The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-02-01

seemly gap in our horticultural products
All pants are not alike in their facilit,
1or pelng modified, and from some neg
lectful mountain nook, our home garden
may perchance by unexpected results b,
permanently enriched. On this point ar
apt illustration occurs to me.
In 1862 while engaged in making botap
ical explorations in the high alpine dis
tricts of the Rocky mountains, l made my
first collection of Confer seed for distribu
ton, including besides rare and new spe
cies, and others we'll known from earl,
California collections. In sending off my
collections (mainly to Europc) naturally
called special attention to such as were
new and rare, but at the same time sent a
collection of all. In due time the seeds
were planted in widely remote localities,
where 1t would be impossible to trace
them out, but a few of each kind was re-
tanned by Prof. Gray, at Cambridge, Mas
sachusetts, and then sown. 1t seems that bv
some accident in transplanting the names
were misplaced, and eventually lost. so
That many years after, on visit, l was re-
quested TO examine the different plants
and name the species as we'll as I could
from what knew of them in their native
haunts in the Rocky Mountains. Of course
there was no difficulty in reference to the
douglass Spruce, which had been readily
recognized from its characteristic foliage,
but the striking difference which the tree
from the Rocky mountain seed, exhibited
oy the side of the same identical species
from California, was apparent as far as
they could be seen. The former thrifty.
with bright green foliage, then lust put
ting forth its early summer shoots; the
other with blighted branches, brown faded
leaves, and general decrepid growth. An
other species to which my attention was
directed, was justly regarded by its own
er as the Prince of the Lawn, presenting a
symmetrical cone of dense foliage covered
with peculiar BLUSH silvery bloom, indi-
eating in the abundance of stonaata. an
unusual vigor of growth. In this also
had no difficulty in recognizing my old
and familiar acquaintance the Nenstes
Spruce. The other species of spruce, or
pine On which L had laid so much stress,
and built so many horticultural hopes,
had been overlooked, or proved failures,
but was urgently advised in future col
lections to give special attention, and col
lect copiously of those common kinds.
which two thousand miles from their na-
tive habitation, had developed such re-
horticultural value. In view of
such iacts should be very reluctant to
adopt or sanction an opinion that has
been recently expressed in late discus
sion before this Society, that for ornamen-
tai cVcrgreenS in Iowa, we must be con-
tent with the stiff forms of the Norway
spruce, or the unSymmetriCal Scotch or
pine. However desirable these
may be In their proper sphere, and espec-
tally as adapted by long culture to horti-
cultural conditions, we may certainly hope
eventually to find something more grace
tul, more synetrical and dersely foliaged,
to grace our ornamental lawns, or act as
windbreaks to soften the force of our
fierce winter winds. Whether these desi-
rable acquisitions are to come from our
own adjacent mountains, or from far
Cathay, they must and will eventually be
secured.
Thus 1t appears even in our most casual
efforts there are occasional CLEANS of unex-
pected encouragement and an arrow shot
at random, may perchance hit the mark
better than one more carefully aimed
Let US then as opportunity offers, indulge
In some of this random horticultural
shooting, we can well afford to lose many
a shaft from the full botanical culver, if
only one occasionally falls into good
ground"
In that admirable and attractive French
work by Alphinse Karr; entitled "a tour
round my garden" the quaint writer Of
fers nice suggestion in representing his
imaginary hero in his various rambles,
dropping here and there, in suitable local
tiles, by hedge row or unfrequented paths,
choice garden seeds; and occasionally in
serting some choice CRAFTS in an austere
roadside apple tree, pleasing himself
meanwhile with the reflection of the won
der these unexpected horticultural pro-
ductions will awaken in the thoughtful
mind of some future traveller. | have oc-
casionally personally acted on this sugges-
tion, but would doubtless haye been more
encouraged in such a work of love if / had
been myself oftener the subject of such
wonder.
While however, drawing what encour-
agement we may from any irregular and
uncertain sources of possible success, we
must eventually come back to our first
starting point, and rely upon the patient
toll and persevering industry, which car
rying on the continuous thread of exper-
ience and research, unites the work of in
dividuals and generations by constant in
cessant and slow additions to the sum-to-
tai of grand results. To give desired unity
to this warp and woof of human toll; to
keep the thread continuous, and leave no
loose unravelled ends to mar the finished
fabrics. Our Agricultural College, our
horticultural and Agricultural Societies.
and our Industrial Journals constitute
most essential factors in Fastening on that
survival of the fittest," we are all individ-
ually striving after in the onward march
of the centuries.
DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan 7th. 1877.