Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-09-25


in town or country ''looks lonesome
without some trees or shrubbery about
II is the general sentiment. Trees GER
tainly give the place q pleasant an
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 an,
mate or inanimate. natural or artiiici-
al as beautiful as fine tree. Trees
are the cheapest ornaments for either
large OF small places. A comparatively
cheap house surrounded by fine trees
and shrubs will present u more beauti-
full appearance than very costly man,
sion standing on naked ground. Per-
sons of means who have good taste
build country residences in natural
forests or groves. being careful to re-
move 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
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 to 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
servation. In some cases they have
buried their houses out of sight They
have planted trees so thickly that they
have shut out most of the sunlight, and
prevented the free circulation of the
air. They have caused so dense 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 chance to grow. Some who
have not converted the house lot into .
wood lot have planted tress that are
not very ornamental, but which affords
q vast amount of trouble. They drop
their leaves. not onlysin 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,
cleanly, not liable 10 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
any time if the weather is unfavorable
are very Questionable. Those that
send out suckers from the base of the
trunk or sprouts from the roots are
also Objectionable, as they hardly ever
present fine appearance. Trees that
are so lofty as 10 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-
tons. 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 q par
tial shade. 1t is handsome, clean
tree, not liable to attacks OF insects.
The only objection 10 it 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, es-
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
as ornamental as any of the trees
planted solely for the purpose of adorn-
ment They have the fine forms, pro-
duce 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
condemns fruit trees for planting on
the house lot. He states that many of
the fruit trees raised in this country,
and more especially in the west, are
liable to DC sickly and are generally
very short-lived. Many of them har-
Dor insects that feed on their wood,
leaves, and fruit. The ''wind-falls"
from these trees are an annoyance to
those who keep their grounds in good
condition. If the fruit that falls is not
Immediately gathered it will rot on the
ground or attract numerous insects