FOR FARM AND HOME PLANTING 39 



winter season. When used too much about the grounds, they are apt to 

 produce a somber gloomy effect. They should never be used near the 

 south or east side of buildings where they might shade them during the 

 winter months. When placed well in the background of shrubs or 

 deciduous trees, they give excellent results. 



More spruces have been planted about home grounds than 

 any other kind of evergreen. They are the fastest growing of all ever- 

 greens, are very hardy and dp well on almost all kinds of soil. For quick 

 effects under average conditions, the spruces are generally the best. 

 They are much used for windbreaks and hedges as well as for planting 

 about the lawn. 



The Norway spruce is one of the best and most planted of all the 

 spruces. It adapts itself well to any soil and almost any condition. The 

 tree is clean, trim and bright both in summer and winter. As windbreaks 

 upon the farm, it is one of the very best to plant. The trees grow high 

 and thick and will live almost indefinitely. To maintain a thick growth 

 at the base of the tree, it is often necessary to top them. Care must then 

 be taken to prevent the formation and growth of two leaders. The 

 beauty of all evergreens depends upon the preservation of a good healthy 

 growth about the base of the tree whether they are used as hedges, wind- 

 breaks to lawn specimens. 



The Colorado blue spruce is one of the most beautiful of the evergreens. 

 The branches are produced in whorls around the trunk and the foliage 

 is dense and of a bluish color. It thrives in almost any soil and locality, 

 is a vigorous grower and does well in cold exposed situations. These 

 trees are propagated in the nurseries by grafting cions from the finest 

 bluest tree on vigorous seedlings, thus producing trees that are uniformly 

 of a comparatively intense blue color. When seed is planted of this 

 variety, some of the seedlings come true blue while others revert to the 

 green. 



White pine is the most valuable variety of pines both for planting 

 about the home and for producing windbreaks or shelter belts. When 

 planted for windbreaks, white pine should be placed further apart than 

 other evergreens as the limbs grow out close to the ground and spread 

 widely. The foliage is softer and finer than most other evergreens. The 

 young trees look trim and neat all the year around while the old specimens 

 are very picturesque. 



The Austrian pine is a variety that is especially recommended for 

 planting in the middle west. The growth is very dense and the trees 

 grow to a large size. As planted singly on the lawns, the trees produce 

 a beautiful effect while when planted in groups, the dark foliage shows in 

 excellent contrast with spruce or other evergreens. 



The Hemlock is also a very popular evergreen for lawn planting and 

 for producing hedges. The foliage is very fine, producing a delicate 

 effect and the trees are graceful and usually long lived. They stand 

 shearing well when planted in hedges and will grow in the shade. For 

 planting in groups with other evergreens they are also most excellent. 

 The trees do best with a northern or eastern exposure and when protected 



