102 THE LANDSCAPE GARDENING BOOK 



exactly suited to give to that variety a little advantage, and 

 though other trees may not be crowded out altogether they 

 do not multiply as rapidly as the favored one. This leads to 

 a "mass effect" quite in line with what Nature continually 

 offers and furnishes the best example possible of ideal plant- 

 ing, from the practical as well as the esthetic side. It is, of 

 course, in the last analysis, a survival of the fittest. 



Learn what evergreens are best suited to a place before plant- 

 ing any, by ascertaining what are native to the region, and to 

 the immediate territory. Then make use of these or their nearest 

 relatives in all broad-scale planting, governing the selections, 

 of course, by the soil conditions of the particular piece of land 

 to be planted. A tree that may thrive on a mountain side will 

 very often not tolerate the moist valley at the mountain's feet, 

 hence the necessity for judging from those trees found growing 

 in the immediate territory. 



Pines do not like close, heavy, clay soil, nor will they do welt 

 on shallow soil because they have a long tap root. Loose sandy 

 earth suits them best ; and because they have this tap root that 

 reaches deep for moisture, they can endure dry soil. The white 

 pine is not so particular as the rest of the family, however, and 

 will usually adapt itself to uncongenial places very cheerfully. 

 Pines are very intolerant of shade, but the latter will make the 

 best of a certain amount of this, too. 



Cedars are at home on wet, even swampy, soils, though as a 

 matter of fact they will do better where it is dry. They will 

 stand some shade. 



Spruces are shallow-rooted, which always means that a tree 

 is adapted to soil that is moist and they thrive in extreme cold, 

 being natives of high altitudes. They mind shade less than 

 either of the two first named. 



