®i)e (BarDcix anti i\)z (Drrijarfc. 
ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 
Having already given some notice of those trees and 
shrubs more particularly adapted for ornament in winter, 
I propose to mention some of the finest which are na¬ 
tives of this country, with a few of the more common 
exotics, whose chief beauty is exhibited in the summer 
season. Anything like a full enumeration is of course 
out of the question here. 
Among native forest trees, the elms and maples are 
conspicuous. The common sugar maple is well known 
as one of the finest shade trees. The black maple, (Acer 
nigrum,) is less known; it exceeds the sugar maple in 
denseness of foliage, and in richness of appearance, and 
is perhaps, as an ornamental tree, inferior to none. The 
red or scarlet flowering maple, (A. rubrum,) found chief¬ 
ly in swamps and wet places, is distinguished by its scar¬ 
let blossoms which appear early in spring, and by its 
glaucous leaves, which roll up in fine silvery masses in 
the wind. 
The American or white elm, (U. Americana ,) every¬ 
where more or less abundant, is conspicuous for its 
graceful form, and when large, for its magnificent ap¬ 
pearance. The Uimus racemosa is of larger and denser 
foliage, but otherwise inferior in beauty to the former. 
The oak is very justly considered as one of the most 
majestic and picturesque of forest trees, and may be 
largely introduced in all plantations of much extent. 
The species are too numerous to mention here; but 
among some of the most common and handsome na¬ 
tives are the white oak, ( Quercus alba,) black oak, (Q. 
tmetoria ,) scarlet oak, (Q. coccinea,) remarkable for its 
brilliant scarlet leaves in autumn; swamp chestnut oak, 
(Q. prinus,) and rock chestnut oak, (Q. montana.) 
Among other of our forest trees may be named, as more 
particularly worthy of attention, the linden or basswood, 
distinguished by its large, dense foliage, and conical 
form; the white ash, by its broad, round head, and light¬ 
ness of foliage, and by its dark purple hue in autumn; 
the American aspen, by the lively green of its early 
leaves, and their constant tremulous motion in the 
breeze; the chestnut, resembling the oaks in general cha¬ 
racter of expression; the tulip tree, (white-wood,) be¬ 
longing to the natural order of the magnolias, and re¬ 
sembling them in its large, rich and glossy foliage, and 
stately growth; the catalpa, conspicuous for its broad 
leaves, its loose, spreading growth, and large panicles 
of beautiful flowers in summer; the shell-bark hickory, 
for its compact and handsome form, and dense foliage; 
and the black walnut, remarkable for a softness of foliage 
combined with massive boldness of form. Most of these 
are of the largest size, and are best introduced in exten¬ 
sive grounds, and sparingly in smaller. 
Some of the smaller ornamental trees, more suitable 
for lawns of an acre or two, are,—the horse-chestnut, the 
finest of which by far is the common or JEsculus Hippo- 
castanum; the dog-wood, (Cornus florida,) and Aronia, 
(A. JBotryapium,,) eminently beautiful from their profu¬ 
sion of early spring flowers; the common and glutinous lo¬ 
cust, and the honey locust, (Gleditschia;) the Siberian crab; 
the Chinese double flowering apple; the weeping, and golden 
ash; the weeping, and golden willow; the Cercis, or Judas 
tree; the mountain ash; the white poplar or Abclc; the 
American, and European larch; the latter inferior to no 
tree in beauty. 
American and exotic ornamental shrubs are very nu¬ 
merous. The following list embraces only some of the 
finest, which are either natives of our forests and wilds, 
or may be obtained from most of our principal nurseries. 
EARLY SPRING FLOWERING. 
Daphne mezerum, dense pink flowers; berries poisonous. 
Cydonia japonica, Japan quince; flowers numerous, 
large, anti bright scarlet. 
Amygdalus nana, double flowering almond; branches 
densely covered with handsome flowers. 
Ribes aureurn, Missouri currant; flowers yellow. 
Shephcrdia argentia, Buffalo berry; yellow. 
LATE SPRING FLOWERING. 
Lonicera Tartarian, Tartarian honeysuckle; flowers 
white, and light red; abundant; very beautiful. 
Philadelphia hirsutus, large white flowers. P. corona- 
rius, flowers smaller— (Syringo.) 
Syringa vulgaris, common lilac. S. persica, Persian 
lilac; panicles larger, and the shrub of more airy growth 
than the common lilac. 
Halesia tetraptera, silver bell tree; handsome pendant 
white flowers. 
Azalea rudiflora, beautiful light red flowers. 
Fothargilla alnifolia, white. 
Berberis vulgaris, barberry; racemes of yellow flowers. 
Robinia hispida, rose acacia; large, handsome, rose 
flowers. 
Calycanthus glaucus, sweet scented shrub; flowers dark 
red; very fragrant. 
Chionanthus virginica, white fringe tree. 
Kerria japonica, Japan globe flower; flowers double ;yel. 
Spircea hypericifolia; flowers small, white; abundant. 
Ribes sanguincum; scarlet flowering currant. 
EARLY SUMMER FLOWERING. 
Viburnum opulus, snowball; its splendor well known. 
V. oxycoccus, bush cranberry; large, white corymbs. 
Vaccinium siamvneum, a mass of white flowers. 
Rubus odoratus, large, red flowers; dense rich foliage. 
Spiraea salicifolia, dense, white, terminal panicles °of 
flowers. S. opulifolia, numerous, dense, white corymbs. 
Lonicera xylostruni, fly honeysuckle; yellow. 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
69 
Rhus cotinus, purple fringe tree; very singular and 
beautiful, especially in autumn. 
Colutea arborescens, yellow. 
Cytisus laburnum, common laburnum; yellow. 
Symphoria racemosa, snowberry; handsome white ber 
ries in autumn. 
LATE SUMMER FLOWERING. 
Hibiscus syriacus, (Althea,) single white, shaded with 
purple. The double varieties possess inferior beauty 
the single and semi-double very handsome. 
Magnolia glauca, large, fine white flowers. 
Ceanothus americanus, white flowers, in short dense 
racemes. 
JEsculus macrostachya, large showy spikes of white 
flowers. 
Jasmirmm humile, yellow; the only species hardy here 
Spircea tomentosa, flowers, pale purple; in a showy 
dense, terminal raceme. 
Roses also constitute a large and important class of 
ornamental shrubs. Long catalogues are given; but 
many named varieties differ only by very slight shades 
Among a few of the finest and most distinct are the tall, 
double vrhitc, the royal province, the scarlet Austrian, (or¬ 
ange,) the common moss, belle alliance, (variegated,) 
Harrison, (double yellow,) Detroit, (climbing,) Labra¬ 
dor, remarkably fine and graceful in growth, &c. &c. 
Climbing shrubs are not only eminently desirable 
from the constantly varying and graceful forms which 
they assume, and which may be given to them at plea¬ 
sure, but also from the beautiful covering which they 
give when trained over otherwise unsightly objects, as 
wooden fences, stone walls, and rough out buildings. 
Among them are the following: 
The Detroit rose, growing rapidly, and throwing out 
at mid-summer a brilliant profusion of showy flowers. 
The trumpet flower, (Bignoniaradicans,) with its dark, 
rich, large trumpet shaped corols. 
The native clematis, (Clematis virginica,) common as a 
native in New-York; white flowers. 
Ampelopsis hederacca, (sometimes called five finger,) 
grows luxuriantly, and often covers the trunks of our 
forest trees 60 or 70 feet high, presenting in autumn a 
splendid glow of bright scarlet from the color the leaves 
then assume. 
Aristiloehia tomentosa and A. sipho, are handsome, deli 
cate twiners, with singular flowers. 
Atragene americana, nearly resembles clematis; large 
purple flowers. 
Menispermum canadense, a native of our forests, and a 
light, graceful twiner. 
Periploca greeca, flowers purplish brown; growth rapid 
and dense. 
Celastrus scandens, (bittersweet,) highly ornamental in 
winter from its scarlet seeds. 
The honeysuckles are some of the handsomest climbers; 
among the many may be mentioned as most desirable 
the Chinese, (Lonicera flexuosa,) the woodbine, (L. pery 
elemenum,) the native yellow trumpet, (L.flava,) and the 
scarlet trumpet, (L. sempervirens.) The latter is emi¬ 
nently beautiful; and its bright red flowers continue to 
appear plentifully through a large portion of summer 
and autumn. 
The different grapes serve as excellent coverings for 
objects to be concealed; their rapid growth and dense 
foliage fitting them well for this purpose. 
The English ivy (Hedera helix,) being an evergreen, 
would exceed all other climbers for this season, were it 
not too tender for our winters when elevated above ground 
On the proper disposition of trees and shrubs, to pro¬ 
duce the best ornamental effect, whole volumes might 
be written, and the subject remain unexhausted. A few 
leading rules may, however, be useful to those who 
have not given any thought to this point. It is a very 
common and erroneous opinion, derived from the first 
impression on seeing specimens of the natural and geo¬ 
metrical styles in planting, that the latter requires far 
more of art and study in executing it than the former, 
which is regarded as merely an accidental jumbling of 
parts together. But the fact is just the reverse. The 
perfection of art consists in producing a pleasing effect, 
while the art which produced it is concealed from the 
spectator. The painting of a raw student exhibits no- 
thingbut the most elaborate marks of the pencil, while 
their combined whole is perhaps stiff and formal. But 
the work of the master, though the parts were apparent¬ 
ly dashed off with ease and rapidity, exhibits as a whole 
a beautiful combination; and strokes which appear 
rough and merely accidental, were really laid on with 
a most careful eye, and are perhaps absolutely essential 
to the fine expression of the picture. It is precisely si¬ 
milar in ornamental planting; and nothing but a close 
and careful study of the expression of the varied and 
endless groups, which may be composed from a large 
collection of trees and shrubs, can enable any one to ar¬ 
range them to the finest effect. As a general rule, trees 
of an entirely discordant character should not be indis¬ 
criminately mixed, but those should unite in natural 
groups which possess some similarity of expression. 
This similarity always exists with those of the same ge¬ 
nus or the same natural order; and often with a similari¬ 
ty of natural locality, as the elm and willow on low 
grounds, and the oak and chestnut on hills. So also 
groups and masses of dissimilar kind should not pass ab¬ 
ruptly to each other, but by gx-adations produced by trees 
of an intermediate character. Downing’s “Landscape 
Gardening” contains two excellent examples illustrating 
these remarks, which I here copy. “ In the first case, 
suppose it is desired to form a group of trees, in which 
gracefulness or elegante must be the leading expression. 
The willow alone would have the effect; but in groups, 
willows alone produce sameness; in order therefore to 
give variety, we must choose other trees which, wdiile 
they differ from the willow in some particulars, agree in 
others. The elm has much larger and darker foliage, 
while it has also a drooping spray; the weeping birch 
differs in its leaves, but agrees in the pensile flow of its 
branches; the common birch has few pendant boughs, 
but resembles in the airy lightness of its leaves; and the 
three-thorned acacia, though its branches are horizontal, 
has delicate foliage of neax-ly the same hue and floating 
lightness as the willow. Here we have a group of five 
rees, which in the whole are full of gracefulness and 
variety, while there is nothing in the composition inhar¬ 
monious to the practiced eye.” 
“To illustrate the second rule, let us suppose a long, 
sweeping outline of maples, birches, and other light, 
mellow-colored trees, which the impi’over wishes to 
vary and break into groups, by spiry topped, evergreen 
trees. It is evident that if these trees were planted in 
such a manner as to peer abruptly out of the _ight color¬ 
ed foliage of the former trees, in dark, or almost black 
masses of tapering verdure, the effect woult. be by no 
means so satisfactory and pleasing, as if there were a 
pai-tial transition, from the mellow, pale green of the 
maples, etc., to the darker hues of the oak, ash, or beech, 
and finally to the sombre tint of the evergreens. Thus 
much for the coloring; and if, in addition to this, oblong 
headed trees, or pyramidal trees, were also placed near 
Or intermingled with the spiry topped ones, the unity of 
the whole composition would be still more complete.” 
But the limits of such an ax-ticle as this afford but little 
opportunity to examine the subject to any extent. An 
inexhaustible fund of instruction under this head may be 
found in a study of the beautiful specimens of natural 
groupings everywhere scattered among the fine scenery 
with which our country abounds. 
The three figures accompanying are intended to re¬ 
present some of the ornamental erections alluded to in 
the plan in the first number of the Cultivator. 
- - --- 
An Arched Gateway — (Fig. 39.) 
Fig. 39 is an arched gateway for a garden entrance, 
where the gothic style of architecture prevails in thehouse. 
It may be made of wood and painted, or of the rough 
trunks of trees with the bark on and thorougly white¬ 
washed, and then covered with delicate climbing shrubs. 
Fig. 40 is a covered 
arbor; the posts may be 
rough and round, and the 
roof made of unplaned 
boards, well whitewash¬ 
ed. The back side is 
covered with lattice- 
work. Climbers will 
render it sufficiently or¬ 
namental. Such an erec¬ 
tion is well suited for the 
back corner of the gar¬ 
den, represented in the 
plan in the first number. 
An Arhor — (Fig. 40.) 
—-—Jr 
An Alcove — (Fig. 41.) 
Fig. 41 is an alcove, to be placed facing the sun, and 
well sheltered by evergreens, and is intended as a cover¬ 
ed seat in cool sunny weather. It may be situated at the 
back corner on the left of the plan, if the aspect is right; 
but if not, it may stand at the termination of the straight 
walk in the garden, if no green house is there. If in 
Grecian style, as repx-esented, it may be made cheaply 
but if the house be in the pointed style, that style shouhl 
also prevail in the alcove, which woulxl perhaps be more 
in keeping with the wild expression of the evergreen 
trees around it. J. j. Thomas. 
PRODUCT OF A GARDEN. 
Editors of the Cultivator— Enclosed is a state¬ 
ment of the amount of produce from the Retreat Garden 
the last year. 
contains an acre and a quarter of land— 
The garden 
