Trees and Shrubs in Ay/7/t Jhntrica. 445 



thus early able to ofier tlie following, which so exactly cor- 

 responds with our ideas. The sublime scenery of our country 

 as left by nature, we can even boast of; its high picturesque 

 character we shall never cease to admire. But shall the hand 

 of man attempt no refinement ? Shall our country residences 

 be ornamented by nature alone ? Shall we not call in the 

 aid of art to beautify and give a finish to the scene .'' These 

 are questions which, we fear, are rarely thought of by too 

 many, even of those who lay considerable claim to a taste 

 for landscape gardening when planting their grounds. A love 

 of rural scenery has been superseded by a love of exotics, 

 and a desire to possess the tender productions of warm climes, 

 which need great care and attention ; these are gay objects, 

 and attract our admiration ; but they are not in place when 

 we have done nothing to soften the character of their habita- 

 tion ; they should be accompanied with neat gravel walks, 

 smooth, soft, deep green turf, beautiful flowering shrubs, and 

 interesting forest trees ; formed and planted so as to show 

 that the garden is a place to display art in the highest degree 

 of perfection, and that it should never be mistaken for a state 

 of nature. Let it be the object of every one interested ia 

 the progress of landscape gardening, yet in its infancy, to im- 

 press upon those who are the fortunate possessors of beau- 

 tiful situations, the importance of giving more attention to or- 

 namenting their grounds ; and not intermix promiscuously all 

 sorts of trees, without any reference to their beauty when they 

 have attained a few years' growth. The vernal tints of the 

 foliage of the different species of the oak, as well as their 

 varied autumnal shades, are worthy of study (Louclon^s Gard. 

 Mag. Vol. X., pp. 200, 201, &c.) and attention. But we 

 have extended our remarks too far, and hasten to give those of 

 our correspondent. — Conds. 



It is remarkable that, notwithstanding the rapid progress 

 which horticulture is making in the United States, so little 

 attention is paid to the planting ornamental trees, with a view 

 to the embellishment of our country residences. The mag- 

 nificent parks of England have been long and justly admired, 

 as constituting one of the most beautiful features of that high- 

 ly cultivated country ; and although the horticultural creations 

 of our more limited means, may never equal in extent and 

 grandeur some of those of the aristocracy of Kurope, yet every 

 l)erson of cultivated mind, is aware how beautiful the hand 

 of taste can render even very limited scenes, by the proper 

 application of the principles and materials necessary lo mental 

 pleasure and gratification. 



Consider in a single point of view, what an infinite variety 

 of b'^-antv there is in a tree itself ! Kvcry part is admirablej 



