of Rural Art and Taste. 



333 



mountains of Central Europe, may, however, 

 be introduced as a dwarf, although an occa- 

 sional specimen will assume the tree form, 

 instead of remaining a dwarf shrub. A hand- 

 some specimen in my garden, fifteen years 

 old, is only about two feet high and four in 

 diameter. If a plant inclines to grow too tall, 

 it may be kept down by cutting off the lead- 

 ing shoots. Another variety, called the 

 " Knee Pine," never grows on its native moun- 

 tains (the Alps) more than three feet high. 



Hethio-sporas. — We are indebted to Ja- 

 pan for these beautiful little evergreens, 

 although but few of them are hardy in this 

 latitude. The most desirable among the 

 hardy sorts is fi. aurea-plumosa^ the foliage 

 of which is soft, fine, and of a brilliant golden 

 color, fully sustaining its name of "golden 

 plume." I fear that few persons will be 

 satisfied with a single plant of this in a group, 

 for, when dotted here and there among the 

 dark-colored foliage of other kinds, they seem 

 to give light and life to the picture, the strong 

 and striking contrast adding much to the 

 beauty and brilliancy of both. 



Spruces. — Like the pines, there are com- 

 paratively few spruces sufficiently dwarf in 

 habit for the city or village garden. But the 

 few that are suitable are gems of their kind, 

 and the most beautiful of all is a native of 

 New York State, having been found upon the 

 banks of the Hudson, a few years ago. It is 

 known as the Weeping Hemlock, and may be 

 considered to be among the evergreens what 

 the Weeping Willow is araong deciduous 

 trees — i. e., the "Queen of Weepers." I 

 regret, however, to add that it is still scarce 

 and not yet in market, but probably will be 

 very soon. 



There are also several varieties of the 

 spruce of a very dwarf habit. One known as 

 the "Pigmy" resembles the Norway Spruce 

 in everything except size — a full-grown speci- 

 men scarcely exceeding three feet in height. 

 Another variety, called Gregoiyana, forms a 

 neat little dense ball of green, one to three 

 feet in diameter and about the same in height. 



There are also many other varieties belong- 

 ing to the same genera or species as those 



named above ; but I have named enough to 

 show that there is no lack of materials with 

 which to satisfy those who may desire to make 

 a fine display. But, as I have already hinted, 

 there are other evergreen shrubs, not belong- 

 ing to the " cone-bearing " section, w!(^ich 

 should not be omitted in forming groups, 

 either large or small ; and first on the list I 

 would place our native Kalviias. The Kal- 

 mia latifolia, or Broad-leaved Laurel, has no 

 superior among what are termed " broad- 

 leaved evergreens." The unopened pink flower 

 of this plant is a marvel of beauty and sym- 

 metrical proportions, and when in full bloom 

 we have no flowering shrub more attractive. 



The Narrow-leaved Kalmia {K. angustifo- 

 lia) is much more dwarf in habit, and the 

 flowers are deep red, approaching a crimson, 

 when grown in a half shady situation. 



Next to the Kalmias the Rhododendrons 

 should come in for a share of attention. They 

 ai'e, however, coarser growing plants, and 

 should be placed in the center or so as to 

 form a background to the less rapid growing 

 kinds. Of course, I refer to the rapid-grow- 

 ing species, like our native R. maximum and 

 R. Catawbiense ; for there are among the 

 exotic species some which are of exceedingly 

 dwarfish habit. The species and varieties are 

 almost innumerable ; but comparatively few 

 of them are perfectly hardy or thrive in our 

 changeable climate. Still there are enough 

 of the really superb sorts to satisfy any one 

 who may wish to indulge in cultivating rare 

 or common Rhododendrons. 



We have also other kinds of dwarf ever- 

 greens — such as Etaionynuis, Ilex, Auciibas, 

 Rhodora, Daphie, Callu?ia, and Mahonias — 

 which may be appropriately introduced to give 

 variety and add to the richness of large or small 

 plantations. The " Evergreens " may be com- 

 posed of cheap or costly plants, to suit the purse 

 or taste of the owner, for novelties among ever- 

 greens command a high price, as well as in 

 anything else. The costly kinds may be in- 

 troduced if one can afford it ; still the older 

 and cheaper gems are fully as desirable and 

 beautiful as the new and rare. — 2 he Inde- 

 pendeTit. 



