of Rural Art and Taste. 



201 



these variegated evergreens is to give them a 

 good place where they will make a reasonable 

 growth every year, and then dip them in 

 regularly, so as to get a lull supply of new 

 branchlets all over the plant, just where we 

 want them. 



In this country where we see so many 

 small sized yards and lawns — so many con- 

 taining less than an acre of ground, I think 

 our best dwarf evergreens are worthy of a 

 thousand times more attention than they have 

 heretofore received. It seems but a very 

 few days since I planted near my front door 

 a beautiful Austrian Pine — it was very 

 beautiful, and though some distance from the 

 street, many times we have seen people stop 

 and look at it, and come into the yard and 

 walk around it, but now it is so large it ob- 

 structs the view, detracts from the appear- 

 ance of my house, looks out of place and must 

 be cut down. If I had planted a handsome 

 Dwarf instead, and placed the Pine some 

 distance from the house, I might have saved 

 the tree, and added largely to the beauty of 

 my pilace. 



We do not want our houses overgrown with 

 trees — we must have the sunshine about them. 

 Neither do we want large trees only standing 

 about us as so many stiif sentinels. The 

 beauty of many a nice little home is spoiled 

 by large trees. It is the opinion of the 

 writer that we should plant our larger trees 

 some distance from the house, if possible — 

 on small places near the outskirts of the lot, 

 and then how beautiful and effective the 

 dwarfs inside, and then the open clean lawn, 

 in the whole plan using care to produce 

 variety without regularity. For groups near 

 walks and drives and near the edge of the 

 lawn, nothing can be more interesting or 

 effective than these fancy and dwarf ever- 

 greens. It is an encouraging fact that, in 

 different parts of our country may be found 

 men of wealtji and taste, who are collecting 

 on their own private grounds all the varieties 

 of evergreens that can be found, and so well 

 are they pleased with their efforts and 

 specimens, that others are following the ex- 

 ample. 



The list of fancy and dwarf evergreens is 

 a very interesting one, and contains a good 

 variety of form and color, and gives the 

 planter a wide range for selection in forming 

 his combinations and contrasts. 



I will name a few of the choice hardy sorts, 

 beginning with the old neglected, but best of 

 all the Spruces, the 



Abies alha — The White Spruce makes a 

 medium size tree, is moderate in its annual 

 growth, and has the most beautiful silvery 

 grey foliage and a compact conical form. It 

 is a tree that will inspire new love and 

 admiration every year. The Black Spruce, 

 sometimes sold for the White, is unworthy of 

 cultivation as an ornamental tree. 



Abies alba glauca — This variety of our 

 White Spruce has very marked silvery glau- 

 cous foliage — makes a small tree and is ex- 

 ceedingly beautiful — a perfect gem. 



Abits e.rcelsa conicu — A very handsome 

 dwarf — erect, compact and regular in form — 

 a very neat, cheerful little Spruce. 



Abies excelsa pyratnidalis — As its name 

 indicates, this is a beautiful dwarf pyramid. 



Abies excelsa paruiformis — This Spruce 

 is quite dwarf in its habit and has its branches 

 more horizontal than conica — is exceedingly 

 slow in growth and is one of the most interest- 

 ing of its class. 



Abies excelsa pumila — A very dwarf 

 variety, seldom growing above two feet high, 

 with dark foliage and with distinct bushes 

 and close habit. 



Abies excelsa pigmea — This is a very 

 small dwarf, only growing one foot high — 

 quite curious. 



Abies excelsa peitdula — The branches of 

 this variety are as pendant as those of the 

 Kilmarnock Willow — with a little care in 

 training it, makes an interesting, elegant tree. 



Abies ca7iadeiisis nana — This is a very 

 dwarf variety of our common Hemlock, and 

 is compact and beautiful. 



Picea pichla — This Siberian Silver Fir is 

 a medium sized tree, thick with rich dark 

 foliage, which it does not lose like our Balsam 

 Fir, and is "hardy as an Oak." One of the 

 best. 



