Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 51-55 (1923) (20474908036)

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters), no. 51-55
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv5155penn (find matches)
Year: 1923 (1920s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forests and Waters
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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Both these plants have been extensively propagated by grafting, and these and various other varieties may now be purchased from growers of orna- mental nursery stock. The two Japanese species also have been propagated from cuttings and are sometimes grafted on to our native hemlock. In addition to its value as an ornamental tree the hemlock has been used rather widely as a hedge shrub. It makes an attractive hedge, which is particularly showy when the delicate new shoots of spring appear. Careless trimming and neglect will spoil a hemlock hedge. Some landscape gardeners recommend it especially for small enclosures near houses to protect delicate plants and shrubbery. CHRISTMAS TREES During recent years the hemlock has gained great popularity as a Christ- mas tree. As far as beauty of form and foliage are concerned this popu- larity is well merited for when gaily decorated with tinsel, bright ornaments, and colored lights the hemlock is as handsome a Christmas tree as can be found. There is one feature of the hemlock that it is wtII to keep in mind, how- ever, when selecting it for a Christmas tree and that is, the tree must be freshly cut or the needles will drop off the branches soon after it is placed in a heated room. If one wishes to bring a hemlock into the home at Christmas time and decorate it, there is a better way than by buying a cut tree, a w^ay that will insure that the needles will remain fresh, keep their delightful woodsy fragrance, and not fall off in a day or two. Most up-to-date commercial nurseries sell hemlock transplants and ornamental stock. One may select a fine bushy hemlock and have it planted in a pot or tub, which may be used as a part of the landscaped yard or lawn throughout the year. When the holidays arrive the tree in its container may be brought into the home and decorated. If kept well watered and if not allowed to remain too long in the warm house, the plant can be set out of doors after it has served as a Christmas tree. By this method one is sure of having a fresh Christmas tree each year, and the original investment may well be the last one. Since the custom of stringing colored lights on trees that stand on the lawn before the home has become so wide-spread, one may use hemlocks for this purpose simply by planting them where an electric outlet is accessible. If the prospective planter is not certain of his ability to plant a large hem- lock so that It will grow and thrive, there are nurserymen and landscape architects who make a specialty of this type of planting and who will guar- antee that any tree they may plant that does not succeed will be replace.! tree of further charge. IS THE HEMLOCK POISONOUS? ^ Students acquiring classical knowledge often mistakenly get the impres- sion that the hemlock is poisonous because they are taught that a certain tatal drug of that name was occasionally meted out to those citizens of ancient Athens who were so unfortunate as to embarrass the governing Lnl-'" ^T^ ""'^'^f fair Grecian city. They recall that the b^ld philo- sophical and social ideas of Socrates, who spoke too often and too well, were eventually quenched by a draught brewed from the hemlock. But whar 16
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Among The Hemlocks Along Beautiful Mohawk Trail In Cook Forest Park 17

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