SOME SMALL EVERGREENS FOR LAWNS AND YARDS. 351 
‘haps, in the first place, the roots had been made worthless by injudicious. 
handling before being received; or, through lack of knowledge by the 
planter of the nature and requirements of the evergreen, he simply killed 
them by his mode of handling and transplanting after coming into his 
hands in prime condition. Then, again, an evergreen is an evergreen, and 
he often bought those that were not suitable to our soil or climate or the 
particular location in which they were planted. In most cases they were a 
failure, rarely surviving the first twelve months. So planters were dis- 
couraged and went back to the cottonwood and willow, which, if you only 
stuck in a hole, would grow and flourish without care or culture, and they 
had any amount of luck with them. But now, information in regard to the 
nature of conifers, their management, mode oi transplanting and culture, 
the best and most suitable kinds for our locality, and the purpose for which 
they are planted, either as shelter belts around our dwellings or simply 
ornamentation of grounds, is so widely diffused through our horticultural 
publications, and by the courtesy of the nurseryman, that there is no reason 
why any one should not plant at least a few evergreens around his buildings 
and be reasonably successful, if he will only do as he is told, and reap a rich 
harvest for his labors. 
In planting evergreens, study your grounds, know just where you 
- want to put them and the purpose they are to serve, and then make your 
selection according to your grounds, and the results aimed for. If your 
- grounds are large you can have more varieties, and more of one variety. 
You can plant those which are naturally of iarge growth. Avoid straight 
lines. Nature does not plant in that way. Do not crowd. It is our most 
frequent error. The little trees are so small, and we are so anxious to make 
a show at once we are not willing to wait for growth; in fact, we cannot 
realize that they can ever be crowded. They will grow much better if not 
- crowded and make far better specimens. Some kinds are beautiful planted 
in clumps. Even then they should be planted some distance apart, if of the 
taller growing kinds. Of this class; the white spruce is beautiful planted in 
clumps at the sides of the grounds, never directly in front, as they would 
- obstruct the view. If there is a view from your window or door that is not 
desirable, plant a clump of evergreens to intervene. Do not plant too near 
the house. Give chance for the sunlight. In fact, as I said before, look well 
to your surroundings, and plant with purpose, always keeping in mind that 
these small trees will, ere long, overtop your head. 
There is a class of evergreens of which I wish particularly to speak, 
that are very beautiful and are not subject to the objections of the taller 
growing kinds. These are the dwarf or shrubby kinds. They may be 
planted any and everywhere, on large-or small grounds. They never grow 
high enough to obstruct the view or sunlight. They may be grown as single 
specimens, in clumps or in hedges. They are very hardy. I believe they 
are the easiest and safest to transplant. They retain their beautiful bright 
' green the whole year, and seem particularly adapted to our soil and trying 
climate. They grow quite fast with good care. I believe any one could 
- succeed with this class, although on large grounds specimens of the larger 
growing kinds would add much to the beauty and comfort of the place; yet 
if none but these were grown it would convert many an unsightly place into 
a thing of beauty. On small grounds, village or city lots, they are just the 
thing. No plot in village or city is so small that it could not have a single 
