EVERGREEN SHRUBS 



BY B. MUNN, LANDSCAPE GARDENER, NEW YOEK. 



While I fully agree with "IIorticola" in his admiration of evergreens, as being 

 indispensabl)'- requisite to the perfection of shrubbery plantations, I can assure him he 

 is much mistaken in supposing thai they receive but " little attention." On the con- 

 trary, it is a branch of my profession that has occupied a large share of study and 

 experiment, with myself, at least, for a long time past. Well may you lament, Mr. 

 Editor, over the "veto" which the climate of the Northern and some of the Midland 

 States presents to our enjoyment of the Hollies, Laurels, and Rhododendrons of Eno-- 

 land. Although the really hardy evergreens now available either in the nurseries or 

 in their native habitat, are very limited, yet I have managed in a pretty extensive busi- 

 ness to make shrubbery plantations, which certainly, whatever their artistic pretensions 

 in other respects may be, do not present the "cheerless" aspect at this season which 

 "IIorticola" so justly regrets. The artist who is familiar with his subject can, un- 

 doubtedly, with the materials at present available, create much of picturesque, or of 

 graceful beauty even, for the winter scenery of the country residence. The Coniferce 

 must to a great extent be relied upon for the background of shrubberies of moderate 

 width, and for the center of those which from their situation present a double face, or 

 which may be viewed from either side. And much care and some experience is 

 required so to place these species of evergreens as to admit of their being ultimately 

 thinned out without detriment to the general effect. It is not possible to do more in a 

 short paper than to allude to this very important branch of the subject. To reply to 

 "Horticola's" inquiry so far as regards evergreen shrubs which have been found 

 sufficiently hardy for the latitude of New York and northward, I fear, (with the excep- 

 tion of the Coniferae, which, strictly speaking, are trees, although used to supply the 

 want of shrubs), the number at present to be met with is very limited. You ask, I see, 

 if the Hollies and Rhododendrons of Europe will not succeed. I much fear that for 

 the purpose we are now discussing, I mean for general shrubbery plantation, the Holhes 

 will not. I have seen some few specimens which have lived through a few winters 

 near New York, but they remain so stunted and shabby that they are but miserable 

 representatives of their noble relatives in England. I do not mean to say (and I see 

 you name an example) that in particular situations the European Holly will not suc- 

 ceed ; on the contrary, I have no doubt it will. But to do so, it should not be planted 

 in the open ground until it is of size and strength to make a good strong growth the 

 fiist year, (being planted immediately on the breaking up of the winter), and for the 

 next two winters it should be slightly protected with straw (1) lightly thrown over it 

 and fastened by strings, but riot so covered as to prevent some light and air getting to 

 the leaves. And beyond these precautions it should be planted in a northern aspect, 

 but in a protected situation. (In such a situation I saw the other day a European 

 Laurel, in Westchester county, N. Y., which has stood out near a bouse for three win- 

 ters past without any covering). 



lUit although the European Holly must, I fear, be always scarce liere, the American 

 /. opaca., which is very beautiful, is neglected and forgotten. Why do not nurserymen 

 raise this from seed, which" they can collect in the woods, and grow it by the thousand? 



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