EVERGREEN TREES. 309 



To understand to perfection the most harmonious arrange- 

 ment of evergreen trees, a person should travel a few days in 

 some parts of the State of Maine, the home of a large portion 

 of this beautiful tribe. Let him study, for a while, the ex- 

 quisite groups and combinations of the various species, as he 

 finds them carelessly and naturally arranged in their native 

 habitats, and he need not study books, or consult the landscape 

 gardener, to be informed of the best style of planting his ever- 

 greens, and other shrubs or trees. He will find Nature the 

 best teacher. 



There is no greater departure from correct taste, than to 

 plant the fir, or other evergreens of that habit, singly, or in 

 regular rows. The hemlock, Norway spruce, and others, 

 may sometimes be planted singly on the lawn ; but, as a gen- 

 eral rule, most of the evergreens should be planted in groups, 

 or belts, varied with the different sorts. Evergreens seem to 

 be social in their habits, if we may so speak ; they seem to 

 flourish best when grown together. Some of the evergreen 

 trees, planted in the solitary style, soon lose their lower limbs, 

 become ragged and unsightly, a nuisance and an eye-sore to 

 those who are compelled to see them from day to day. Natu- 

 rally, from cold latitudes, they require the protection and shel- 

 ter of each other, to screen their roots from the powerful action 

 of the summer's sun. When grouped together, and the lower 

 branches encouraged to grow to the ground, they receive this 

 protection, and will give ample satisfaction to those who adopt 

 this style of planting. 



Our own country affords all the variety needful to make an 

 elegant shrubbery, a warm belt, or protective hedge. But 

 there are many evergreens, of foreign growth, that are desira- 

 ble, to give additional variety and charm to a collection of our 

 own trees. Some of them, as yet, are of doubtful hardiness ; 

 but, under the lee of our beautiful hemlocks, spruces, or pines, 

 they will be placed in the most favorable circumstances for suc- 

 cessful trial ; and not only these, but the magnolias, rhododen- 



