284 PARKS AXD PLZASrRE-GROUXDS. 



The necessaiy expansion of the lawns in a regiilai' and 

 well-appointed Pinetnnij tends to disconi'age some pro- 

 prietors from allowing the ample space which is requisite 

 for their formation ; and where land is veiy valuable^ we 

 cannot wonder that it should be so. In hilly or npland 

 districts^ there is often much more space than is reqnii'ed 

 for this pui*pose thi'own away on useless or promiscnoiis 

 woods of little character or value. In such cases want 

 of room is no valid objection. But even when his ter- 

 ritory is limited^ the pine-fancier need not be wholly 

 discouraged^ as he may have a considerable collection of 

 his favomite ti'ees. and derive much pleasm'e from thefr 

 culrivation. if" he is content T\ith the opportunity of ad- 

 miring them when they are yoimg, or dming the first 

 twenty or twenty-five yeai's of thefr growth : but after 

 that period, he may expect to see them disfiguring and 

 destroying each other by thefr mutual pressm-e,, or he 

 must be prepai-ed to exhibit the decision of the sailor 

 who cuts down one mast to preserve the others. The 

 rnisfortime is. that the pine-grower does not feel his own 

 life in danger while his trees are gradually perishing^ 

 and so cannot steel his nfrnd to the requisite use of the 

 axe. We think it possible to aiTange a small Phietimi 

 so that when the sorrowfril period of extfr'pation has 

 arrived, such trees as P. nohUis, Deodara, Dovglasii, At- 

 luntica, Lamhertiana, Benthamiana, etc., might be left 

 in thefr glory, at well-spaced inteiwals ; whde P. Cana- 

 densis, Abies, Picea, Cembra, and other of the commoner 

 sorts might be swept away. AYe question, however, 

 whether the actual planter would ever have the heait to 

 carry out such a plan. Another alternative is to scatter 

 the Conifers, in separate groups, thi'ough the gi'ounds, 

 as a main part of the evergreen trees of the place. Pines 

 of varied character are not so deficient in calmness and 



