AL WEW-YORKER. 
FES. 42 
prepared 6oil, six inches apart, covering them 
fairly. They may be transplanted in the Fall 
to two feet apart, and there left to be used as 
wanted. „.. 
Professor Thomas Meehan says:— 
"Nothing is more remarkable, when you 
come to consider, than the way one plant can 
can be grafted with another, and yet retain its 
individuality. Take a grape-vine that bears 
black trait, and two feet above the bud, graft 
with white; and two feet above the white bud 
graft with a black variety, and then with a 
white, and keep ou grafting as high as you 
choose, yet each one continues on bearing its 
kind, without any change.” 
But.iu fact,is this any more strange than that, 
growing in the same soil, different trees should 
bear different stems, leaves,flowers and fruit? 
Is it any more strange than that, growing in 
the same flower-pot, the Deadly Nightshade is 
poisonous—the tomato good to eat? . . . . 
Mk Meehan truly remarks, in his Hand¬ 
book of Ornamental Trees, that a little extra 
expense in the selection of trees, a little 
extra thought in giving to each its appropri¬ 
ate soil, and a little care bestowed upon their 
removal and replanting, will be amply repaid 
in the future beauty, variety, health and luxu- 
riousuess of shade trees. The saving of a dol¬ 
lar in a gratification which is expected to last 
for life is a consideration which will have little 
weight when duly reflected on. 
The chief reason why trees fiom nurseries 
transplant better than those from the fields or 
woods is that the former have more fibrous 
roots near the stem from having been previous¬ 
ly transplanted or root-pruned. The roots of 
forest trees extend in every direction, and it is 
impracticable in removing them not to leave 
the greater part in the ground. To meet with 
success, either they must be removed while 
very young, or the stems must be severely cut 
back. But even in tbe latter case there must 
be a certain amount of small or fibrous roots, 
or else the tree amouulB to pretty much the 
same Ihing as a mere cutting.. 
As a rule, large trees, if ever so carefully 
transplanted, grow with far less vigor than 
small ones.„ 
Is it not strange that one of the most beau¬ 
tiful trees of America is so seldom seen about 
the farmer’s home?—the Liquidambar. It is 
referred to under Notes Irom the Rural 
Grounds. The following is what Mr. A. J. 
Downing said of it:— 
" We hardly know of a more beautiful tree 
thau tLe Liquidambar in every stage of its 
growth, and during eveiy season of the year. 
Its outline is simply beautiful. During the 
Summer the leaves preserve uusoiled that 
dark, glossy freshness which is so delightful 
to the tye. But in Autumn it assumes its gat¬ 
es! livei y, and is decked iu colors almost too 
bright and vivid for foliage, forming one of 
the most brilliant objects in American scenery 
at that season of the year. The prevailing tint 
of the foliage is then a deep purplish red, un¬ 
like any t ymptorn of decay. This is sometimes 
varied by a shade deeper or lighter and occa¬ 
sionally an orange tint is assumed. When 
planted in the neighborhood of our fine ma¬ 
ples, ashes and other tree6 remarkable for 
their Autumn coloring, tbe effect is almost 
magical.” 
F. J. Scott adds one trait of its Autumn col¬ 
oring, which Mr. Downing overlooks. It is its 
peculiar golden-bronze tone, caused by the 
mingling of green, yellow and red leaves in its 
head. Trees sometimes fairly glow with these 
rich colors.. , 
The “Sunray ” Pine is, we learn, being prop¬ 
agated as fast as possible. It is to be hoped it 
will soon be offered for sale. It Eeetns to us 
the finest of variegated evergreens, and can 
scarcely fail to become popular. 
The Silver-variegated Euonymus randicaus 
is auuique little bush that holds itself together 
as closely as a mattress, by the stem rootlets, 
like those of the Virginia Creeper. Our speci¬ 
men, which has never been pruned, has grown 
into the shape of a boot about three feet high. 
The Smoke Tree, Venetian Sumach, Wig 
Tree (Rhus Cotinus), as it is variously called, 
when grown iu congenial soil (sandy loam, 
well drained), is one of the finest shrubs or 
small trees in cultivation, if judged while it is 
in bloom. In middk-May the buds usually 
break. The young leaves are tinted with pur¬ 
ple and the flowci-buds then resemble young 
racemes of grape flowers. The early it flores¬ 
cence envelops the tree as iu a fine 6pray of 
pale, delicate green, the leaves only breaking 
through here aud there. Later (June 15) it 
begiusto change to a soft, pleasing pink or 
deep flesh-color, when the entire shrub seems a 
cloud or mist of light-green and rose, each shad¬ 
ing off into the other. It is then a grand sight, 
especially when the dew still rests upon the 
clouds of hairy pedicels before sunrise. . . . 
As odk own specimens occasionally suffer 
during Winter,.we were somewhat surprised 
to learn, through our valued contributor, Mrs. 
Jack, of Canada, that it there reaches a hight 
of eight or ten feet, flowering prolusely. In 
her note she remarksYear before last it 
bore a late crop of October flowers, Last year 
late-grown wood was injured for the first time; 
but it was an exceptional season.” .... 
We have been greatly interested in the 
movement of the branches of the Weeping 
Beech. Years ago, as already noted in these 
columns, one of our two specimens lost its 
leader. The next year the branch immediately 
underneath, then growing directly downward, 
began to move upward. This branch is now 
the upright leader. Not less than three other 
branches, which then drooped almost directly 
downward, have since been moving upward, 
until now they have moved through from 15 to 
30 degrees towards a perpendicular. Such 
movements are cornmou enough where there 
is a disturbing cause while the wood is compar¬ 
atively young; but the branches of this Weeping 
Beech seem to be wandering about as if they 
were not contented to remain in a fixed posi¬ 
tion. .. 
Herbaceous peonies are showy and hardy. 
The columbines faquilegiasj are among our 
best hardy herbaceous plants. The larkspurs 
[delpkiuiumj should not be forgotten. Their 
colors—especially the blue—are scarcely 
equaled by any others of this class. The Di¬ 
centra epectabilis should be found in every 
garden. This is the well-known Bleeding 
Heart. 
AarrELopsis quinquefolia is our Virginia 
Creeper, Woodbiue, or -American Ivy, as it is 
often called. Sometimes, by means of its foot¬ 
like tendrils, it ascends trees to the hight of 50 
feet. It is found wild nearly everywhere. It 
bears its little greenish flowers in June, and, 
later, its dark-blue, berries. Nothing is better 
for arbors, walls, bridges, than this. 
There is now a double white bouvardia, 
which is a haudsome acquisition among house 
plants.. 
All interference with roots had better be 
done iu the Fall or early Spring. As soon as 
buds push, the roots are needed to do their 
shareof the work iu supplying the entire plant, 
through the leaves, with material for its growth. 
We think there is much truth in the follow¬ 
ing lines from a writer in the Garden : 
" The farmer who has a neat and well-kept 
garden, is almost sure to have a neat and well- 
kept farm, a comfortable and well-appointed 
house, tidy outbuildings, and stock in good 
condition, and tue housewife who lakes pride 
in her garden, generally has a home to take 
pride iu and to be proud of.’* 
Cut eheriy cions now—preserve them in 
sand in a cool cellar. 
-—•»■*-■» 
Transplanting. 
For a tree or shrub—whether evergreen or 
deciduous—remember the following items in 
transplanting:— 
1. Dig the holes wider and deeper than is 
necessary to admit the roots, so that they may 
rest in a natural position. 
2. Cut off all dead or injured roots. 
3. Firm the soil as it is thrown in, either 
with tbe feet or a wood pounder. 
4. Do not set the tree deeper than it grew 
before transplanting. 
5. Level the soil and keep tt mellow during 
the Summer. 
(j. Cut the branches and stem, if need be, 
back in proportion as the roots have been in¬ 
jured. Whetbenatkey have been injured or 
not, it is advisable to cut the branches back 
more or less according to the t-ize of the plant. 
7. Carefally avoid exposing the root6 to 
the wind or sun during trasplantation or at 
any other time. No other neglect is so proli¬ 
fic in causing failures as this. 
-♦- . 
Depth to Plant Trees. 
The roots of trees must be accessible to air. 
It is as easy to kill a tree by burying the roots 
too deep as to smother an animal. The ob¬ 
ject of compacting the earth about the roots is 
to insure contact, of the roots and soil—not to 
exclude air. Tap-roots which extend deeply 
into tku earth have little to do with nourish- 
ingthetree. They serve chiefly to hold it se¬ 
curely in its place against high winds and the 
weight of the trunk, hrauches and fol iage. 
Deep planting doe6 not protect, a tree against 
droughts. For this purpose a coarse mulch 
of mauure, leaves, hay or straw or even stones, 
would best serve. 
- 
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF CATALOGUES FOR 
1881 RECEIVED UP TO DATE. 
The Rural New-Yorker beg* to slate that it 
will announce (he Catalogues of all reputable 
seedsmen, nurserymen, etc., as they are receiv'd. 
Headers are referred to our advertising columns 
for particulars not stated under such announce - 
merits. Tt is plainly desirable on all accounts 
that our readers, in sending for such Catalogues, 
should mention (he Rural New-Yorker. This 
shouhl insure due attention to their requests, 
while il. seem s an act of respectf ul appreciation 
of this journal. In future issues we shall take 
pleasure in referring to specialties offered in the. 
Catalogues received, respecting which our readers 
have made inquiry, 
Jamf-s M. Thorburn A Co.. 15 John Street, 
New York. A catalogue of 96 pages. 8eeds 
of all kinds for the vegetable and flower gar- ' 
den ; for the lawn, farm and nursery. This i 
trustworthy establishment controls the entire 
sale- of the White Elephant Potato. 
Alfred Buidgeman, 876 Broadway, N. Y. J 
A catalogue of 50 pages, profusely illustrated ’ 
with life-like, original engravings of plants. , 
This good concern was established in 1824. 
e James Vick, Rochester, N. Y. Vick’s Floral 
, Guide—120 pages. Among the beautiful illus- 
f trations are a colored plate of annuals and a 
r finely executed portrait of Mr. Vick. 
’ B. K. Bliss A Sons, 34 Barclay Street, N- Y. 
• Illustrated Tlaud-Book for the Farm and Gar- 
* den and Catalogue of Garden, Field and Flow- 
1 er Seeds—140 pages. Hundreds of fine fllus- 
‘ trations among the many novelties and a beau¬ 
tifully executed colored plate of German Pan- 
1 sies. 
J. T. Lovett, Little Silver, New Jersey. Il¬ 
lustrated Catalogue of Trees and Plants. Choice 
Small Fruits a specialty. We like the orig¬ 
inality and truthfulness of this catalogue. 
The illustrations are true to life, the comments 
trustworthy. 
Hiram Sibley Co., Rochester, N. Y.. and 
Chicago, Ills. Cilalogue for 1SS1 of Garden, 
Field and Flower Seeds, Ac.—72 pages, finely 
illustrated with many engravings, including a 
colored plate of verbenas and a second of 
onions. 
Peter Henderson & Co., .36 Courtlaudt 
Street, N. Y. Catalogue of Everything for the 
Garden and Farm—120 pages, fully illustrated. 
Excellent hints and instructions; vegetables, 
rare plants, implements. 
A. D. Cowan & Co , 114 Chambers Street, 
New York. A handsome catalogue, well il¬ 
lustrated, of 60 pages. Novelties iu vegetable 
and flower seeds. 
J. J. H. Gregory, Marblehead, Mass. A com¬ 
prehensive catalogue ol 60 pages. Farm and 
garden seeds of all kiuds, including many de¬ 
sirable novelties. 
Paksonb A Sons Co , Flushing, Long Island, 
N, Y. Catalogue ol Hardy Shrubs and Trees 
of all kinds. 
R. H. Allen A Co., 1S9 and 191 Water Street, 
New York. Descriptive Catalogue of 80 
pages of choice Farm. Garden and FJower 
Seeds, Roots, Plants aud garden requisites. 
Robert Buibt, Jr., 932 and 934 Market 
Street, Philadelphia. Almanac and Garden 
Manual designed to furnish concise hints to 
cottagres, farmers and planters. Instructions 
for every month in the year—193 pages. 
R. H. Shumway, Rockford, Ills. Seed Cata¬ 
logue—40 pages full of illustrations; a short 
lecture on plauting. 
Benson, Maule & Co., 223 Church Street, 
Philadelphia, Penn. Illustrated and Descrip¬ 
tive Catalogue of garden, field and flower 
seeds—60 pages—novelties aud specialties. 
Thorburn A Carson, 125 Chambers Street, 
N. Y. A handsome, illustrated catalogue of 65 
pages. Vegetable, flower and farm seeds, Ac. 
William Rennie, cor. Adelaide and Jarvis 
Streets, Toronto, Canada. Illustrated Cata¬ 
logue of 80 pages. Seeds of all kinds. Mr. 
Rennie also issues a wheat circular. 
Tuisco Greiner, Naples, New York. Cate- 
logue of select, warranted vegetable and flow¬ 
er seeds—20 pages. 
Baird A Tuttle, Bloomington Nurseries, 
Bloomiugton, Ill. Plant novelties, KoeeB, 
Bulbs, greenhouse and bedding plants, etc.— 
40 pages. Also wholesale price-list of trees, 
shrubs, etc. 
Geo. 8. Wales, Bannockburn Farm, Roches¬ 
ter, N. Y, Catalogue (16 pages) of small fruits, 
shrubs, vines, roses, Ac. 
Cole A Brothers. Pella, Iowa. Catalogue 
and Guide (40 pages) to the Flower and Veget¬ 
able Garden. 
W. AtlsB Burpee A Co., 219 and 221 Church 
Street, Philadelphia. Farm Manual, garden, 
farm and flower seeds, blooded stock, illus¬ 
trated. 
Ellwanger A Barry, Rochester, N. Y. 
Catalogues of Shrubs, Trees, etc,, as an¬ 
nounced in advertisers' columns. 
« « ♦-- 
A WORD TO TREE PLANTERS, 
WILL W. TRACY. 
I wish I could gain for a few moments the ear of 
every one who Intends to set out a shade tree the 
coming season, and I know of no way In which I 
can come nearer to the realization of my wish tJian 
to say my say through the columns of the Rural 
New-Yorker. 
There Is nothing In the vegetable, world which 
has more Individual character and expression than 
our native trees. Every one possesses a form and 
expression peculiarly Its own, distinct Irom that 
assumed by any other even or the same species, i 
and it, is this wonderful variability which gives 
such an Indescribable charm to the natural land- 
suape-a unarm widen rarely exists to the same i 
degree where the trees have been transplanted. I : 
attribute this Inferiority of transplanted trees i 
largely to the method of pruning or cutting back 
at tbe time they are sot out. For the most part, 
the trees that, now ornament our village streets : 
and country roads were hastily taken up trom the < 
neighboring fields and forests, and tbe greater por¬ 
tion of the top was cut off until what was a tree < 
became a simple pole or stick with a few stubs i 
projecting like the pegs of a hat tree—a resemn- i 
lance which doubtless suggested the name for this i 
useful article of furniture. They wore then drawn, i 
with exposed roots, to me desired point, where the I 
roots were crowded into a hole, Into which earth l 
was shoveled, and straightway the men were J 
ready to move on to the next. If the tree grew, It 
threw out a few leaves and shoots distributed Ir¬ 
regularly and without form about the top, and me 
next season these grew vigorously Into a dense 
ball of foliage Uttle resembling tbe graceful spray 
of Its brother left undisturbed In the fields, looking 
rather, as a “ chemical ” friend aptly said, like “ gi¬ 
gantic green swabs,” aud furnishing good models 
for the trees of wire and green cotton that we find 
in our children’s "Noah’s arks." 1 admit that ulti¬ 
mately the tree outgrows Its mutilation, but it takes 
long years to do it, and it rarely regains Its Indi¬ 
viduality, so that transplanted trees of the same 
species are In a great measure counterparts one of 
another. 
How Immeasurably superior the result would be 
If trees were used which had been grown for the 
purpose rather than those from the fields, and If 
such care were taken that all this cutting back 
would be unnecessary. This is a subject, on 
which we need not dwell; for, ir we Insisted upon 
this, not one tree would be set where dozens are 
planted now, and we need all and more man all 
our people can be Induced to plant. But the bad 
result for the first few years can be avoided, as l 
have found by experience, by a little attention to 
the cutting back—a work which seems to me 
so feasible That l want to urge it upon every tree 
planter In our land, if me tree selected has a cen¬ 
tral main stem or leader, cut t.hl 3 back to some 
small branch springing from it at as slight an 
angle as can be found, and so growing nearly erect. 
Gut this back to a similar branchlet growing from 
Its upper side, and remove all other twigs or buds. 
If necessary, cut oQ all the lower-sldo branches 
close to the main stem; but. If aDy can be left, se¬ 
lect those which are symmetrically disposed about 
the trunk and cut them back In the same way as 
the central one. 
The simple rule Is:—always remove a branch 
altogether or cut it back to a branchlet from it 
which has me same general direction and char¬ 
acter, and remove all other branchlets or twigs. 
Even if the condition of the tree requires me prun¬ 
ing to be so severe that the branchlets left are 
very few and small, still. If they are welt selected, 
it Is astonishing to see how much they will do to¬ 
wards directing and molding me future develop¬ 
ment of the tree, and it will be a pleasing surprise 
to one who has been used to trees cut back in the 
usual way, to see how quickly a tree pruned on 
this plan will assume a graceful form. Evergreens 
should be cut back on the same principle. Usually 
there will be found growing from the upper side of 
the branches shoots having the same direction as 
the branch Itself, and It we cut back to one of these 
the mutilation will scarcely be notlcable even me 
first season. 
I hope mat every tree planter will try this 
method, which is not presented as something new; 
but as that practiced by experienced gardeners for 
ages; but which they frequently so obscure by 
“ WTlaft " talk and assumptions of special skill, that 
the ordinary planter falls to catch me principle 
Involved, which I repeat lor the sake of emphasiz¬ 
ing It:—In all pruning of ornamental trees, cut off 
the branch entirely or cut It back to a branchlet 
which will most esiatly assume the general direc¬ 
tion and character of that removed, treating this 
branchlet, If necessary, in the same way, and re¬ 
moving all others. 
Detroit, Mtch. 
-- 
THE SHRUBS OF OUR EXPERIENCE. 
ANNIE L. JACK, (CANADA.) 
What is the reason farmers do not surround 
their Homes with hardy shrubs and trees suitable 
to the climate where they live? This question 
presents Itself to every beauty-loving mind In 
passing through many parts of the country. 
Neither first cost nor subsequent care can be the 
reason, and we can only think that It la a matter 
mat has never occupied thought or attention. 
Apart from the dear old-fashioned lilac that our 
grandmothers loved, and the snow- ball that gives 
us such masses of snowy blossoms in early Sum¬ 
mer, there are others less known, that for thrift 
and hardiness deserve a place In our grounds. 
I find myself thinking of the LonlceraTartarlca, or 
Tartarian Honeysuckle, that from a little twig 
planted a few years ago has grown to an im¬ 
mense shrub ten feet In night, whloh la covered 
in June with a profusion of pink blossoms. It 
seems to thrive In any soil or situation and never 
fails in its bouquet or beauty. We have several 
varieties of me spinea, which are hardy and easy 
to cultivate, with, feather-llkc trusses of white or 
pink. 1 have tried the daphne and deutzta, but 
they need protection In tills climate, although 
one of the latter, given me by the Rural some 
years ago, does not fall to give me a few lovely 
bells In Spring. 
The Flowering currant Is hardy here, as Is the 
Snowberry and some kinds or clematis. The 
Syringa or Mock Orange, Is a shrub hardy and of 
strong growth here. The flowers, of delicious 
perfume and great beauty, are most profuse in the 
lime of roses. Later in the season we have the Rhus 
Cotlnua or Smoke-Tree, that with graceful clusters 
or flowers In airy masses, reminds one of puffs 
of smoke emerging from the leaves, i have tried 
rhododendrons with small success; but find the 
Hydrangea panlculata grauditinra a valuable 
addition to our flowering shrubs, its graceful 
and Immense trusses are a thing or beauty in 
early Autumn when other shrubs are scarce. 
Just now we havo been having an experience 
with the Mahonla or American Holly, the leaves 
and sprays of which adorned our rooms this 
Christinas tide and vied with English Holly. 
This is, indeed, worth a trial, staying green and 
dark amid the snow. The Barberry Is a satisfac¬ 
tory a hub; the yellow (lowers In spring are pretty 
and the red berries hang on the spray till winter, 
aud are very ornamental for house decoration’, 
mixed with the leaves or the Mahonla. While 
there are many others that are worth a trial, I 
have only mentioned what we have proved and 
found satisfactory in our home. 
