491 
FEB. 42 'THE BUBAL MEW-YOBKEB. 
SOME TREES AND SHRUBS. 
[Continued from pag-e 103.] 
The chief merits of the Honey Locust are 
that it is perfectly hardy, rapidly recovers from 
injuries and accidents of every kind, is readily 
propagated from its seeds, will serve as a hedge 
plant where the Osage Orange fails, makes 
lasting fence posts, is prodigal of honey at the 
time of blossoming, and affords a broad¬ 
spreading, thin shade and a very attractive 
adornment. It is not well suited to street 
planting, but it is admirable standing apart on 
lawns, or on low-land pastures there shelter¬ 
ing from the sun's rays in the Summer time. 
The Osage Orange, introduced less than half 
a century ago, by the venerable Professor Tur¬ 
ner, of .Jacksonville, for the sole purpose of a 
hedge plant, has pot only served that purpose 
in almost every respect, but has developed so 
mauy excellencies that its introduction must 
be considered a benefaction to the prairie 
eountry. It is as easily grown from seed as 
Indian corn ; transplants when small or large, 
almost as readily as the willow; makes an im¬ 
pervious hedge when small and kept trimmed ; 
is the beat of all wiud-breaks when suffered to 
grow large; produces fruit, containing seed 
which germinates better than that procured 
from the trees; furnishes the most lasting of 
all vine stakes when small, and when large the 
most durable feuce posts as well as the hand¬ 
somest of timber of a color between lemon and 
orange. Besides, its leaves are on ly second to 
those of the Red and White Mulberries for the 
feeding of silk-worms, and when planted apart 
It makes a round-headed tree resembling con¬ 
siderably in form, foliage and fruit, the 
Sour Orange of the South. Its habitat is in 
Arkansas. 
The Red Bud and the native crab apple, if 
tap-rooted and somewhat difficult to trans¬ 
plant, nevertheless quickly recover and grow 
into shapely small trees which are attractive 
late in the season; but early in it, are so sur¬ 
prisingly beautiful, charming and fragrant 
with their red buds at first, and with their 
masses of bloom thereafter, that any and every 
lawu aud garden which does not possess them 
may be 6et down as deficient in adornment. 
First in the ofder of soft wooded trees comes 
the Lime or Basswood. The chief and striking 
merits of this tree are its hardiness ; the ease 
with which it is transplanted and made to grow 
afterwards; its indifference to the tramping of 
cattle; the rapidity of its growth ; and, per¬ 
haps, best of all, Us two or three weeks of 
abundant bloom, which, occurring immediately 
after the first llowering of white clover, fur¬ 
nishes bee-food and honey of nearly equal 
excellence to that from the latter. When 
taken from the timber or from the nursery, it 
is apt to have a straggling and unshapely form, 
which it retaius for some years; but if a little 
attention is given early to pruning and shapiog, 
it rounds up into tolerably regular proportions. 
It is readily propagated from seeds sown as 
soon as ripe in August or September, the plant- 
lets appearing the following Spring. 
The Cotton-wood is recommended on account 
of Us extraordinary vitality and rapid growth 
cve-n under the most discouraging circumstan¬ 
ces. The formerly bare prairies of Illinois 
are dotted over with volunteer Cotluu woods. 
They were the first to lead off in the partial 
wooding of the prairie country, which has 
taken place within the last quarter of a een- 
tury—an improvement which, if it goes on as 
it has beguu, will transform that formerly 
treeless region into something that will resem¬ 
ble a tolerably well wooded eountry. Like the 
Lime, the (Jotton-wood is wholly indifferent to 
the tramping of cattle, and I know of speci¬ 
mens standiug on commons, under which cat¬ 
tle have congregated in the heat of the day for 
the last fifteen years, which have reached 
something like great dimensions. The Cotton¬ 
wood should be planted in pastures and mead¬ 
ows, wherever shade and shelter are needed 
for cattle. The trees may be readily propa¬ 
gated by large or small slips or cuttings; or 
limbs of one or two inches in diameter and 
convenient length, buried a few inches deep m 
neb. moist earth, will be sure to grow. 
Were it not for the rare beauty and florid 
grandeur of the Yellow Poplar (Tulip) when 
it has attained full growlh and is covered 
with bloesoms; and were it not that it is 
the nearest Northern relation of .the Mag¬ 
nolia grandiflora, the most magnificently 
beautilul of all flowering trees; and were It 
not, when in a state of health, the eleauest 
and nicest-.tppeariug of all young saplings, I 
should hesitate about advising Us planting, be¬ 
cause, though grown from seeds after the man¬ 
ner of the Lime, the saplings require to be very 
carefully root-pruned, one or two years be¬ 
fore transplanting, and even then, where the 
work is done with great care and the mass of 
6oft fibrous roots very gingerly handled suc¬ 
cess is oftsn a matter of doubt, unless after 
planting there occur several weeks of warm 
and moist weather. 
The Black or common, indigenous Willow, 
is just the'thing for continuing fences across 
sloughs aud wet places where the Osage Or¬ 
ange refuses to thrive. It may bo made to 
attain large growth by cutting off from | 
well grown trees limbs from three to four In¬ 
ches in diameter and six or seven feet long, 
and setting them in moist places in course of 
the late Pall, or early Spring season. The 
willow throws out a multitude of surface roots 
which wholly occupy the ground as far as its 
limbs extend, and these, in connection with 
the abuudaut foliage of the top, assist in 
drawing off the surplus water, and In course 
of a few years make the wettest land dry. 
The Pawpaw and the Persimmon may be dis¬ 
missed in a few words. They are both very 
difficult to transplant, whether as saplings 
from the timber or as seedlings from the nur¬ 
sery, and in neither case is the work practica¬ 
ble unless they are carefully root-pruned the 
previous year. Bat they are wild fruits, com¬ 
mon to the country, and as such are greatly 
underrated, and therefore they invite the at¬ 
tention of all lovers and propagators of native 
trees. Besides, both are no doubt capable of 
being greatly improved,and the same measure of 
improvement can be made upon them that has 
rewarded those who have made efforts m the 
same line with the native strawberry, black- 
beriy and crab apple. 
Of the evergreen conifers, the Red Cedar, 
it may be said that it te really our sole indigen¬ 
ous evergreen tree; that it is astonishingly 
hardy, and will flourish in almost all soils ; 
that it makes the best of hedges of the kind, 
and is the most durable of all tirabeis we have, 
aud when of sufficient size it brings a larger 
price for ornamental purposes and cabinet¬ 
work than any timber we have. 
The larch is surprisingly hardv, as well as a 
fast-growing tree, and, next to the Red Cedar, 
it is the conifer which resists all the iuelern- 
eucies of a climate whose changes are intense 
in Bummer and Winter both. 
As for the Bald Cypress, it may be grown as 
an illustration of how a tree which in its native 
habitat is rarely found except in 6wamps, and 
which is the only one that will flourish with its 
eutfre root system under water will, when 
transplanted to high and dry land and left 
standing apart by itself, develop into a cone 
of foliuge as large and well-formed as the 
largest and handsomest hemlocks. And in so 
doing it affords a good example of the truth 
that many trees affect or grow only in low and 
wet situations, because there only are to be 
found those permanent conditions of moisture 
and temperature which are essential to the 
the germination of their seed and the early 
growth of the young plants. 
—- »♦ » - 
SHRUBS FOR COLOR. 
E. P. POWELL. 
It is desirable to have our shrubs so selected 
aud arranged as to make our lawns bright 
with color, especially early in Spriug and late 
in Autumn. The following list will be of use 
in that direction. 
1. Red Dogwood.— This is deep blood-red 
in April and again in November—■ [? Eds], if 
given a moist spot, it will spread over a large 
space, making a deuse mass of shoots rising 
from five to ten feet. It may also be grown as 
asmall tree ten feet high. Iu either case it is 
invaluable for rich warmth of color. 
2. Mauonia is a rich glossy evergreen shrub 
that gives fine golden blossoms, but it is espe¬ 
cially notable for the rich colors of its young 
growth, these being mottled crimson, gold and 
green. It is one of the finest of all shrubs, it 
needs to bn sheltered from wintry suns and 
from drying west winds. Give it a uortheast 
angle of the house. 
3. Foksttiiia viridissima.—T his is hand¬ 
some when in bloom in April; but its speeial 
value is in giving rich purple foliage in Au¬ 
tumn. It resembles in color the autumnal 
hues of the White Ash; and these two are the 
only trees or shrubs giving a good purple. 
4. PuitrLK Bakbrkuy. a hardy and exceed¬ 
ingly handsome shrub, giving a criiuson-purple 
all Summer. There is nothing finer, but it has 
a rival in the 
Purple Filbert, a shrub that grows 
about as large as a hazel bush. It does not 
retain its depth of color all Summer, but is 
charming in Early Spring and late Autumn. 
6. Spin.45A. prunifolia. —Tiffs is not only 
one of the loveliest shrubs while in blossom in 
May; but it is even more beautiful late in Au¬ 
tumn. with its exceedingly unique shades of 
crimson and scarlet, 
7. Euonymus. —The American variety, with 
blood-red fruit or seeds, and the European with 
roseate fruit, are both fine, the American being 
the better. During November, these shrubs 
fairly blaze with brightness when all else is dull. 
They may be planted in profusion without de¬ 
triment to the finest lawns. Branches pieked 
as soon as the buds burst their pods will keep 
fine all Winter lor home decoration. Now, 
add for variegated-leaved sbrnbs the Var¬ 
iegated Althaea, very fiue; the Variegated 
Weigela, dwarf and excellent; the Varie¬ 
gated Elder, handsome and hardy; the Var¬ 
iegated Dogwood, quite clear and pretty, 
and the lovely Cissus for a vine, and yon get 
an exceedingly choice addition to your lawn. 
The Golden Yew aud the Golden Arbor-vitie 
are hardy and make two evergreens all should 
have. The yew may need slight protection. 
NUT TREES AT KIRBY HOMESTEAD. 
COL. P. D. CURTIS. 
1 always loved trees and as soon as I was 
big enough I began to transplant them. Our 
entire road-side is lined with maples, and every 
spot aud corner in the grounds has its tree. 
Our life insurance is a pear orchard ; and the 
rocky aud abrupt side-hills are utilized and 
ornamented with groves of locusts. When 
the babies were born, we thought of tint trees 
for them. A modest little gtfive was planted 
at first, but we did not stop with this, for our 
thoughts went on to the future when there 
might be profit as well as pleasure to them In 
nut trees. We found a very early and large 
variety of chestnuts which we obtained aud 
planted, and now we have au incipient chest¬ 
nut grove. Butternuts aud Black-walnuts are 
almost ready to bear, numbered by scores. 
The nuts were planted among the rocks 
where the soil was so scanty that the seed-beds 
were dug up witfi a pick. These trees, which 
really cost nothing, we prize highly. We have 
all the indigenous nut trees growing, having 
been raised from seed dug in between the rocks 
or steep places. Not satisfied with these, three 
varieties of hazel-nuts have been planted, two 
of which are beariug; we have also some Span¬ 
ish Chestnuts some of which blossomed last 
year. These, although growing in this strauge 
latitude, 43 => north, have never died down in 
Winter, as we feared they would. An English 
Walnut has been growing for four years with¬ 
out freezing since it was planted in a protected 
spot, and we have allowed it to grow up stocky 
with the branches near the ground. Seed of 
these, our favorite nuts, were obtained from 
Newark, N. J,, where we fouud them growing, 
These we re planted at different points so as to 
secure a favorable location where they might 
do well. They came up and have grown nicely 
so that we are looking forward with ardent ex¬ 
pectations of soon gathering a crop of these 
delicious nuts. 
We do uot kuow of any of these trees 
nearer than a farm of Hon. Waldo Huchins, 
Westchester Co., N. Y. We have succeeded 
best in storting our different varieties of uut. 
trees by putting the nuts, as soon gathered, iu 
the ground where we wanted them to grow. 
The only difficulty we have experienced has 
been from the depredations of mice and squir¬ 
rels. To avoid this trouble we have sometimes 
spread the nuts, when gathered, in grass near 
the house and covered them slightly with 
coarse manure or leaves and then planted them 
iu the Spring before ibey started to grow. 
Growing nut trees is so easily done that we 
wonder they are not more generally cultivated. 
They would help to make the farm attractive 
as well as profitable, aud give to the children 
an interest in the homestead, which is so often 
lacking in American families. We are glad to 
see that the Rural devotes so much space to 
home adornments and the growiDg of trees. 
It is a most commendable work which all par¬ 
ents should heartily encourage. 
--- 
RURAL BRIEFLET8. 
The Belgian Monthly Honeysuckle—Loni- 
cera Periclymenum Belgicum—is one of onr 
oldest honeysuckles, always prized for its 
clusters of fragrant flowers. It blooms all 
8 ummer, the buds being red, the flowers white 
at first, changing to orange. Its foliage is not 
so pretty as that of Hall's Japan Honeysuckle, 
and is more liable to the attacks of the aphis. 
Tecoma radicans is our well-known.useful 
and beautiful Trumpet Creeper, with its large, 
heavy, home-like, orange, trumpet-shaped 
flowers. If but to insure the frequent visits of 
the humming-bird, we should have this. It 
begins to bloom in July, and its canoe-shaped 
fruit or *• beans/’ in clasters of Lhree or more, 
hang on the vines all Winter. This is a native 
of the Middle and Southern States. 
Dutchman's Pipe —Artetoloehia Sipho—is 
a noble vine, with immense heart-shaped 
leaves, which so thickly cover the pliant, rub¬ 
ber-like 6tems as to remind one of the Bhingles 
on the roof. Its flowers are simply queer. We 
value the vine chiefly for its giant leaves, which 
enable it in a few years to entirely conceal any 
object over which it grows. It is perfectly 
hardy, and wheu once established needs very 
little care. In company with other hardy 
vines, such as clematis, Akebia, Trumpet- 
Creeper, Moonseed, etc., the leathery leaves of 
the Dutchman's Pipe, from seven to twelve 
inches in diameter, stand outin bold and beau¬ 
tiful relief. Our picture is re-engraved from 
the work of Decaisne & Naudin. A life-size 
engraving of the flowers appeared in the 
Rural of Ang. 30,1879. 
In late May or early June the little ever¬ 
green shrub, Daphne Cneorum, is covered with 
clusters of pretty pink flowers. This iB a na¬ 
tive of the Alps of Europe, and is the best of 
the daphnes for out-door cultivation. It is 
easily propagated by layers in the open ground 
or cuttings under glass. The plants usually 
bloom in the Fall again, and occasionally dar¬ 
ing the Summer. 
For five or six years we have had one plant 
of the Dwarf Jane-berry, Shad-bush or Service- 
berry, a variety of the Amelanehier Canaden¬ 
sis, viz , alnifolia. Iu its bloom it is fully as 
pretty as many of the spiraeas, while in fruit 
it is an object of general interest, as well to 
grown people as to children aud birds. It hears 
racemes of fruit nearly as large as gooseber¬ 
ries, and in the same raceme the color varies 
from green to greeD and purple, red, and a 
deep plum-color, according to the stage of 
ripening. The first ripen about June 1st, and 
the berries continue to ripen during a greater 
part of the month. These berries are mealy 
and juicy, though rather insipid. Still—we 
eat them. The Shad-bush must be known to 
most of our readers, who can scarcely fail to 
have noticed its welcome white flowers during 
late April and early May along streams and 
low-lying woods. It varies so much that half 
a dozen different varieties are recognized. 
Among them is the Dwarf June-berry. of which 
we write. It is found in all of the Western 
States. 
Seeds of such evergreen trees as the Hem¬ 
lock Spruce, Norway Spruce. Black Spruce, 
Balsam Fir, Silver Fir, White Pine, Scotch 
Pine. Arbor-vitre, etc., may be sown in the 
Spring in beds or boxes of mellow or sandy 
loam. They should be covered lightly, kept 
motet and shady. . * * ..* • 
The seeds of the Norway Maple may be 
sown iu the Fall as they ripen. Unless buried 
in sand or soil during Winter, they would, if 
not planted until the next Spring, be slow to 
germinate. The sycamore, Red or Swamp 
Maple, Sugar Maple, beech, ash, locust, Ken¬ 
tucky Coffee-tree, halcsia, hibiscus, philadel- 
phus, weigela, deutzia are all easily raised 
from seeds. Unless the seed matures early 
enough to give them a good start during the 
Summer and Fall, it is better to keep the seeds 
over Winter in sand sufficiently moist to keep 
them from drying out. Magnolia seeds, for 
example, will often germinate in two weeks if 
planted just as soon as they ripen. If permit¬ 
ted to dry, they may uot germinate iu years, 
or at all. The grape gives a good illustration 
of this. .. 
The birch is easily transplanted from the 
woods. Even sizable trees may be removed 
successfully. Seeds may be sown in the Fall 
and covered with leaves. ......... 
The seedling cultivation of trees and shrubs 
ought to be familiar to every farmer and to his 
children. Many seem ignorant of the fact that 
some of our best shrubs and trees are easily 
raised from seeds. We may add to those al¬ 
ready mentioned the Fringe Tree, EIa?agnus, 
Koelreuteria, dogwoods, Sassafras, Liquid- 
ambar, horse-chestnuts, eatalpa and Red-bud. 
Horse-chestnuts should be gathered as they 
fall and placed in boxes of sand for the Winter. 
In Spring tbey.may be planted in drills of well 
