Introduction

In no country in the world are there so many well-to-do people as in the United States, or so many who own comfortable and even beautiful homes, and on every hand we hear the call for information as to the most beautiful decorative trees, shrubs, and plants and their proper use and arrangement to produce the most pleasing effects. The enormous trade in ornamental trees, shrubs, and plants among our nurserymen is an indication of the extent of the work of improvement and decoration that is going on among our people and the consequent need of knowledge and skill in order to make the best use of these materials.

The agricultural and horticultural press of the country has done much and is increasing its efforts to diffuse the needed knowledge. The nurserymen and dealers in ornamentals by their catalogues so profusely illustrated and scattered broadcast over the land are also helping on the good work, though in many cases by their undue praise of untried novelties they often lead the unskilled planter to make serious mistakes and great loss.

Landscape gardeners and architects have played a large and important part in developing the great beauty seen in so many of our country and suburban towns; the great majority of our people, however, those in limited circumstances who are straining every effort to pay for the home they are building, are unable to avail themselves of their often costly advice, bat must content themselves with obtaining from other sources such knowledge as will enable them to properly care for the ornamental trees, shrubs, or plants that they may be able to procure, and to so group and combine them with the lawn, the dwelling and other buildings, and with the surrounding conditions as to make not only a beautiful home-picture, but also to harmonize with any beautiful homes or estates adjoining or near by, that the beauty may be as widespread as possible.

While thus supplying the above call for knowledge in a concise and practical way has been the central idea in the construction of this book, the instructions in the principles of growth and care, grouping and arrangement, underlying successful work in home ornamentation are equally adapted to the more extended work of decorating large estates, parks, and other public grounds, and some few hints are given as to the management of public squares, school-yards, cemeteries, the construction of country roads, and roadside improvements.

It has been the author's aim to give plain and simple descriptions of each tree, shrub, or plant recommended, to present those that are of real value under ordinary conditions, and to give full and careful direction as to soil best adapted to the growth of each, and the special care, training, pruning, etc., required for their best growth.

In presenting this book to the public it is with the view of supplying the knowledge so much needed and sought for in a practical, condensed form that shall enable the homeowner and -builder, occupied with the daily cares of business, to make beautiful his surroundings; and the author hopes that, after more than 20 years of experience in teaching and practising the art of ornamental gardening, he may be able to fill in a measure this long-felt want.

Many imperfections will, no doubt, be found in the work, for which kind indulgence and friendly criticism is asked, that such imperfections may be remedied in a revised edition at an early date.

S.T.M.

Acknowledgments.

The author wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to those who have kindly assisted him in the preparation of this work, and especially to

The "Country Gentleman," Albany, N.Y., for the loan of woodcuts of Figs. 3 and 4.

Ellwanger & Barry, Rochester, N. Y., for the loan of electros of Figs. 78, 80, 85, 96, 98, 99, 100, 103, 106, 108, and 125.

Thomas Meehan & Sons, Germantown, Philadelphia, Pa., for assistance in obtaining electros and the loan of Figs. 92 and 101.

F.E. Pierson Co., Tarrytown-on-Hudson, N. Y., for the loan of electro of Fig. 16.

Henry A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Pa., for assistance in obtaining electros and the loan of Fig. 140.

Chas. A. Green, Rochester, N. Y., and the J. T. Lovett Co., Little Silver, N. J., for assistance in obtaining electros.

The Entomological Division of the Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, for electros, specific acknowledgments of which have been made elsewhere.

The New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station for the loan of electro of Fig. 48.

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