• DECOKATIVE TREATMENT OF THE PINETUM. 361 



prepared to exhibit the decision of the sailor who cuts 

 down one mast to preserve the others. The misfortune 

 is, that the pine-grower does not feel his own life in 

 danger wliile his trees are gradually perishing, and so 

 can not steel his mind to the requisite use of the axe. 

 TVe think it possible, to arrange a small pinetum so 

 that when the sorrowful period of extirpation has ar- 

 rived, sucli trees as P. nobilis^ Deodara^ Douglasii^ 

 Atlaniica^ Lanibertiana^ Benihamiana^ etc., might be 

 left in their glory, at well-spaced intervals ; while P. 

 Canadensis^ Abies^ Picea, Cemhra^ and other of the 

 commoner sorts might be swept away. "We question,. 

 however, whether the actual planter would ever have 

 the heart to carry out such a plan. Another alterna- 

 tive is to scatter the Conifers, in separate groups, 

 through the grounds, as a main part of the evergreen 

 trees of the place. Pines of varied character are not 

 so deficient in calmness and breadth of efiect, as are 

 most deciduous trees in similar circumstances. Or 

 they might be so distributed as to compose what may 

 be termed a shrubbery pinetum ; that is, they might 

 be grouped on lawns, with the gi'oups at distances 

 suitable for trees and shrubs from fifteen to twenty- 

 five feet high, so as to form a shrubbery much more 

 interesting than those planted in the usual common- 

 place way. The Pinaceos^ even when only a few feet 

 in height, have forms which, in combination with their 

 evergreen foliage, exhibit a most decided character at 

 all seasons. The shrubbery pinetum is an interesting 

 decoration, not only for small residences, but for more 

 extensive pleasure-grounds in the higher parts of the 

 country, where many shi*nbs do not thrive; but in this 

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