Evergreens 103 



Firs are trees of high regions too, and some can not endure 

 a dry, hot climate at all, unless shaded and given the coolest 

 spots. 



Hemlocks are not exacting and will grow in almost any kind 

 of soil providing it is moist. Hemlocks and white pines, by the 

 way, are one of Nature's combinations and may often be found 

 growing together in large forests, which is a hint toward group- 

 ing. Hemlocks stand shade well, as well as the close shearing 

 which makes them so good for hedge service. 



The use of two or three varieties of a species is not to be 

 recommended with evergreens as with deciduous trees. They 

 do not take kindly to mixing, and either the one variety chosen 

 should be used, or the combination before referred to which 

 Nature herself furnishes in the hemlock and pine. This, with 

 deciduous trees interspersed, is as fine an arrangement as it is 

 possible to make. Wherever it is possible to make an evergreen 

 group the background for some floral display it is well to do so, 

 providing the flowers do not detract from the trees. The whole 

 should form a picture rather than either one furnishing a feature. 



Rhododendrons fill the requirements of such a position per- 

 fectly, being themselves evergreen and harmonizing as almost 

 nothing else can with the dignity of the trees. It is not by any 

 means essential, however, to carry out such an arrangement 

 in order to get the best results from planting the latter, for they 

 are sufficient unto themselves. 



The form of the smaller and slower-growing species is of more 

 importance than anything else concerning them, for these are 

 essentially the material for small places and for formal work. 

 Some of these are very thin and long and pointed, others are 

 broad and low and globular; selection in this instance should 

 be gtiided by the style of the place, of the house and its garden, 



