24 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
known species of different genera in this family were 
found. In the rose family, as might be expected, ex- 
tensive collections of rare species were observed, and 
many undetermined species were found. Spiriea 
Henryi is said to be very showy, and five undeter- 
mined species were found. Among some of the 
genera of this family, of which material was collected, 
were twenty species of Pvrus, ten of Rosa, ten of 
Rubus, three of Photinia, eight of Cotoneaster, one of 
Potentilla and one of Crataegus ; all undetermined. 
In the Saxifrage family, ten undetermined species of 
Hydrangea, six of Deutzia, three of Ribes, and some 
others, were collected. In the Cornel family seven 
undetermined species of dogwoods were found. In 
the Honeysuckle family, three undetermined species 
of Lonicera were collected, and ten undetermined 
species of Viburnums. Special attention is called to 
Viburnum rhytidophyllum as being a remarkably 
handsome new species. In the beautiful Erica family 
quite a number of interesting discoveries were made. 
Seven or eight new species of Rhododendrons were 
found, and five undetermined species. 
Among the walnuts three undetermined species 
were collected, and five undetermined species of oaks. 
This is only a fragmentary account of the collections 
by Mr. Wilson, as many families, genera and species 
are not referred to, but the above gives a partial idea 
of the work accomplished. 
Of course, among the undetermined species, in- 
vestigation may refer some of them to known and 
existing species, but as Mr. Wilson is evidently an 
observer gifted with extraordinary powers of correct 
and close observation, it is highly probable that nearly 
all of them will be recognized as new species. A well- 
known nursery firm in London, England, has secured 
the seeds of a great many of the new species of trees, 
shrubs and plants discovered in China by Mr. Wilson. 
The Arnold Arboretum, at Harvard University, we 
understand, is also raising many seedlings of this new 
material. 
It will, therefore, not be long before they will be 
distributed in Europe and America, and conclusions 
formed about the ornamental qualities and usefulness 
of these new comers under cultivation. 
These results will be awaited with intense interest 
by the horticultural world. 
Soil Conditions and Tree Growth Around LaKe Michigan. 
By Jens Jensen. 
Nature reveals many peculiarities that are to> the 
casual observer almost beyond comprehension. Thus 
we find trees growing beyond their geographical lim- 
its apparently vigorous and well satisfied with their 
new conditions. That their presence there is largely 
due to distribution by man is unquestioned ; nor 
should it seem unreasonable that trees should adapt 
themselves to less favorable climatic conditions ; but 
that only a few — if I may so state it — should survive 
the extreme low temperature, intensified by special 
conditions of periodically severe winters, is of more 
than common interest and worthy of further investiga- 
tion. 
Those familiar with the arborescent flora indigenous 
to the vicinity of Chicago will know that the yellow 
wood — Cladrastis tinctoria — is an immigrant and 
among tree planters one of those credited to the ques- 
tionable list. Yet within sixteen miles west of the 
city, on an elevation ioo feet above Lake Michigan, 
stands a thrifty specimen of the vellow wood, more 
than 20 feet in height and about one foot in diameter 
at the base. The tree is about 30 years old. Even if 
it has not made the growth possible under more favor- 
able climatic conditions, it still represents a beautiful 
specimen, and stands as a lesson of more than com- 
mon interest to students of dendrological science. This 
tree is somewhat sheltered by a grove of trees to the 
north and west. 
The soil is glacial drift and what is known to geolo- 
gists as the Valparaiso Moraine. A few large speci- 
men of the yellow wood are also found growing on 
the north shore of Lake Michigan — one at Lake For- 
est — also on the same deposit and at an elevation of 
75 to 100 feet above the lake. This 'drift is known 
as the eastern ridge of the Lake Border Moraine, and 
its surface consists of a yellow, pebbly clay to a depth 
of 10 to 20 feet or more and of the same kind as 
found in the Valparaiso Moraine. 
A yellow wood planted by the writer five years ago 
has not grown more than one foot during this period. 
It was given an extra allowance of good fertile soil and 
placed in a sunny, sheltered position. This soil is 
also glacial drift, but on the level plain about 20 feet 
above Lake Michigan. Artificial drainage has relieved 
this land of surplus water. 
Within the limits of the city of Chicago to the 
southeast the Tulip poplar is not a rare occurrence, 
and as far as I have been able to discover this is its 
geographical western limit at this latitude. Charac- 
teristics similar to those of the red cedar in its north- 
ern distribution are plainly visible on the Tulip tree 
in its western course. Specimens corresponding in 
heig'ht with associated trees examined were more or 
less decayed in the top or crippled in growth, showing 
their hard fight for existence. More than 120 miles 
north of this locality, on the same side (eastern) of 
Lake Michigan, beautiful specimens of the Tulip pop- 
lar are verv common. In both localities thev arc 
