120 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



fcctly familiar with the history, present and prospective, of the several species 

 of trees to be planted, and with their perfect adaptation to the soil in which 

 they are planted, and also their accordance or otherwise with the surrounding 

 objects, such as rocks, brooks, mountains and forests, or with the grassy plains 

 and quiet waters of the lowland regions? 



What has been set forth as necessary knowledge on the part of the landscape- 

 gardener, to enable him properly to select single and avenue trees, may be 

 applied with equal force to the selection of those trees and shrubs that are to 

 be planted in groups and copses. The prospective and relative size of each 

 must be known, their forms should harmonize with one another, even their 

 peculiar tints, and the characters of their foliage should correspond with others 

 of the group, or part of the group, and where strong contrasts are desired, in 

 the way of a surprise, the knowledge and forethought of the planter will be 

 taxed severely to secure the desired happy result. Then again he must know 

 how to group together those species that are socially agreeable to one another; 

 for trees, like human beings, have their likes and dislikes, and have been 

 classed accordingly into those that are consociate and dissociate. Nor should 

 the evergreen conifers ever be closely mingled in a plantation of this kind with 

 broad-leaved deciduous trees. When such are combined they should be arranged 

 in masses of like kind, each distinct. This separation is not so necessary with 

 some of the broad-leaved evergreens that may succeed remarkably well as 

 undergrowth beneath the partial shade of coppice wood ; and in such situations 

 they also produce a very pleasing effect, both in the summer and in the winter 

 landscape. 



While speaking of evergreens, especially the common pines, spruces, lirs and 

 junipers, this warning may be given : let the landscape-gardener beware of the 

 rock upon which so many have made shipwreck, by planting too largely of this 

 class, which will give a sombre appearance and a gloomy feeling to the whole 

 outlook. In their proper place, and even in large masses, if relieved by groups 

 of deciduous trees, or by masses of rocks, however, the evergreens are invalu- 

 able factors in landscape gardening. Their peculiar beauties are most highly 

 appreciated in the dreary months of winter, and, when bedecked with snowy 

 wreaths, they are often most wonderfully attractive. 



When planted singly or in open groups, evergreens should be trained in such 

 a manner as to preserve the lower branches. This may easily be accomplished 

 in most species, for the first half-century of their existence, by an occasional 

 shortening-in of the higher branches, which should not be allowed to extend 

 beyond those below them. The aged, centenarian tree makes a noble object 

 when rearing its broad, flat top on high, supported by a tall, clear bole; not 

 so the younger sapling, the branches of which should nestle upon the ground, 

 from whence its graceful and informally conical figure should rise clearly and 

 distinctly. Such, however, is not the universal habit of all conifers ; some of 

 them are more massy and umbrageous, but in the case of the firs and spruces, 

 the conical form is most natural, and may even become too formal unless they 

 be judiciously managed and sparingly planted. 



In the extensive forests of northern Europe, especially, the younger planta- 

 tions of this class of trees are most weird-like and ghostly in their appearance. 

 When partially concealed by dazzling snow wreaths, in the young forest plan- 

 tations, they are indeed remarkable objects, but not adapted to ornament the 

 quiet scenes of the landscape-garden. 



