them injured by the frast, but its early bloom and rapid growth in early summer render 

 it a very beautiful object for the greater part of the year. There are three or four 

 other varieties of this shrub, which, although not equally desirable, are still sufficiently 

 so to become valuable additions to the limited list of hardy evergreens. These are 

 J/", repens, M. facicularis^ and M. nervosa. (3) The EuoHymus Japoniais is undoubt- 

 edly the most desirable and the least known of all the hardy evergreen shrubs. There 

 are three varieties : one with larger leaves and more robust growth than the other two ; 

 the latter having variegated leaves, the one green and white, the other green and yel- 

 low. The first named is the most desirable ; the leaves are a very deep, but bright, 

 shining green, and the shrub is of pretty rapid growth. It stiikes readily in the open 

 ground from cuttings, in a shady aspect. This plant forms by far the best substitute 

 that is at present known for the Poi'tugal Laurel and Sweet Bay in New York; and 

 from my knowledge that a very small plant in an exposed situation stood the severe 

 winter of 1851 and 1852, I have little doubt that it will stand in Connecticut and 

 Massachusetts, although I have not yet used it in my plantations in the latter States. 



The English and the Irish Yews (4) are of such slow growth that they are useful 

 and ornamental when used as shrubs. The Box also lends its humble but useful aid, 

 and can often be introduced in the foreground with effect. 



The Arbor Vitse is an evergreen of which North America may justly boast, and 

 which is most valuable in the formation of shrubberies. Of this there are also many 

 foreign species, all of which are handsome, and the Chinese, one of the best, can be 

 bought at a reasonable price. The value of this shrub arises in a two-fold maimer — 

 from its individual beauty, and from its distinct and peculiar outline, which makes it 

 valuable for separating other shrubs of kindred character ; and thereby keeping up 

 that continuous variety of expression which should prevail in a well-arranged shrub- 

 bery plantation. 



The Swedish Juniper is equally useful with the Arbor Vitse, and for the same rea- 

 sons ; and were it not for the paucity of the broad-leaved families of evergreens, they 

 would, with the Conifers, and Rhododendrons, leave little to be wished for beyond the 

 fitting proportion of well-chosen deciduous plants to enable the landscape gardener to 

 produce a finished scene of artistic beauty. 



Upon the subject of the hardy or tender nature of evergreen trees and shrubs of 

 recent introduction in difierent localities, I would caution your readers against forming- 

 hasty opinions, or relying too implicitly upon those of others. One winter or one 

 plant is no criterion by which to judge. I was told I'ecently by a very clever horticul- 

 turist at some distance north of New York, that he had twice tested the Cedrus Dco- 

 dara, and found it impossible to preserve it in tolerable health in his locality, and he 

 felt positive it was useless to plant it there. An hour afterwards I accidentally met 

 with two specimens of it at a nursery within a mile of his grounds in perfect health, 

 which had stood out three winters ! As a general proposition it Avill bo found that 

 evergreens that are tender will bear a northern aspect better than any other. (5) The 

 physiological reason of which is that their hybernation is less disturbed by the changes 

 of tempei'ature during the winter months, because they are less exposed to the action 

 of the sun's rays ; and the slight difierence in the degree of severity of temperature is 

 less consequence to their vitality than the avoidance of frequent alternations of 

 atures during the twenty-four hours. The same indications are furthered in 



