EVERGREENS. 173 



and the evergreen is the very last tree that should be set there. As a 

 background and screen and as groups and specimens, flanking the dwelling 

 on either side, they should be planted in variety. The Scotch and red 

 pine and red cedar, with their sombre shades, in the background; the 

 white pine, white spruce and arbor vita?, as broken groups, come next, and 

 in front of all the sparkling gem of the movintains, the Colorado silver 

 spruce in solitary magnificence. This latter tree is doubtless peculiarly 

 adapted to our Minnesota climate in the most exposed situations and 

 dryest seasons, and no one who has once feasted his eyes upon its 

 peerless beauty will be satisfied until he is the proud possessor of one of 

 the true blood. Care is necessary in planting this variety that the trees 

 have been grown from seed secured from the eastern slope of the Kockies, 

 as those from the western slope will be tender in our state. 



In ornamental planting it is a problem how to give the trees such care 

 as will secure their thrift. Unlike the shelter belt, a horse cultivator 

 is out of the question. In order to avoid making too many breaks in 

 the lawn, it has been our practice to plant mostly in groups of from 

 three to six trees, and treat the ground occupied by the group as a 

 little garden patch, allowing no grass within four feet of the trees. In 

 the greater portion of the state the need of keeping the ever-encroaching 

 blue grass away from our trees is a matter of prime importance; neglect 

 of this largely explains the difference between the bright green of the 

 nursery tree and the sickly brown of the lawn tree. 



