PLANTING BY THE SEASIDE. 



No country presents a greater range of seacoast than the 

 United States. From the Cokimbia River to the Gulf of 

 California on the west, and from the St. John's to the Rio 

 Grande on the east, it extends thousands of miles, embracing 

 in its limits every variety of locality and exposure, and a great 

 diversity of soils and situations. The rocky promontory of Na- 

 hant and the smooth rolling shore of Newport are familiar 

 examples of the variety which our seacoast presents to the 

 view. 



Bleak and exposed as the seashore is for the greater part, 

 without shelter from the chilling winds of winter or shade 

 from the burning sun of summer, it would be the last place- 

 of resort, but for the invigorating breezes which are wafted, 

 from the ocean, tempering the atmosphere, and oifering a cooll 

 retreat from the heated and crowded city. Yet with all the- 

 attractions that are inseparable from a seaside residence, the' 

 want of trees and shrubs, the absence of shady walks and um- 

 brageous groves, must deter many individuals from choosing 

 such exposed and barrren situations, and induce them to 

 resort to the country where these can be enjoyed in all their 

 freshness and beauty. 



There is, however, a charm about the seaside, even with- 

 out its sanitary benefits, which makes us seek it as a resi- 

 dence. The grandeur of the ocean, — its ever restless sur- 

 face, — the music of its murmuring billows, — the sublimity of 

 its rolling surges, when lashed by wind and storm, — all com- 

 bine to render it one of the most attractive objects to the con- 

 templative mind. If, to the enjoyment to be derived from a 

 seaside view, could be added grounds embowered with trees, 

 how much greater the contrast with the adjacent scenery, and 

 how much more eagerly would the seacoast be sought 

 as a place of retreat during the warm months of summer. 



The rapidity with which many of our watering places on 

 the seacoast are building up, and the necessity of ornament-- 



VOL. XXI. NO. VII. 39 



