The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-09-24
Trees for the House Lot.

Much has been said and writ
ten on the proper kind Of trees
to plant near a house, their
number and proximity; that a house
IN town or county clocks lonesome
without some trees or ~shrubbery about
it is the general sentiment. Trees GER
tainly give the place a pleasant APP
pearance. They invite song birds that
are always welcome. They not only
temper the wind but the rays of the
summer sun. There is nothing AMI
mate or inanimate, natural or %artifici-
al, as beautiful as a fine tree. Trees
are the cheapest ornaments for either
large or small places. A comparatively
cheap house surrounded by fine trees
and shrubs will present a more beauti-
full appearance than a very costly man.
sion standing on naked ground. Per-
sons of ean who have good taste
build country residences in natural
forests or groves, being careful to re-
move a portion of the trees if they are
very thick, and to prune others so as
to let in the sunlight. In most parts
of the country land in the vincinity of
lakes and rivers that is covered with
pine shade trees has become very valu-
able property. 1t is wanted by city
people who can afford country resi-
dences and who do not wish 10 wait for
trees to grow.
That many persons have planted too
many trees about their dwellings, have
planted them too near it, and have not
exercised proper judgment about select
ing varieties are matters of common OBJ
s~erYation. In some cases they have
buried their houses out of sight. They
have planted trees so thickly that they
have shut out most of tie sunlight. and
prevented the free circulation of the
air. They have caused so dense a shade
on their grounds that grass and flowers
will not grow. They have rendered
their houses dark and damp, and have
caused the ground around it to be con-
stantly moist. Their trees are so thick
that only those on the borders of the
lot have q chance to grow. Some who
have not converted the house lot into a
wood lot have planted tress that are
not very ornamental, but which affords
q vast amount of trouble. They drop
their leaves, not only in the fall. but
during most of the growing season.
Some of the trees are preferred by in
sects, which cover their leaves or
branches with nests. Others are liable
to have their trunks pierced by borers,
while still others throw up sprouts
from their roots.
Trees for a house lot should be hardy,
Clearly, not liable to attacks of insects,
and long-lived. They should have fine
foliage, but it should not cast SO dense
a shade as to prevent grass, shrubs,
and flowers from growing near them.
Trees that invite and harbor insects or
which are liable to shed their leaves at
n time il the weather is u~nfavorable
are very Objectionable. Those that
send out suckers from the base of the
trunk or sprouts from the roots are
also Objectionable, as they hardly ever
present a fine appearance. Trees that
are so lofty as to injure buildings in
case they break or blow over, or which
shade the roof of the house and cast
leaves on it are also among those that
| should be discarded. The sugar or
rock maple Is almost free from objec-
tions. The foliage is fine during the
summer and is still more beautiful
during the autumn. The three-thorn-
ed ocacia is another excellent tree for
the house lot. 1t produces only a par
tial shade. 1t is a handsome, clean
tree, not liable to attacks OF insects.
Tho only objection to 1t Is its thorns,
| which, when they become very large,
are liable to fall to the ground, when
they become dangerous to persons and
animals.
An English landscape gardener has
lately been writing in praise OF fruit
trees for planting on the house lot, ca.
pecially If it is the only ground owned
| or controlled by the occupants OF the
house. He says that many varieties of
apple, pear, and cherry trees are quite
a ornamental as any Of the trees
planted solely for the purpose Of adorn-
ment. They have the fine forms. pro-
duce d good shade. and not only have
fine foliage but beautiful flowers and
fruits. The trees are useful as well as
ornamental. They supply food and
minister to our desire for beauty. An
American gardener, however. strongly
c0ndemns fruit trees for planting on
fhe house lot. He states that many Of
the fruit trees raised in this country.
and more cspeciafs In the west, are
liable to 90 sickly and are generally