66 THE BOOK OF EVEEGEEENS. 



fine size; whilst we, from some cause, are almost entirely 

 ignorant of their very existence. In the United States, 

 owing to the want of sufficient enthusiasm, or the need of 

 pecuniary means, such a collection has never been at- 

 tempted ; although there have been a few instances with- 

 in the past few years where energetic individuals have de- 

 voted much time to the subject, and have created quite 

 creditable collections. 



To the general planter these specialties are of little in- 

 terest, and excepting as mere botanical specimens, or for 

 the purpose of testing every known species and variety, 

 not to be recommended. The idea of this work is not to 

 encourage an undue interest in the Coniferge to the exclu- 

 sion of other trees, but to enable the uninformed planter 

 to ma.ke a judicious selection, which should be systemat- 

 ically planted as recommended by those who have made 

 it a study and are best qualified to judge. 



The great diversity of form and color as displayed 

 in this order is calculated, in the hands of a competent 

 person, to create an impression that will always please the 

 eye ; but, on the contrary, if undertaken by an unskillful 

 hand, an incongruous mixture will be the result, that not 

 only pains the eye of a person of taste, but in most 

 cases will prove a mortification to the proprietor in after 

 years. 



The desire of every owner of a plf^ce should be to plant 

 his trees in such a manner as will harmonize with the nat- 

 ural landscape, by a prudent admixture of the varied 

 forms and shades of color. This, if properly done, will 

 be a constant source of satisfaction to himself and others. 

 We do not, however, wish to be understood as recom- 

 mending a strict observance of the arrangement c-f trees 

 in our woods; but we do sincerely desire to see a more 

 natural and less artificial system pursued than that so 

 frequently practised by many planters of the present day. 



In one of Bayard Taylor's works, he thus beautifully 



