of Rural Art and Taste. 



363 



Those I have named being used for the 

 ground work, the taste of the planter must be 

 relied upon for grouping or planting singly 

 some of those which I will name in the order 

 of their size and merit. 



Firs. — First will come the Nordmann Fir, 

 a grand tree from the eastern slopes of the 

 Caucasus. Its habit is close and compact, its 

 color is a rich dark glossy green, its ultimate 

 stature is among the highest, and it has a 

 royal aspect approached by few other trees. 

 The Noble Fir of California would approach 

 it nearly, but for its very slow growth. The 

 blue tint of the latter is very marked, and, 

 when reaching a height of fifty feet, it is very 

 imposing. Another very beautifiil tree is the 

 mountain form of the Picea grandis, and very 

 distinct from the flat-leaved coast form. Hap- 

 pening to be the first to send it to England, 

 it was there given our name, and is now con- 

 sidered their most beautiful evergreen. My 

 best specimen, killed two years ago, was 

 indeed a thing of beauty. Its leaves curled 

 up in graceful curves around its stems, and 

 lovers of trees would sit upon my piazza and 

 gaze upon it for a quarter of an hour together. 

 Unfortunately, it is very difficult to propa- 

 gate, rarely to be obtained, and transplants 

 very badly. I cannot forbear to mention its 

 qualities, although I do not care to excite 

 your desires for that which it is difficult to 

 obtain. 



The .Cephalonian Fir is a noble tree of 

 tall stature. Some years ago I made an 

 ascent of the Black mountain in Cephalonia, 

 for the purpose of seeing this tree in its native 

 habitat, and I was not disappointed. Clothing 

 the upper mountain sides, with sufficient room 

 for their branches, they rose well furnished to 

 a height of eighty feet, and well repaid the 

 labor of the ascent. 



The Grecian Fir somewhat resembles it, 

 and in color is between it and the Nordmann 

 Fir. 



The Picea firma of Japan is a flat-leaved 

 and very distinct species, of rapid growth. 



The Siberian Fir is a charming species, of 

 slow growth, and color unequalled in its 

 freshness. 



The Europpan Silver Fir is sometimes 

 fine, but so inferior to many others of the 

 genus, and so apt to deteriorate with age, 

 that it can never have a very prominent place. 



For our climate, the family of Piceas is by 

 far the best of all the Conifers. 



The Oriental Fir belongs to the Abies 

 family, and is an exceedingly refined, com- 

 pact and beautiful tree. It is one of those to 

 which the eye will frequently turn and be 

 satisfied. 



The White Spruce of our northern forests 

 is scarcely surpassed for the synnnetry of its 

 shape. It growth is also compact, and it has 

 a blue-steely tint, valuable for the production 

 of strong contrast. The Menzies and Engel- 

 mann Spruce have also this steely tint to per- 

 fection, and are species of rare merit. The 

 color of the Engelmann is quite remarkable 

 for its light bluish gray, and the young shoots 

 are very beautiful. It is yet, however, diffi- 

 cult of attainment. 



The B hot an Pine is a very graceful tree 

 from the Himalayas, growing as rapidly and 

 as tall as the White Pine, somewhat resem- 

 bling it in general appearance, but with more 

 drooping, pendulous leaves. It is not, how- 

 ever, so well adapted as the White Pine to all 

 localities. 



The Finns Ayacahnite is a perfectly hardy 

 species, from the mountains of Mexico, of a 

 still more drooping and graceful habit, and 

 remarkable for the light green of its foliage. 



The Finns nuerghus is a second-class tree 

 of rather bush-like habit, and rarely growing- 

 over fifteen feet. Its spreading and marked 

 character make it essential to a lawn. The 

 Atlas Cedar is very distinct and beautiful, — 

 the nearest approach to the Cedar of Lebanon 

 which is permissible in this climate, and 

 thought by some botanists to be only another 

 form of it. 



The Ahies elata is a variety of the Norway 

 Spruce, and is a remarkable tree, and always 

 excites admiration. It throws out its branches 

 like the naked hairy arms of a giant, and 

 grows with the greatest luxuriance. 



Having thus disposed of a few of the larger 

 trees, we come to those of smaller growth, 



