asiatk; conikkhs. 



drive the strutting know-no(liin<T into tho, hack ijrounil, behind the tall hollyhocks 

 in the shrubbery, to keep liiiii fmiii furtli.T niiscliirl". 



As the folluwinij is somewhat apj)rojti)S to the present subject, T (piote it from 

 the Kivjlish (r'urdcner's Chronicle, of September I8th, IHo'i; "From information 

 statisticallv and otherwise carefully collected, it is foiiixl, tliat as a body, gardeners are 

 masters of more knowledge generally, and have received a better education than most 

 other j)rofessional classes of persons. 'J'he greater responsibility therefore attaches to 

 them in practically dittusing and turning the blessing to good account." How dif- 

 ferent is this compared with the recognised standard of the same class of men in 

 America. There are, however, some in this country, who are as good gardeners 

 as ever handled a knife in Britain, who have grown, and can grow again as fine speci- 

 mens, and are qualified to produce as good culture generally.* Let us have the same 

 quality of assistance, and the same opportimities, and there will soon be seen some 

 Chiswick grown specimens on tho tables of our horticultural societies. 



ASIATIC CONIFERS. 



BY JOHN SAUL, -WASHINGTON, D. C. 



In the temperate latitudes of America and Europe, where the winters are long and 

 severe, evergreen trees are objects of particular interest. At this we need not be sur- 

 prized, neither is the cause difficult to be di\ined. A\nien wrapped in the midst of 

 mnter — having perhaps wrecks of cold or snowy weather, the snow covering everything 

 as far as the eye can reach, with nothing to relieve it, the trees denuded of their foli- 

 age, and all vegetation not asleep only, but apparently annihilated — if we peep through 

 our windows we behold nothing save a perpetual, monotonous sheet of snow, the eye 

 soon becomes wearied, and we instinctively turn away to seek a little repose. But 

 how changed would all this appear had the eye alighted on a few graceful Norway 

 spruce, their branches loaded with singularly beautiful cones ; or some majestic hem- 

 lock spruce, <fec. Evergreens such as these would lend a charm to the scene. Ladies 

 and invalids, however confined by weather, may gaze with the most intense delight on 

 objects such as these — the most beautiful and graceful of nature's works. If we walk 

 abroad in this wintry season, what a contrast is afi"orded from the bleak, desolate 

 dreariness of deciduous trees to the rich and beautiful foliage of masses of evergreens 

 now in full dress, " decked in all their beauty." 



Persons acquainted with the well kept gardens of England, know well what a 

 beautiful eflfect evergreens have in the midst of winter, say the dreary month of Janu- 

 ary. If the weather is mild at this season — and it is not often severe — the many 



* That we have many intelligent and excellent practical garJeuprs in this countn', no one can doubt, (Mr. Chori-tok 

 himself is a godd example,) but somehow as yet tho pursuit has not attractcil many native bom Americans, not even 

 the sons of gardeners. It is not yet sufficiently elevated and well paid as a general thing. The great majority of 

 tliofe who come here from abroad and palm themselves off as gardeners, were nothing more than mere garden 

 laborers in their own country, and convey an unfavorable impression of the craft, sure enough. However, they are 

 gfKxl enougli f(jr places where the gardener is required to do all sorts of work, or in other words, to " make himself 

 generally usefiU." — Ed. 



