Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-07-14
RURAL ECONOMY.
Improve and Beauty the Farm
Hardy Native Shrubs and Trees That Can Be
Employed for ornsmenting Placss-fhe
Grass Crop, Etc.
improving the Farm.


are covered with flowers and foliage is
the best time to make selections
for planting on the farm with
view of identifying it The APP
pearance of a place can be gre at
ly improved by planting ornamental
trees and shrubs in places where they
will show to the best advantage. As
rule they will present the most attrac-
tive appearance whom planted in clus-
ters or clumps II is not necessary to
obtain costly trees and shrubs of foreign
origin for this purpose. They are less
likely to prove hardy than those that
are indigenous. and few of them are as
beautiful Almost every part of the
country abounds in very beautiful small
trees and large shrubs suitable for or.
namenting farms. If not on the fiat
prairies they can be found along any
of the water courses or in the newest
forests. They are easily transplanted
and many of them can be readily pro-
pagated by seeds or cuttings
They require no cultivation except
keeping the ground free from weeds
and grass; need little pruning and no
protection.
The common sumnch grows well on
rocky hills. grayelly knobs, or any dry
land. and presents a fine appearance
during most of the year. The leaves
are very large. and in the fall their
color changes from green 70 yellow.
brown aud red. The clusters of fruit
are highly ornamental. and remain on
the branches till late in the winter. A
fine contrast with the sumach is afford
ed by the elderberry bush. The stalks
are smooth and very pretty. the foliage
abundant and line. the blossoms pure
white and fragrant aud the berries
highly ornamental and useful for many
purposes. A clump of elders sur
rounded by sumachs presents very
prim appearance from early spring till
winter. Both plants are clearly and
hardy. There are twenty-five varieties
of the dogwood tree in this country,
and there are few localities where
three or four kinds are not found.
Few of them grow more than fifteen
feet high, and all of them are very or.
namental. Their leaves, flowers and
fruit are all very beautiful They APP
pear 10 do best on tolerably moist and
rich soil.
The hawthorn has been praised by
all the English poets from Chaucer to
Tennyson. II has impaired a charm
70 every landscape in Great Britain.
II was the fayorite shrub for planting
to form hedges. In them it served all
the purposes Of besuly and utility. The
English hawthorn, however, did not
prove 10 be a serviceable hedge plant
Ia this country. The cold winters and
hot dry summers did not agree With
it. When severely pruned, as ii needs
to be to make a thick hedge, the
trunk and branches become scorched
by the sun and are liable TO be killed.
II has also many insect enemies in
this country. We have, however,
about a dozen native species of
hawthorn in this country. any of
which are worthy of a place on the
farm. In point of beauty they have
few equals among the trees and
shrubs Their wood is so firm that ii
Is not liable to injury OF any kind.
These trees make very good screens.
but they are deserving of attention for
their beauty alone. Trees suitable for
transplanting can be obtained of
nurserynen on the borders Of forests or
can be raised from seed. The seed
terminates slowly, and should be
buried in bags in cool, shady place,
and allowed to remain from the fall in
which It is gathered Till year from
the next spring.
The red bud or Judas tree is remark
able for producing blossoms in the
spring before ii does leaves. 1t is quite
common in southern illinois, where it
becomes a stately tree. As 1t is re-
moved north it is dwarfcd by the cold,
but produces as many flowers as speci-
mems found further south A few
specimens of the mountain ash and
nigh-bush cranberry are worth obtain
ing and planting for the beauty of
their fruit. Tho common buckeye aud
the horse chestnut are very desirable
on account of their shape and beauty
of their leaves. They can be easily
raised from seed. None of the ever
greens need any commentator. They
are beautiful at all seasons of the
year Those of large size are expen-
sive when obtained of nurserymen and
transported long distances, but small
ones can be bought at low rates and
can be cultivated in rows till they are
large enough to set out when they are
wanted. There is little difficulty in
raising the red cedar from seed, and
the trees will grow among rocks and in
many places where most trees fail. As
ornaments to pastures they have few
superiors and animals are not likely to
injure them.
A few white birches present very
fine appearance. Common and honey
locust aud the three horned acacia
present very fine appearance late In
the season, but they are slow to put
out leaves in the spring. They can all
be readily raised from seed. A few
clusters Of lilacs and snowballs will add
great beauty 10 field or meadow, and
they are both easily raised from layers
or cuttings. To produce large num-
Dor Of fne blossoms they should stand
In ground that Is not shaded and which