1884.] 
AMERICA]^ AGRIOULTIJRIST. 
115 
The Evergreen Barberries. 
Nuttall gave the name 3Iahoniaio the Barberries 
with evergreen and divided leaves, in honor of 
Bernard McMahon, a gardener in Philadelphia, 
early in this century. Later botanists, not consid¬ 
ering the difference in the leaves of suflicient im¬ 
portance to separate them from the Barberry, now 
place them in Berberis, though as a general thing, 
they are called Mahonia in the nurseries. The 
common species of our northwest coast, Berberis 
AquifoUum, is the one most generally seen in cultiva¬ 
tion, and is an excellent ornamental shrub. The more 
recently introduced Japanese species, B. Japonica, is 
far superior in size and beauty to ours. The shape 
THE JAPANESE BARBERRY. 
of the handsomely divided leaves is shown in the 
engraving. It grows about three feet high. This 
is not quite so hardy as the native species, and 
should be given a somewhat sheltered situation. 
This was at one time called. Mahonia Bealii, a name 
that is retained in some of the nursery catalogues. 
Suggestions on Ornamental Planting. 
BY E. A. LONG. 
In planning for ornamental trees, shrubs and 
plants, it is well to study the utmost capability of 
single kinds for serving a variety of purposes at 
the same time. Thus, a particular variety may 
beautify the grounds generally while serving for 
shade or for shelter from sweeping winds. It may, i 
at the same time, be an individual of a tasteful 
group, orbeusedasa background for oth er smal I er 
growing kinds, or even to screen some disagreea¬ 
ble object. Further still, in placing it, we may 
have a regard for striking contrasts with other 
surrounding trees and shrubs of different appear¬ 
ances, or else for toning up or balancing the gen¬ 
eral effect of the arboreal and other embellishment 
of a place. In addition to all the above the tree 
will undoubtedly have some distinctive qualities 
of its own, in flowers, fruit or foliage, rendering it 
specially attractive at certaiu seasons, and it should 
be used in a way to best draw them out. These 
remarks apply equally well to all trees, shrubs and 
plants used in the adornment of the grounds. 
Their selection and arrangement, to secure all the 
results possible, is one of the nicest matters per¬ 
taining to ornamental gardening. Those who take 
the most pains to study the selection and judicious 
arrangement of material, will be far more likely to 
I secure gratifying results than the haphazard plant- 
' er. It is time to begin studying up what is to be 
I done the present spring, to consult catalogues and 
books on ornamental gardening, the back volumes 
of the American Agriculturist, etc. Aside from its 
practical application, the study of trees and plants 
is a delightful occupation for all the members of 
the family, as is the planning of the grounds. The 
use of instruments in making plans on paper or 
linen will develop skill in drawing. Even children 
encouraged to take part in such occupation will 
often advance some excellent ideas. If the entire 
family take part in the planning and selection they 
will be ready to help along in the actual work. Quite 
young children may easily be led to take a keen 
interest, and be kept wide awake on these points. 
The Cedar of Lebanon, 
In trees planted for ornamenting small or large 
places, there usually seems to be but little variety, 
and in this respect, one place bears a general re¬ 
semblance to another. While there is a very 
little variety among deciduous trees, with ever¬ 
greens there is even more sameness. A foreigner 
might suppose that our climate allowed of the use. 
of but few evergreens, as he sees the half-dozen 
or so kinds repeated everywhere. The most fre¬ 
quently planted evergreen is the Norway Spruce, a 
most useful and picturesque tree, but one finds its 
constant repetition somewhat monotonous. Prob¬ 
ably of every hundred evergreen trees planted in 
the Northern States, about ninety are of this kind. 
Norway Spruce, Arbor Vitae, Red Cedar, Balsam 
Fir and the White, Austrian and Scotch Pines, 
make up the list of evergreen trees that appear to 
be generally known to our planters. Even the 
Hemlock and our White Spruce, native trees, not 
excelled in beauty by any others from anywhere, 
are very rarely seen. When a gentleman of our ac¬ 
quaintance was ridiculed for marrying a very large 
lady, he replied : “ You can not have too much of 
a good thing.” Norway Spruce is a good thing, 
but we find it easy to have too much of it, and it is 
unpleasant to see this and Arbor Vitae occupying 
ground that might be filled by a great variety of 
beautiful and interesting species. Among the 
trees very rarely seen is the Cedar of Lebanon, 
which is desirable for its peculiar beauty, and es¬ 
pecially interesting on account of the frequent ref¬ 
erence to it in the Scriptures. The young tree has 
a conical form, but when old it is remarkable for 
the great length of its branches, which spread in 
distinct layers, and give the head a most striking 
appearance. The tree is quite hardy in the climate 
of New York City, and in well-drained soil would 
no doubt endure a much colder locality. When 
full-grown, it is from fifty to eighty feet high, with 
a spread of branches equal to its hight; the trunk 
is often thirty feet in circumference. The wood of 
the Cedar of Lebanon is perishable, and of little 
value. The cones are three to five inches long, and 
are very obtuse ; they are made up of broad, fiat 
scales, between which are the flat,thin-winged seeds.’ 
Producing’ New Carnations. 
Those who cultivate the Carnation, generally 
procure the plants from florists. They are thus 
sure of getting fine varieties, but miss the novelty 
and Interest of growing them from seeds. No 
flower more deseiwes the at¬ 
tention of amateurs, as it 
amply repays the care given 
it. To have the finest seed¬ 
lings, one should raise his 
own seeds. In the single 
flower, as shown in the en¬ 
graving, the styles (parts of 
the pistil), are quite conspicu¬ 
ous : in a double flower these 
are concealed by the numer¬ 
ous petals, but may be found 
by a little search. The very 
double flowers bear little or 
no pollen, and are to be fer¬ 
tilized by pollen from a semi¬ 
double or single one. Fan¬ 
ciers fertilize the first two or 
three flowers upon a plant, 
and remove all the others, as 
well as the buds. When the 
petals begin to wither, they 
are carefully pulled out of 
the flowers that have been 
fertilized, otherwise their de¬ 
cay may injure the growing 
seed-pod. When the seed is 
ripe, the pods should be 
gathered and the seeds kept 
in them until next spring, 
when they are to be sown. 
Taking the earliest flowers as 
seed bearers, and allowing 
only a few pods to mature, 
will produce much better 
seed, and the plants raised 
from them will be finer than 
those raised in the usual way. By continuing this 
for a few generations, an improved strain may be 
established. A desirable flower thus obtained 
may be propagated by cuttings or by layering. 
