L » • 
VOT,.  X.VXIV.  No.  10 
WHOl.E  No.  1388. 
IMtICK  SI3C  OENT«. 
Sa-O.-l  I'ER  YKAK. 
fEntered  according  to  Act  of  Oonsrra^s.  la  tho  ywr  lara.  by  the  Karal  Pablighlns  Compnny.  in  the  offlce  of  the  Librarian  of  ConKrest*  ai  Waahinjfton. | 
in  the  sketch  of  a  greatly-rcduccd  twig  in  the 
right  hand  upper  corner  of  our  illustration. 
Tho  variegated  Snphora  is  also  a  pretty  vari¬ 
ety,  but,  being  rather  delicate,  is  not  considered 
worthy  of  ranch  attention.  The  Weeping  and 
other  varieties  are  grafted  upon  stocks  raised 
from  seeds  or  cuttings  of  tliu  original  species. 
In  addition  to  tho  Japan  Sophora,  we  have  at 
least  three  species  native  of  North  America,  but 
unfortunately  they  are  all  natives  of  the  warmer 
parts.  The  Sophora  (ovtertfosa  is  a  low-growing 
shrub,  4  to  C  feet  high,  with  yellow  llowers.  It 
is  a  native  of  South  Florida  and  west  to  Toxa^. 
Tiio  Showy  Sopliora  QS.  spefriusa)  and  the  Silky 
Sophora  (S.  .vericea)  are  also  found  in  Texas, 
from  whence  wo  have  received  seed  from  our 
correspondents.  But  the  Japan  specie-s  grow  to 
a  larger  size  Ilian  our  Tia'ives,  and  aro  altogether 
preferable  for  ornamental  purposes,  oven  for  tho 
South,  Btiil  it  would  bo  well  to  try  the  native 
species,  as  some  of  them  might  prove  of  yalue 
in  the  more  genial  and  protected  localities. 
Slrboiiniltural 
THE  WEEPING  SOPHORA 
HORTICULTURAL  EDUCATION. 
Among  the  many  8ui>erb  weeping  trees  suitable 
for  places  of  limited  extent,  the  Sophora  has  few 
superiors.  It  is  a  native  of  Japan.  It  was  in- 
troilueed  into  European  gardens  more  than  a 
century  ago  and  has  long  been  known  in  this 
country,  still  comparatively  few  good  specimens 
are  as  yet  to  bo  found  in  our  public  parka  or 
private  pleasure  groinula.  In  fact,  we  might  say 
that  a  really  well  grown  specimen  is  an  exception 
to  the  general  rule. 
A  few  vears  since  we  had  tho  accompanying 
illustration  engraved  from  a  sketch  made  by  our 
own  artist  of  a  noble  specimen  of  this  tree  grow¬ 
ing  in  tho  grounds  of  8.  B.  Pajisons  cfe  Co., 
Flushing,  N.  Y.,  and  we  now  opportunely  repro¬ 
duce  it  in  connection  witli  an  article  by  Mr. 
Mr.  Paiihoxs  on  *•  Horticultural 
Education,"  which  a)ipearH  in  the 
present  Is-sue  of  the  RmiAL.  and 
will  be  continued  in  the  next. 
The  original  or  parent  species  of 
the  Sophora  Jaixmica  is  an  up¬ 
right  -  growing  tree,  reaching  ^ 
bight  of  40  to  50  feet,  and  pro¬ 
ducing  large  bnnohos  of  rather 
small,  yoUowiab,  pea-shaped 
flowers  late  in  summer.  The  wood 
is  very  hard  and  compact,  and  it 
is  thought  might  be  used  as  a 
substitute  for  boxwood  in  wood 
engraving.  Tho  bark  exhales  a 
peculiar,  strong  odor,  and  it  is 
stated  in  Nouveau  du  Hamel  that 
it  has  a  peculiar  effect  upon  those  i 
wIjo  work  in  the  wood  while  it  is 
green.  Locdon  states  that  this  ^ 
was  first  discovered  by  a  turner, 
who,  while  at  work  on  a  piece  of 
tho  wood  recently  taken  from  the 
tree,  was  seized  with  colic,  which 
obliged  him  to  leave  off.  The 
following  morning  he  resumed  his 
work,  and  the  same  thing  having 
occurred  to  him  again,  he  sent  for 
a  neighboring  turner,  and  after- 
wards  for  two  others,  who  were  all 
alike  seized  with  colic. 
In  an  old  French  work  on  forest 
tree  cnlture  the  Sophora  is  men- 
itoned  us  rivaling  tlie  Kubinia 
Pseud-Acacia  (our  common  locnst 
tree)  in  robustness  of  habit  and 
rapidity  of  growth,  and  even  sur- 
passing  it  in  tho  durability  of  its 
timber.  In  view  of  the  fact  that 
of  late  years  our  common  locust 
tree  is  being  destroyed  by  tho 
well-known  Locust  borer  {^Cyllene. 
robiina),  it  might  be  well  for  ar- 
boriculturUts  to  test  tho  Sophora 
Japoyiica  as  a  promising  substi- 
tuto,  esiiecially  in  the  Middle  and 
Southern  States.  The  seedlings 
and  tho  seeds  could  be  obtained  ^ 
quite  cheaply  from  muserymen _ ^ 
abroad,  if  not  in  this  coimtry.  rrr:- 
There  are  several  varieties  of 
this  species  of  Sophora,  but  all 
are  chiefly  valued  for  ornamental 
purposes.  The  best  and  moat 
higldy  prized  is  the  Weeping  So- 
pUora,  or  S,  pendula. 
Tfie  specimen  from  which  our 
Illustration  was  copied  is  about  16  — ^ 
feet  high  and  the  branches  extend  ^ 
nearly  or  quite  20  feet,  forming 
underneath  a  commondious  and 
elegant  bower.  The  leaves  are 
dark  green  and  pinnate,  as  shown 
BV  B.  B.  PAnSONS, 
I  APPROACH  my  subject  with  the  embarra8,i- 
ment,  one  must  always  feel  in  endeavoring  with¬ 
in  tho  compass  of  a  few  columns  to  glance  even 
at  tho  wide  field  to  go  over,  which  required  years 
of  Loudon's  laborious  life. 
1  shall  attempt  only  to  throw  out  a  few  bints 
based  upon  tho  oxpoi  ieuco  of  some  thirty  years 
or  more  of  country  life,  every  day  of  which  has 
brought  with  it  tho  necessity  of  some  thought 
upon  landscape  gardening  and  trees  and  flowers. 
In  a  now  country  like  ours  tho  efforts  of  men, 
whose  muscle  is  (heir  only  wealth,  are  first 
devoted  to  the  production  of  grain  and  other 
articles  which  are  essential  to  support  life. 
men  of  the  highest  culture  and  with  the  largest 
opporfunUles  which  wealth  gives.  ik»yond  this 
gratification  of  Ihc  palate,  however,  men  of 
ordinary  taste  and  culture  rarely  go,  and  it  is  re 
served  for  a  higher  oivilizHtion  to  imitate  na¬ 
ture  by  developing  art,  to  cultivate  tho  aesthetic 
elomoiits  of  country  life  and  to  surround  coimtry 
homos  with  the  highest  constituonts  of  natiual 
boauly.  I  think  it  is  safe  to  assort  that  as  an 
art,  landscape  gardening  is  bighor  than  either 
painting  or  sculptnro.  Tho  sculptor  must  have 
a  quick  perception  of  form,  a  knowledge  of 
anatomy,  and  a  power  to  throw 
his  idoal  into  material  shapes. 
The  painter  needs  those  with  an 
added  appreciation  of  tho  effect 
of  colors,  Tho  landscape  garden¬ 
'll  needs  them  all,  with  the  ex- 
V  H'  ceptlnn  of  anatomy,  and  also 
^  need.H  much  more.  Uo  must  have 
8'n  intimate  acquaintanco  with  all 
trees  and  plants  ;  must  bo  famil- 
iS'f  with  theii'  forms  at  full  age 
V  vVu sliadOH  of  color  in 
v  l)j  their  foliage ;  must  know  whether 
^  their  roots  grow  on  the  surface 
1^^^  tbo  elm  or  deep  like  the 
s  and  must  know  also  the 
^  nature  of  the  soil  which  they 
roquiro.  He  must  also  be  a  good 
surveyor,  understand  thoroughly 
priDcIjJcs  of  drainage  and 
8’*^*’*’*’"’*  acquaintance  with 
N  pbyriology.  He  should 
i  l^A  also  know,  like  the  sculptor,  how 
V  to  materialize  his  ideal,  how  to 
make  a  gay,  charming  place,  a 
quiet  subdued  one,  or  a  park  of 
baronial  pretensions.  Ho  should 
^  have  a  quick  oyo  for  natural  beau- 
ty,  and  an  ability  to  liannonize 
/  his  plans  with  the  general  fea¬ 
tures  of  the  country  In  which 
they  aro  executed.  Ho  should 
also  have  a  quick  imagination 
Rnd  a  readiness  to  look  forward 
into  the  viata  of  half  a  century 
and  soo  what  then  will  be  the 
development  of  his  plans,  what 
forms  hid  groups  will  then  have 
assumed  and  what  tho  shape  of 
the  noble  t  rees  which  he  plant- 
when  saplings.  A  landscape 
'  gardener  should  also  bo  a  rural 
architect,  for  it  is  essential  that 
entire  harmony  should  exist  be- 
tween  tho  dwelling  and  the 
grounds,  that  the  plans  for  each 
_ _  '  should  come  out  of  the  same 
brain.  He  should  know  the  rel- 
ative  strength  of  different  woods 
and  stone  and  brick  and  iron, 
and  should  be  familiar  with  all 
tho  appUauoes  of  luxury,  which 
-  --  Hoieuce  has  unfolded  for  man’s 
pleasure.  He  should  bo  able  to 
— take  th«  cream  from  all  soienoe 
and,  uniting  it  with  the  lughest 
kind  of  art,  make  himself  an 
artist  as  much  supeiior  to  the 
pointer  or  the  sculptor  as  the  ma- 
Jestlc  tree  or  budding  leaf  or 
brilliant  flower  is  superior  to  the 
pigments  or  marble  with  which 
they  work.  These  materialize 
