62 THE BLOSSOM CIRCLE OF THE YEAR 



THE BHOTAN PINE 



From the southern slopes of India we have secured one of the 

 best of our trees of pyramidal outHne. This is the drooping fir 

 of Hindustan, Pinus excelsa, sometimes called the Bhotan Pine. 

 Of most exquisite grey-green color, the needles of this Pine are 

 utterly different in effect from the upright Pine needles of our 

 native trees. It is of very graceful habit, is easily grown, and 

 more informal in effect than the Cypress. The color is much like 

 that of the Himalayan Cedars, and the two make a delightful 

 combination. 



The greens in the Cypresses, Arborvitses and Pines vary so 

 greatly that it is necessary to exercise much care in choosing them 

 lest the effect ultimately become as if one had tried to plant a 

 color card of coniferous trees. Did you ever see a planting like 

 that ? Who has not ? More's the pity. If in doubt about the 

 color combinations, find out before you order your plants. 



Pinus excelsa is a graceful tree, of beautiful color and quick 

 growth, and is not hard to transplant from the nursery. Since 

 the inroads of the home makers have driven out the native Pines 

 and it is almost impossible to grow them, this Bhotan Pine, with 

 the Pinus koraiensisy the Korean Pine of dwarf growth, and Pinus 

 densiflora^ the Japanese Pine, must be used if we do not wish to 

 give up the genus entirely. 



SOME FORMAL EVERGREENS 



For plantings of extreme formality, for evergreen borders, 

 where varying sizes are necessary, there is a most formidable list 

 of the Arborvitses, Biotas and Thuyas, from which to choose. If 

 the nurserymen would attach a color chart to the pages on which 

 they describe their list of these plants, and use standard uniform 

 nomenclature, it would benefit the unwary and too-trustful 

 customers. 



However, the Arborvitse that is most used in this section is 

 Biota aurea nana; and on account of its hardiness it is worthy of 

 its popularity. The only objection to it is that it has a strong 

 yellowish tinge on the new leaves in the Spring, but as this soon 



