A Word in Favor of Evergreens 211 



many parts of the country. Well grown belts of evergreens, 

 pines and firs, which 



in conic forms arise, 



And with a pointed spear divide the skies," 



have, in their congregated strength, a power of shelter and 

 protection that no inexperienced person can possibly under- 

 stand. Many a place, almost uninhabitable from the rude 

 blasts of wind that sweep over it, has been rendered com- 

 paratively calm amd sheltered; many a garden, so exposed 

 that the cultivation of tender trees and plants was almost 

 impossible, has been rendered mild and genial in its climate 

 by the growth of a close shelter, composed of masses and 

 groups of evergreen trees. 



Compared with England, - - that country whose parks 

 and pleasure grounds are almost wholly evergreen, because 

 her climate is so wonderfully congenial to their culture that 

 dozens of species grow with the greatest luxuriance there, 

 which neither France, Germany, nor the northern United 

 States will produce - - we say, compared with England, the 

 variety of evergreens which it is possible for us to cultivate 

 is quite limited. Still, though the variety is less, the gen- 

 eral effect that may be produced is the same; and there is 

 no apology for our neglecting, at least, the treasures that 

 lie at our very gates, and by our road-sides - - the fine 

 indigenous trees of our country. These are within every 

 one's reach; and even these, if properly introduced, would 

 give a perpetual richness and beauty to our ornamental 

 grounds, of which they are at this time, with partial excep- 

 tions, almost destitute. 



As we are addressing ourselves now chiefly to beginners 

 or those who have hitherto neglected this branch of arbori- 

 culture, we may commence by mentioning at the outset 

 four evergreen trees worthy of attention, indeed, of almost 

 universal attention in our ornamental plantations. Those 

 are the Hemlock, the White Pine, the Norway Spruce, and 

 the Balsam Fir. 



We place the hemlock first, as we consider it beyond all 



