PARK AND CEMETERY 
135 
.Every tree in the much frequented places is protected 
with a cast or wrought-iron tree guard and staked 
when young and is further provided with a cast iron 
grating, six to eight feet wide, which effectually pre- 
vents the ground from getting hard about the roots, 
permits of any attention they may require when young 
and enables abundance of water being quickly absorbed 
in the dry season. 
Trees planted on avenues, streets and boulevards 
should be planted at a uniform distance according to 
the varieties selected for planting. Elms should be set 
from 50 to 75 feet and maples from 30 to 35 feet, etc. 
Planting closely furnishes the streets with some shade 
almost directly if the trees are properly trained for such 
planting, but as soon as their growth has become large 
enough to deprive their neighbor of light they should 
be cut in vigorously. No tree should be planted closer 
from the street curb than six feet. If this distance can- 
not be obtained, it is preferable to plant between the 
houses on the sidewalk,' and if neither is possible the 
best is to give up planting. Engineers should, by all 
means, bear in mind that cities must have shade trees 
and when laving out avenues and other thoroughfares 
should make allowances for broad sidewalks. This 
will admit of giving the trees a large body of good soil, 
which is the most essential move towards successful 
planting. For such tree a hole of about eight to ten 
feet in diameter and three to four feet in depth should 
be excavated. The bottom of this hole should be re- 
filled with cobbles ; if the ground is damp, a well fer- 
tilized and composted soil, suitable for particular kinds 
of trees, raising it a little higher than the level so as to 
allow for settlement, and in the ground thus prepared 
the trees should be planted by experienced hands. Trees 
should be carefully chosen, with perfect roots, and be 
moderately pruned, the stems should be from eight to 
ten feet high. They should next be staked and tied 
with either a rope or wire over a mat made of straw or 
salt hay, which prevents all injury to the stem. A tree 
guard, neither heavy nor very expensive, should be 
placed around the tree to prevent accidents, and if the 
weather be at all dry the trees should be copiously wa- 
tered. I do not believe in the planting of trees which 
grow to a gigantic height, on streets, except on wide 
avenues where ample room is at hand. On the con- 
trary, for ordinary streets I recommend trees which 
with some judicious pruning should not exceed 25 to 
30 feet in height. 
The American Elm is not adapted for street plant- 
ing, but is a beautiful ornament on public squares and 
wide avenues. 
Trees, like all other plants under cultivation, re- 
quire more or less attention all the year around, to 
keep them in perfect condition. The winter is the time 
for pruning. The proper pruning of shade trees is of 
such an important nature that only experienced hands 
should be employed, by which I mean practical nursery- 
men. Gustave X. Amrhyn. 
Weigelas. 
It is always a surprise to me that people do not 
make more use of the Weigela in ornamental planting. 
It is unquestionably one of the most valuable shrubs 
that we have for showiness, abundance, and duration 
of bloom, as well as hardiness and ease of culture. 
But the best point in its favor is the fact that it blooms 
at a time when it fills a very important place in the 
floral procession, just after fruit-bloom has faded and 
before the coming of the Rose. 
Most of the bushes and little trees that flower in 
the spring have seen their best days when the Weigela 
begins to blossom, and it is the most conspicuous of all 
shrubs late in May. In habit of growth the Weigela is 
remarkably graceful when' young, but needs careful at- 
tention to pruning to keep it from growing crooked 
and straggling in old age. In a well-grown Weigela 
the wands have a slightly drooping tendency. When 
in flower the bush resembles a huge bouquet, so thick- 
ly are all the branches garlanded with bloom. 
The Weigela was introduced from Japan in 1843, 
and seems perfectly at home in our gardens, from 
Maine to California. It grows rapidly, and in pruning 
great care should be taken to avoid stiff outlines, and 
to allow the bushes to develop naturally. Most of the 
sorts offered by plant dealers have been raised of late 
years from the old standard kinds, such as Weigela 
rosea, W. grandiflora, W. hortensis, and floribunda. 
These varieties have been raised mostly on the conti- 
nent of Europe by French and Dutch growers. The 
varieties of Weigela grandiflora may be known by their 
larger flowers. Van Houttei is one of the best of 
these. It has large and showy flowers which are car- 
mine in the bud and rose and white when expanded. 
Abel Carriere is a fine sort, with deep red small blos- 
soms. 
One or two sorts, such as Weigela hortensis nivea, 
bloom sparsely throughout the summer. 
The Weigela should not be crowded up in shady 
and thickly planted shrubberies, but be given a sunny 
situation, either in groups or on the margin of shrub- 
beries. They well repay cultivation, and should be 
planted in good soil. A place that has fine groups of 
these shrubs will be exceedingly attractive in May, and 
they may be combined effectively with other choice 
shrubs that bloom at the same time. I have seen a very 
brilliant display made by planting Weigelas and Xan- 
thoceras sorbifolia in the same bed. Any one who will 
try this combination will, I am sure, be pleased with 
the resulting effect. 
Danske Dandridge. 
