STATE HORTTCITLTURAL SOCIETY. 81 



We will now look up the beauties. Most of the silver firs (not 

 the girls), are too tender to be of much value here. This fact the 

 Professor has learned to the cost of the State. But here is one, 

 Picea Pichta, a native of the mountains of Siberia. It is one of 

 the most valuable firs recently introduced, on account of its 

 medium size and dense foliage. The shade of color is a peculiar 

 deep rich green, and like watered silk, is changeable when viewed 

 in the light of the sun. 



Here are some trees that are not classed, but appear to be only 

 specimens on trial. For instance the Sequoia gigmitea — whatever 

 that may mean — it is evident that it can amount to nothing here. 

 Whenever the Professor finds anything valuable that he can freeze 

 on to, no doubt he will be ready to report. 



Well, here is a very peculiar looking evergreen, the Larix Euro- 

 poea. It is said to be one of the most durable and valuable, as 

 well as one of the most rapid growing trees. But the Professor 

 says "it is only a sub-evergreen, and cannot be admitted to the reg- 

 ular class until certain conditions are made up." How much em- 

 barrassment we are frequently compelled to undergo on account of 

 our ignorance? 



But here we have a different class of evergreens, that bear the 

 shears so well that titey ma}'- be made to assume the most beautiful 

 forms of growth. Whether intended for hedge screeens or single 

 specimens for ornamental planting, there is nothing to take their 

 place. They seem designed in the economy of nature to beautify 

 the landscape about our dwellings and small home grounds where 

 large trees would not be admissable. The very first in this class to 

 attract our notice, is an old acquaintance of our school boy days, 

 the white cedar or Arborvitae. It is found growing abundantly in 

 in many places in all the Eastern and Northern States. In these 

 grounds it is called Thuga Occidentalis. The Professor says "a 

 number of sports or offshoots differing materially in form, growth, 

 foliage and color, have been propagated from this single variety. 

 Those of a golden shade of color are not considered to be quite as 

 hardy as the parent, while those of a deeper green are probably 

 more hardy." Of the former Parson s compacta and Hoveyii are 

 probably the best varieties for this climate, but even those should 

 not be planted in bleak exposures. Of the dark green colored, Nees 

 plicata and the Siberica are perfectly hardy, but the Professor is 

 not quite sure of the origin or relationship of the latter; but 

 whether native or foreign, it unites more good qualities for com 

 mon use than any other we know of. 

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