. 
The bill provides that the owner may 
select a permanent forest reservation 
not less than two acres in continuous 
area, or fruit tree reservations not less 
than one or more than five acres, or 
both. The ash, black cherry, black 
walnut, butternut, catalpa, coffee trees, 
elm, hackberry, the hickories, honey lo- 
cust, mulberry, the oaks, sugar maple, 
European larch, and other coniferous 
trees, and all of the forest trees intro- 
duced into the state for experimental 
purposes shall be considered forest 
trees within the meaning of this act. 
