II. 



CONIFEROUS TREES. 



CHIEFLY EVERGREENS. 



HE importance of hardy evergreen trees in the 

 JA North, where the deciduous trees remain bare 

 for a long time of the year, can hardly be 

 over-estimated. Unfortunately many of the 

 finest coniferous trees and shrubs are too 

 tender in the far North to be of general use. But among 

 the pines proper, among the spruces, firs, and hemlocks 

 there is so great a variety of beautiful trees, that with them 

 alone a great diversity of evergreen groups and plantations 

 may be had in any part of the country. Many of the finer 

 spruces and firs, as the Nordmann fir, the Colorado blue 

 spruce, the Cephalonian and Spanish silver firs can hardly 

 be excelled by any other class of trees in dignity and 

 beauty. Cedars are, unfortunately, tender in the Northern 

 States, but they will succeed in most places south and west 

 of New York. Coniferous trees are best planted in large, 

 irregular masses, with closer plantations of the more com- 

 mon kinds and choice specimens on adjoining open lawns, 



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