450 On the Employment of Ornamental 



Deciduous trees, at this season, present but a bleak and deso- 

 late aspect — a few evergreens, therefore, interspersed sing,ly 

 over the lawn, or tastefully disposed in a few groups, so as 

 to be seen from the windows of the mansion, will give a pleas- 

 ing liveliness to the scene, which cannot fail to charm every 

 person. We would earnestly advise every person engaged 

 in ornamental planting, to transfer some of our fine native ever- 

 green trees to their lawn, park or terrace. We are aware that 

 many think that there is great difficulty in transplanting them 

 with success, but experience has taught us that, with the fol- 

 lowing precautions, no more difficulty is found than with decid- 

 uous trees. In transplanting, choose the spring of the year, 

 at the time the buds are sivelling: cut as few of the roots as 

 possible^ and do not suffer them to become dry before you replace 

 Ihemin the soil. Among our most ornamental evergreen trees 

 may be mentioned the different species of pine, natives of 

 North America. Several of them are fine stately trees, and 

 one which is particularly ornamental as a park tree, is the white 

 or Weymouth pine, Pinus slrobus. Pinus rigida, when old 

 and large, is a very picturesque tree; and Pinus alba, rubra 

 et fraseri, the white, red and double spruce firs, are trees of 

 moderate size, very generally diffused in the Middle States, 

 and easily obtained. The well known balsam fir, Pinus bal- 

 samea, is such a beautiful evergreen, and succeeds so well in 

 this climate, that it should find a place in the smallest planta- 

 tions. We have observed it thriving well even in confined 

 spaces in cities. Thuja occidemalis, the arbor-vitse, is a very 

 interesting tree, and, as well as the exotic T. orienfalis, will be 

 considered very ornamental in districts where it is not common. 



Among the most ornamental foreign coniferous trees, we will 

 notice the Norway spruce, the drooping branches of which, in 

 a large specimen, are so highly admired; the well known 

 Scotch fir, the finest timber tree of Europe, celebrated for 

 growing on thin soils; and the beautiful silver fir, Pinus picea; 

 all of them are noble trees, and as they can be readily pro- 

 cured at the nurseries, should be found in the grounds of every 

 country residence. 



Several other species of this genus are thought the most 

 beautiful trees of Europe, unfortunately are yet scarce in this 

 country. The stone pine, whose seeds are a delicious fruit, 

 and whose "vast canopy, supported on a naked column of 

 immense height, forms one of the chief and peculiar beaiuies 

 in Italian scenery, and in the living landscapes of Claude," 

 and the not less interesting Pinus Pinaster and P. Cembra of 

 the mountains of Switzerland. But the most desirable ever- 

 green tree, which flourishes in temperate climates, is the 

 classic cedar of Lebanon, Pinus cedrus. Its singular ramose 



