278 ON ORNAMENTAL PLANTING, 



ing trees and shrubs in our woods and shrubberies : such as 

 the horse-chesnut, the lime, the mountain ash, the elder, which 

 is readily propagated from cuttings, and growing well on eleva- 

 ted situations, is fitted to make excellent hedges in upland coun- 

 tries,— sheep and cattle will not browse it ; the geen or wild 

 cherry, the Siberian crab, the laburnum, the acacia (Robinia 

 pseud-acacia), the lilac, particularly the liberian or varin, the 

 azalia of different species, the variegated thorn, Aucuba japonica, 

 Pittosphorum tabiri, and such like. These being planted in fit 

 places, would, by their fragrance and flowers, add much to the 

 comfort and beauty of our dwellings. 



The advantages of planting such evergreens and ornamental 

 trees and shrubs around our houses, are obvious : they will after- 

 wards afford shelter and warmth ; and if walks or avenues of them 

 were formed, they would present us, in the dreary, naked, cold 

 season of winter, when the other trees are stripped of their fo- 

 liage, always something on which the eye might rest, and on 

 which it might be refreshed. Besides, most of the evergreens, 

 from their varnish-coated leaf, have the peculiar property of suf- 

 fering little injury from the drop of the taller forest trees, and 

 consequently they will grow under the shade. Nay, some of 

 them, as the rhododendron, will be found more at home under 

 such shade, than when exposed to the glaring sun. In North 

 America, this forms much of the underwood of the immense fo- 

 rests that cover that vast continent. Intermingled with other 

 planting, these evergreens will afford the sportsman the best of 

 all covers for game ; and the lover of the music of nature's sweet 

 concert, will find them always the favourite resoit of the most in- 

 teresting part of feathered creation— the birds of song. 



There is no doubt that such improvements are best fitted, or 

 most suitable, to the taste and circumstances of the higher ranks, 

 and must of course begin with them. It is, however, very desi- 

 rable that the cultivation of the ornamental plants should not be 

 exclusively confined to the palace, but that it should also be ex- 

 tended to the cottage. This might be accomplished at little or 

 no expense, as most of the cottages in Scotland are wisely allowed 

 by the proprietors or land-holders to have a garden. A spot is 

 accordingly ready prepared to receive such plants ; and if a little 

 encouragement were given to the landlord, some plants gra- 

 tuitously distributed, and a few kind words spoken, we should, in 

 a short time, see the cottages and their gardens, which now too 



