250 
EXPERIMENTS AMONG FARMERS. 
rated by several species of borers, in consequence 
of which it seldom arrives at an age of fifty or 
sixty years. 
The Evergreen Box has been planted in this 
country from the earlier periods of settlement, and, 
in modem gardening, forms a most valuable shrub, 
or low tree. It is more particularly eligible as an 
undergrowth in ornamental plantations; where, 
partially shaded by other trees, its leaves assume a 
deeper green, and shine more conspicuously. Next 
to the holly, it has the most beautiful appearance in 
winter, more especially w'hen the ground is covered 
with snow. The variegated sorts are admissible 
as objects of curiosity; but as they are apt to lose 
their variegation when planted in the shade, and as 
in the full light their green is frequently of a sickly 
yellowish hue, they certainly cannot be recom¬ 
mended as ornamental. 
The European, or Field Elm, has been sparingly 
planted in the Northern and Middle States, and 
forms a desirable tree in parks and lawns ; but for 
the purposes of shading avenues and public high¬ 
ways, it is far inferior to our native elm, and nu¬ 
merous species of other indigenous trees. What 
is here said of the field-elm, may be applied to the 
European ash, and the English oak. 
The Weeping Birch, or Lady-Birch, as it is some¬ 
times called ( Betula alba pendula ), is occasionally 
met with in collections in this country, and forms 
an elegant pensile tree, resembling the weeping 
willow, and is put in motion by the slightest breeze. 
When agitated, it is well adapted to characterize a 
storm ; or in the landscape, it is calculated to occupy 
any station the weeping willow is expected to fill. 
The European Holly has been sparingly planted 
in several of the older States of the Union, but 
from its tender nature, it has rarely succeeded 
north of the Potomac. In viewing it as a hedge- 
plant, or as an ornamental tree, or shrub, it is not 
surpassed by any other evergreen, and therefore 
should be cultivated in every latitude in which it 
will thrive. In the more Northern and Eastern 
States, however, the American holly ( Ilex opaca ) 
may fill its place, if proper care be observed in 
transplanting it from the nursery, or the woods. 
A large mass of earth should remain attached to 
the roots when removed, and the tree should be 
set in the ground with the same side towards the 
south as it presented in that direction in its original 
6ite. 
The ZeTkoua, or Tselkwa, in a few instances, is 
to be met with in this country, and as a tall, fasti- 
giate-growing tree, in some situations it may occu¬ 
py the place of the Lombardy poplar, should a 
prejudice exist against the last-named tree. The 
zelkoua is distinguished by its shining-green, 
broadly-crenulated leaves, its smooth, greenish 
trunk, and somewhat resembles the beech, except 
that its branches are more numerous, and grow 
more erect. Its wood is said to be stronger and 
more durable than that of the oak. 
The Ginkgo-tree is frequently to be met with in 
American nurseries and collections, and as a tall, 
somewhat spiry-topped tree, forms an appropriate 
subject for planting in clumps on a lawn, or in 
belts of wood surrounding fields. 
The other foreign trees, which have more re¬ 
cently attracted general notice in this country, are 
the horse-chestnut, the abele. the European linden, ' 
the paper-mulberry, and the ailantus. All of these 
species appear to have been unnecessarily and prof 
digally applied, unless we except the two latter, fqf 
ornamenting the streets of densely-crowded cities 
and populous towns ; and it is hoped that an im¬ 
proved taste, as well as the good sense of our citi¬ 
zens, will cause them to be more sparingly planted, 
and a judicious selection of our native trees, culti¬ 
vated in their stead. Each of the first three has 
an appropriate place in the landscape; but as sub¬ 
jects for shading streets or highways, they are 
particularly objectionable on account of harboring 
noxious and disgusting insects, and in affording 
them food. 
The Ailantus, from the rapidity of its growth, 
regular form, and large, pendulous, palm-like leaves, 
so strong and bitter as to repel all insect attacks, 
may justly be entitled the “ Metropolitan Tree.” 
It is not free from objection, however (and where is 
there a tree that is ?), for, during the period of its 
flowering, the air is filled with the offensive odor of 
its pollen,, at a distance of a quarter of a mile; and 
when raised from cuttings, the roots are liable to 
throw up troublesome suckers ; in winter the bud¬ 
less branches present a clumsy appearance; and 
the tree, like most others of rapid growth, is com¬ 
paratively short-lived. When planted in cities for 
shading streets, it may be removed every twelve 
or fifteen years, to give place for others of younger 
growth; but if employed for ornamenting broad 
avenues, or extensive parks, it may remain undis¬ 
turbed for forty or fifty years; and when associ¬ 
ated with the sugar-maple, the liriodendron, the 
horse-chestnut, or other trees of opposite charac¬ 
ters, it produces an admirable effect. The ailantus, 
however, bids fair to be supplanted, in a degree, by 
its eastern rival {Taulownia imperialis), which has 
recently appeared among us from China or Japan. 
The Taper-Mulberry, from its easy propagation, 
rapidity of growth, and its singularly beautiful, 
light, open foliage, which is attacked by no insect, in 
most respects, is a very desirable object for shading 
avenues and streets; but like the willow, when 
planted in a dry soil, it becomes top-heavy, and is 
often blown down or shattered by the winds ; be¬ 
sides, it is one of the last trees to put on its leaves, 
and is too tender to withstand the climate of the 
northern parts of this State. [Transactions of the 
N. Y. State Agricultural Society.] 
EXPERIMENTS AMONG FARMERS. 
Of all the means within the reach of the hus¬ 
bandman for making new discoveries and eliciting 
new truths, none seem so generalty available or so 
certain of success, as well-conducted experiments. 
These will furnish the key to unlock the chest of 
gold, the source from which have sprung and will 
spring the most important improvements in science 
and art, and it is to them we must look for those 
mighty advantages and blessings which we antici¬ 
pate from future discoveries. 
Experiments, I know, have often been made the 
subject of ridicule; but the farmer should never be 
deterred from trying them, by the jeers and ill-bo¬ 
ding predictions of those who interest themselves 
more about the affairs of others than their own. 
Had Fulton been influenced by the ill-augured omens 
