220 
The Garden Magazine, May, 1924 
noble a monument to that great pioneer who all his life saw 
visions of tree planting and has left enduring memorials of his 
beliefs throughout Nebraska, where he dwelt, and elsewhere in 
the West. Not only this territory, but also the whole United 
States is to be congratulated on the materialization of what was 
long in his mind. 1 his needed institution is now made possible 
by Mr. Morton’s gift of 400 acres,, the greater part in heavy hard¬ 
wood forest, and the scope of the institution is clearly outlined 
in the accounts of the Deed of Trust, quoted above. 
>' Construction actually began in the fall of 1921 and progress 
has been made steadily since. The roads have been laid out, 
and some are already in use, and lakes have been constructed 
and one quarter of a mile of trees and shrubs has been already 
planted. To insure the ultimate effectiveness of this experi¬ 
mental beginning, Mr. O. C. Simonds has been retained as 
landscape architect. 
» The first thought has been to display the woody plants native 
to Illinois, and then successively plants of the Middle West, the 
Eastern, and the Western coastal plains, as well as the remaining 
temperate zones of the world; although the present restrictions 
of the Federal Horticultural Board would seem a definite hin¬ 
drance in this larger direction. The main part of the Arboretum 
is to be occupied by family groups arranged as far as possible 
according to their relationship. Grass walks will lead the visitor 
between the species of the first section on one side, and the 
hybrids of those species on the other side; then to the hybrids 
between the species of the first and second section on to the 
species of the second section, etc. 
The appeal to the garden maker is borne in mind also, for 
nestled into the natural contours and sheltered bv the heavy 
Oak woods a large Rose garden will take form, and here will be 
demonstration collections of the climbing varieties and garden 
hybrids, while close by will be the wild Roses embracing some 
hundred and fifty species and varieties arranged in a natural 
way. 
By this continuity of the family groups and species their stud)' 
will be made much easier and more interesting and at the same 
time be pleasing to the general public by bordering the roads 
through these family groups with a prominent member; as, for 
example, through the Rosaceae with wild Roses. 
One of the special ideas to be developed will be the plantations 
of geographical groups in the hope of creating natural types of 
forest, representative of Eastern and Western American woods, 
Japanese, Chinese, Siberian, central European, etc. The high 
mountain shrubs of the world will be brought together in a 
secluded rockery. 
Along woodland borders there will be planted many groups 
for landscape effect with the effort 
to discover the best combinations 
of shrubs, divided into spring, sum¬ 
mer, and fall groups; a very im¬ 
portant undertaking and one sorely 
needed for the region. 
An important task for the more 
scientific work of the Arboretum is 
the study of tree hybrids of doubt¬ 
ful origin, a slow and difficult pro¬ 
cess involving much labor and 
years of study, but the results may 
be of great value generations hence 
in the forest products industries. 
Ample and elegant facilities for 
library and herbarium are pro¬ 
vided in connection with the found¬ 
er’s residence, located on one of 
the highest points of the property, 
surrounded by a splendid Oak 
forest whence one may look through 
long vistas east and south across 
fertile valleys having sufficient 
LIBRARY AND HERBARIUM AT THE NEW ARBORETUM 
A focal point for all the indoor activities of extensive research 
where laboratories will be maintained, records kept, 
bulletins published, and the practical outdoor work of the 
big Arboretum will be ably and scientifically supplemented 
agricultural activities to make a delightful and interesting 
prospect. 
It would take many pages to deal with all phases and details 
of the development of so large an Arboretum. Growth of the 
whole scheme will, of course, be slow even though the rich deep 
alluvial soil offers cultural opportunities of exceptional value for 
the trees etc. It will take a generation to develop the domi¬ 
nating elements, but only a few years to make a fine showing with 
the flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants. Such an institu¬ 
tion must perforce bring a new interest and influence to the 
garden and planting problems of the Middle West, and perhaps 
it is an auspicious beginning and is a portent of a future which 
will be wise enough to establish an Arboretum in every state, to 
the end that people my develop a greater appreciation of the 
beauties and enobling influences of natural landscape. 
A GLIMPSE IN THE MORTON ARBORETUM 
There are many fine native Haws on this property of 400 acres among the gently 
rolling and heavily wooded hills near Lisle, Illinois, and recently dedicated to 
splendidly constructive uses through the generous vision of Mr. Joy Morton 
