01 



The Arbor-vita; (Thurja), whether the American, Chinese, or Siberian, 

 is well adapted for grouping in confined portions of the pleasure ground, 

 especially the (lower garden, where spreading bushes might prove detrimental 

 to the flower beds. The white, pink, and autumnal mazerian may, with 

 propriety, be introduced into some of the groups. 



The Phillyrea. The foliage and general habit of this family form interest- 

 ing and moderate-sized evergreen bushes, and, generally, they are pretty hardy. 

 1'. ilex, P. oppositifolia, and 1\ angustifolia, are distinct, loose growing bushes, 

 and are useful for masking out disagreeable objects, or varying the boundaries 

 of lawns. The different species, of themselves, form varied and pleasing 

 groups ; but a striped holly, arbor-vita?, or a deciduous low-growing tree, such 

 as the double-blossomed cherry, crimson thorn, or double-blossomed pink 

 thorn, placed amongst some of the groups, produces a good effect. 



Portugal Laurel (Cerasus lucitanica). This is a hardy, noble, and 

 beautiful flowering evergreen shrub ; but, in consequence of its round, formal, 

 and sombre appearance, it ought to be cautiously and sparingly introduced, 

 that its marked character may not appear too prominent. It has a bad effect 

 when placed prominently in front of a house. I remember an instance where 

 there were two exceedingly large ones placed on each side of the front door, 

 at equal distances from it, and receding from the mansion about twelve yards. 

 These, when viewed from the park, produced a very gloomy and most inhar- 

 monious effect, having the appearance of two large blotches on the elevation 

 of the edifice. In another instance where I was consulted, there were four 

 placed on the south front of the mansion, only eight yards distant from it, 

 which had attained to such a magnitude as very much to darken the rooms, 

 and almost to shut out from them the principal landscape, which was truly 

 beautiful. Although the plants of themselves were magnificent specimens 

 of their kind, yet their injudicious disposition left the improver no other 

 alternative than their total extirpation. How essential it is, then, that tire 

 planter, in giving the sites for his various plants, should consider well their 

 form and beauty, and also the size which they are hkely to attain, and so 

 place them as to prevent the painful necessity of destroying them after their 

 true form has been attained. I should recommend the Portugal laurel to be 

 placed in front of masses, or massive groups of low- growing trees ; on the 

 lawn, at proper distances to allow room to display its true character ; or in 



