to the question, "What new variety can be recommended for planters?" he said the Parker Earle had given good results. The plants sent from Texas throve as well as those that he had grown. The only trouble with the Yale is its lack of productiveness. It is adapted to clay soils. It is the best canning berry ever introduced, having a rich dark color. In New York the Eureka sold for 15 while the Crescent brought 5 cents. He thought that knotty berries were caused by imperfect fertilization and that they occurred when heavy winds prevailed at the time of blossoming, blowing the pollen away and thus injuring the young forming fruit. Incidentally to the discussion, Dr. Collier said that the fungous spores can be carried a long distance. The pollen of the birch had fallen on the deck of a vessel 10 miles from shore.

C. 8. CHAPMAN,

In Rural New Yorker.

THE PALACE OF HOME.

BY ROBERT WALKER, GRIGGSVILLE.

The happiest kingdom that ever was seen-
The farmer was king, the wife was the queen;
He went to his orchard of fruit rich and rare,
The peach and the apple, the plum and the pear.
He went to his work with his heart full of glee,
His toil was a pleasure, his labor wa free;
In gathering fruit, or in harvesting grain,
He was lord of the realm in his little domain.

He knew that his wife had great love for a flower,
So he planted some roses and made her a bower;
It was there that the thrush and the robin and wren

Sang sweetly at daylight to wake them again.

You may talk of the beauties of Fame's splendid dome,
But happiness dwells in the Palace of Home;

If you ask for an emblem of heaven above,

Take a home on a farm with contentment and love.

Then quit your tobacco, your whisky and beer,
And furnish a home with enough of good cheer;
Let this be your maxim wherever you roam:
"Let happiness dwell in the Palace of Home."

DESIRABLE SHADE TREES-A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST VARIETIES.

BY J. J. HARRISON.

[This paper was expected at annual meeting at Ravenna, but the illness of Mr. Harrison prevented.-SECRETARY.]

It is with a feeling of diffidence that I attempt to mention a few desirable trees and shrubs for general planting. Tastes differ so greatly that what one may admire another will condemn. I know of no tree that I should be prouder to see in my lawn collection

than a fine specimen of Weeping Cut Leaved Birch, erect, slender, tall, symmetrical, with silvery white bark, finely cut foliage and graceful pendant branchlets. And yet a friend of mine objected to it, remarking that he was not ready to turn his lawn into a cemetery. The association spoils the tree for his planting-why the association I cannot tell; possibly the first specimen that attracted his attention was growing in a cemetery and as first impressions are the strongest he cannot disassociate it from the gloom of the grave-but to me it is a tree of suuny cheerfulness, whose delicate grace renders it the queen of trees for lawn planting. Beautiful in summer with is light, airy, pensile branches in quiet repose, or swayed and caressed by the passing breeze, or in winter as it lifts its head among its compeers a quiet sentinel, its bark on pole and branches vieing with earth's winter mantle in silvery whiteness.

The constitution of our mind, differ as greatly as our countenances. No two faces can be found exactly alike, neither can any two minds. The same marvelous principle applies through all nature, even down to the trees and shrubs whose merits are the object of this paper. The great diversity of character that is exhibited among trees even of the same genus in outline, trunks, branches, leaves, twigs, etc., is unlimited. Assign a child with the task of finding two well grown trees exactly alike, and though he were ever so faithful in the search his youth would pass to manhood, that to decrepitude and himself to the grave without the fulfillment of his task. Nearly every tree and shrub named in this list may be objected to by some who may have met with them under un-* favorable circumstances. Growing perhaps in unsuitable soil, too wet or too dry for the species. Or soil naturally sterile, or impoverished of the elements necessary to their fullest development or deformed by being in too close proximity, crowded and overshadowed until it has become stunted, warped or twisted out of natural shape, like the bodies and even souls of some of the human species. Trees as well as men must have pro

Betula Alba-Europ an White Weeping
Birch.

pitious surroundings to develop the highest type of comeliness. No tree can attain its greatest beauty without its surroundings are such as to produce a healthful, vigorous growth. The soil must be of such a quality that it will supply all the wants of nutrition. Room must be given it for the fullest development of every root, limb, twig and leaf. Few thus attain the full measure of their beauty without complete exposure to the sun. It is true that certain species of trees and shrubs will develop more fully in shade than others. In the forest the sympathy of the individual tree must to a great measure be merged in the grand ffect produced in the whole mass. It is also necessary to sacrifice the highest type of individual perfection in lawn and park grouping to produce the most striking effect. Here is where the landscape gardener's art "doth mend nature"

so arranging, combining or contrasting the individuals that the expression as a whole, will produce the most pleasing effect. The Cut Leaved Weeping Birch heretofore mentioned is botanically Betula Pendula Laciniata.

Betula Alba - European White Weeping Birch. In growth about the same as the Cut Leaved, but not as delicate in branch or foliage. It has silvery white bark and as it attains age drooping branchlets, retains its leaves later in the autumn, assuming a mellow golden hue most charming to every lover of autumn foliage.

Betula Fastigiata-Pyramidal Birch. This tree has an elegant pyramidal form similar to the Lombardy Poplar, although not quite as fastigiate. Like the preceding it has siiver white bark and is highly ornamental in every situation. There are several other varieties of the Betula family including two more of pendulous habit and one with purple foliage, but the ones described are the most prominent..

Fagus-The Beech. A grand forest tree both in Europe and America, the leading sorts attaining large size, and covering vasts tracts of land with dense forests. The soil in which the Be ch baturally thrives best is not the richest in humas but usually a common clay, and not as valuable for general agricultural purposes as some soils. Still it transplants easily, and will thrive in almost all soils. While the native trees are grand, noble tres and should have a place in all large plantings, I shall confine my remarks to the varieties that are the most ornamental in their character.

Fagus heterophylla-Fern-leaved Beech. A tree of elegant roundish habit, and delicately cut fern like leaves; remarkably graceful and pretty during the growing season. One of the most desirable lawn trees.

Fagus incisa-Cut-leaved Beech. This is more erect and free-growing than the fernleaved, with deeply cut foliage, a variety of great excellence.

Fagus pendula-Weeping Beech. A remarkably vigorous, picturesque tree. Its mode of growth is extremely curious; the trunk usually obtains a perpendicular, with branches twisting, tortuous, spreading and pendulous. A specimen thirty to forty feet high, in the distance has a grand fountain like appearance when covered with its wealth of glossy, luxuriant foliage, but in winter, when divested of its leaves, and the twisting. tortuous branches are revealed, the illusion has vanished.

Fagus purpurea-Purple-leaved Beech. This is one of the finest of tree novelties, attaining a height of forty or fifty feet. In the spring its young twigs and leaves are of a bright purplish color, approaching to crimson, gradually changing, as the season advances, until the autumn, when it fades down to a dull, purplish green, thus contrasting all the season through with the lively green of other trees. The majority of purple beech are seedlings and vary somewhat in the depth of their coloring. River Furple Beech, which is propagated by grafting, is the most desirable sort, the purple being darker and the crimson more distinct.

Magnolia. All the large varieties so far known are natives of this country; the foreign, although not attaining to as great size, are much more floriferous. All are remarkable for the richness of their foliage, and several for the enormous size of their leaves. Some varieties produce a wealth of blossoms before the foliage makes its appearance, and other kinds producing flowers of exquisite fragrance. All are not hardy, but such as are herein named are hardy here. The whole family are somewhat difficult to transplant, more so in fall than in spring. Even in the spring success is doubtful if delayed until the leaf buds are much swollen.

Magnolia tripetila-Umbrella Tree. An American variety. Its immense leaves make it a noticeable object wherever planted. The flowers are no less conspicuous, being four to six inches in diameter, which are produced in June, and which are succeeded by large, rare-colored fruit cones, which open when ripe, the scarlet seeds hanging from them by slender threads. Its tropical foliage, prominent fruit cones and scarlet berries attract attention the season through.

Magnolia Soulangeana. This is a hybrid of Chinese lineage and one of the most showy and popular of hardy flowering trees. One of the first to put forth blossoms in the spring before the leaves appear. The flowers are large, tulip-shaped, the upper portion of the petals are white, the lower shaded purple, and produced in such profusion that the limbs and twigs are scarcely visible. A well-grown tree in full bloom, with thousands of expanded flowers, is a magnificent sight, resembling an immense pyramidal bouquet fifteen or more feet high. Some years ago a Mr. McIntosh, of Cleveland, had such a tree at his nursery, for which he was offered five hundred dollars if he would safely remove it to a Euclid avenue lawn.

Magnolia Speciosa-Showy Flowered Magnolia. Similar to the Soulangeana in growth and foliage, but the flowers are not quite as large, the white predominating; it is about a week later in b'ossoming and the flowers remain on the tree in perfect condition longer than those of any other of the Chinese varieties.

Magnolia Superba. This is another Chinese hybrid, differing but little from the Soulangeana, except the flowers are a little darker.

Magnolia Conspicua-Chinese White Magnolia Chandelier or Yulan. A Chinese variety especially attractive; its large, white, fragrant flowers covering the tree before a particle of green appears.

Magnolia obovata purpurea-Chinese Purple Magnolia. This is more of a shrub than tree, growing six to eight feet high with a breadth usually greater than its heighth. Its leaves are of a peculiarly deep glossy green, with showy purple flowers in May and June. It is not quite as hardy as the Soulangeana type, but it does well in the northern part of the State under the influence of the lake.

Magnolia obovata purpurea-Chinese Purple

Magnolia.

Salisburia Adianthifolia-Ginko or Maiden's Hair Tree A remarkable rare and eleg int tree from Japan, with long branches leading outward and upward at an angle of about 45 degrees, and curious palmate leaves resembling the Maiden Hair Fern. It is a free grower, attaining a height of forty to fifty feet. It produces a large edible nut. Should be planted near the walk or house, where its singularly pretty leaves can be readily seen.

Acer Maple. A family of trees of vigorous growth and regular outline, many of them remarkable for the beauty of their foliage, especially in autumn when their green crimson and gold impart to many a landscape wondrous beauty. Their general adaptation to most soils and locations deservedly renders them universally popular. As the American varieties are generally well known it is unnecessary to mention them here, but I will make mention of a few of the foreign sorts.

Acer platinoides-Norway Maple. A native of Europe, as its name indicates. It is a very interior, tardy growing tree for the first few years in the nursery, but as it becomes established its growth is stout and rapid. Its foliage is more shining, darker and denser, it puts forth its leaves earlier in the spring and retains them later in the fall than the sugar maple. These peculiarities, combined with compact habit and sturdy, vigorous growth as it attains age, make it one of the most desirable for the street, park or lawn.

Acer Schwedlierii-Purple Leaved Norway Maple. This is a new, beautiful, distinct and conspicuous variety, with young shoots and leaves of a bright purplish crimson color, which turn to a purplish green in the older leaves. It is one of the most desirable trees of recent introduction.

Acer Reitenbachi-Reitenbach's Purple Norway Maple. A new distinct variety, bronzy purple leaves, which retain their color well through the season.

with

Acer Wierii, Laciniatum. Wier's Cut-leaved Silver Maple. A variety of the Silver Maple, and one of the most desirable trees, with deeply cut foliage. Its growth is rapid, with slender shoots, giving it a graceful, pendulous habit. The Acer family is very numerous and widely distributed over the face of the earth. No introduction of foreign trees has created so universal sensation as that of the Japanese Maples. A distinct class of dwarf bushy trees of singular grace and beauty. There are many varieties. Some with highly colored leaves, some with an almost pure white variegation, some pink, some purple, some with crimson twigs, some deeply and delicately cut, giving them an elegant, fern-like appearance. All would be desirable if they would adapt themselves readily to the change of climate and soil, but unfortunately they will not, at least that is my experience, and I would advise no one to indulge in them, unless they have an especially protected position in which to plant them.

Esculus. Horse Chestnut. All the varieties are of somewhat formal outline when young, but as they increase in age they lose their formality of contour and become magnificent trees.

Esculus, Alba, Flora, pleno. Double White Flowering Horse Chestnut. Like the European White, it is magnificent in stature, richly clothed, with broad, palmated leaves. Its massive growth contrasts well with trees of a more open, airy character, which in a great measure atones for the too great regularity of its form. The foliage is of the purest green, and when surmounted with its large, beautiful, hyacinth-like spikes of double white flowers, it is queen of all, as no other tree at the season of its blossoming can claim to rival it.

Esculus Rubicunda. Red Flowering Horse Chestnut. A remarkably fine variety, with showy red flowers, opening a little later than the Double White. The foliage is somewhat of a darker green. One of the most valuable of ornamental trees.

Catalpa.

Alnus Alder. The cut-leaved varieties of this family are particularly elegant and ornamental. They are rapid growers, with large, deeply cut foliage, almost fern-like in appearance. There are but few finer lawn trees. There are two varieties, the Cut-leaved and Imperial Cut-leaved, the latter being the most vigorous grower, with larger and more deeply cut foliage.

Catalpa. Two at least of the varieties of Catalpas are worthy of place in all collections, for their rapid growth, the great size of their heart-shaped leaves, and the large, showy, fragrant blossoms, which do not appear until July, when most other trees are through. They make effective and tropical looking lawn trees. These are Teas Japan and Speciosa.

Cornus Florida. Dogwood. This is one of our native trees that is not fully appreciated. It is remarkable for the size and showiness of its large white blossoms, which make their appearance in April, before the leaves, and cover the tree with immense snowflakes. One of the most conspicuous in the spring, and in autumn its foliage turns to a deep red, making it a