8 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
made after the mushrooms have been gathered, and the 
loam disturbed by the removal of mushrooms should 
always receive a light sprinkling. Additional information 
furnished on request by the Pacific Pure Culture Company, 
Pacific, Mo. 
fruit and plant Notes, 
SHRUBS ATTRACTIVE IN WINTER. 
Nurserymen are frequently asked for varieties of shrubs which 
tend to brighten the landscape during the period when trees are 
more or less bare and cheerless. Shrubs for the winter period may 
be selected with at least two purposes in view. One is to give color 
and contrast by reason of peculiarities and characteristics of bark 
and the other is to secure plants which bear striking or attractive 
fruit. 
It is not necessary that the peculiarity of the fruit or bark be 
such that it is regarded as intrinsically beautiful, for almost any¬ 
thing on the tree in winter time breaks the monotony of the winter- 
scape and adds a feature of picturesqueness to the view, thus the 
withered leaves of the Chestnut, the Oak and the Beach, as they 
cling to the partly bare branches are important features in giving 
variety to the landscape. So it is with the list of shrubs which have 
bright or varied colored bark, or bear clusters of variously colored 
ruits. These two groups of shrubs are exceedingly useful on the 
lawn, in the park and cemetery and the shrubs which carries during 
the time when earth is covered by snow and shrubs are partly 
embowered in it, clusters of bright colored fruits, are exceedingly 
valuable for their suggestive purposes at least, in the winter land¬ 
scape. 
Among the shrubs with attractive bark are most members of the 
Cornus group. The Siberian Cornus alba, variety Sibirica, and 
Cornus stolonifera are two of the most useful sorts for this purpose. 
Among the Willows we have the yellow bark Salix vitellina, the 
bright green golden bell, Forsythia and the yellowish green kerria. 
Among the small trees and shrubby plants bearing attractive 
berries are the various members of the Barberry group. Two of 
the best are the common and the Japanese barberry. An old 
favorite is the Cranberry bush, Viburnum opulus, the black Alder, 
the Multiflora Rose, and Japanese Rose, Rosa rugosa. Another 
interesting plant of small tree proportions is the strawberry bush, 
Euonymous. This has a fruit closely resembling the climbing 
Bitter Sweet and just as attractive. 
Among trees with striking red berries are all the thorns, of which 
the Scarlet Thorn and Cockspur are the most attractive. The 
Mountain Ash of course is to be included. 
In addition to these we have a group of shrubs bearing variously 
colored fruits. Prominent in this group is the old-fashioned Snow- 
berry and the Indian Current. The latter is particularly useful for 
planting in hard soil and in exposed places. The Seabuckthorn, 
the Nanny berry, Siberian buckthorn and Regel’s Privet are attrac¬ 
tive small trees bearing fruit in winter time. The autumn is the 
best time to study these plants and they are constantly brought to 
our mind as we wander with open eyes in park and lawn. 
EDITORIAL WANDERINGS 
The Inland Empire of the West 
W HEN a man can carry his personal reminiscences of a 
region over a stretch of twenty years during the 
manhood period it makes him realize that the years 
are rolling rapidly. Twenty years ago the writer spent 
some months huntingdry land native grasses, in the valleys 
of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Utah. He 
did not revisit that particular region till December, 1908. 
Needless to say hewas amazed at the remarkable develop¬ 
ment apparent on every hand. The mining and lumbering 
industries have done much, but in most cases pronounced 
development has been dependent upon the cultivated pro¬ 
ducts of the soil. These coupled with the domestic animal 
crop are doing more to add to the population and wealth, 
than spectacular mining propositions or huge lumbering 
enterprises. Dry land farming in Montana and Idaho, or 
irrigation combined with dry land methods in Washington 
and eastern Oregon, are transforming the face of the country. 
At the time of our first visit to the valley of the Yellowstone 
in Montana the old regime of the nomadic rancher prevailed. 
The diversified farmer had hardly appeared. Today the 
grazing limits are clearly defined and the wheat-giower, the 
dairyman and the fruit-grower are found on every hand. 
Twenty years ago a few daring fruit-growers were planting 
Duchess and Wealthy apples, Hyslop and Whitney crabs in 
the Bitter Root valley of Montana. Today that region cap¬ 
tures third prize at the National Apple Show for the best car 
lot with a fine consignment of McIntosh. Livingston, the 
junction point for Yellowstone Park, in those former days 
consisted of a “shack” railway station, a saloon, and a store 
or two. Today we find a handsome stone depot in the heart 
of a modern town. We well remember securing the only room 
in the saloon-hotel of Missoula very late on Saturday night 
and feeling a trifle nervous over the boisterous sounds emanat¬ 
ing from the adjourning pool room. Now Missoula is a city 
of twelve to fifteen thousand whose citizens operate over one 
hundred automobiles. As the Bitter Root Valley has be¬ 
come noted for its fruit so the Gallatin Valley is famous for 
farm crops. While dry land farming is possible, water is 
available and assures the crop. 
Development Westward. 
Of course this Montana region and the country westward 
is practically controlled by the Hill system of Railroads and 
the policy of these roads determines what parts of the 
country forge ahead. Montana is not opened up yet by any 
means and the great development will come later. It seems 
to be a fact that the country farther west has been given 
first attention. This is probably good business on the part 
of the Railway companies. The dependence of these sec¬ 
tions upon water and transportation facilities is absolute. 
Many sections in the valleys of northern Washington are 
eagerly awaiting the arrival of water or railway or both. 
Given water and transportation, land values double and 
treble without improvement m the way of planting or 
building. This condition prevails also in south central 
Idaho where the Government irrigation projects are now 
