1900.] essays. 97 



cold weather? In certain lights they appear nearly black in the 

 landscape and afford striking contrasts during the winter months. 

 When arranged in groups cedars are especially picturesque, hut 

 arc also of value to use in connection with borders of shrubbery, 

 for the sake of variety and to break the regularity of the sky 

 line. A tall cedar has much the same effect, if planted beyond 

 a stretch of low shrubbery, that the church spire has in the midst 

 of the neighboring village. 



EVERGREEN SHRUBS. 



Perhaps the very best low evergreen which is a native of New 

 England is the low juniper. This makes an excellent foreground 

 shrub and occurs in a great variety of forms and colors. Some 

 of the finest specimens which I have ever seen are growing wild 

 in a pasture at Edgewood, the home of Donald G. Mitchell, near 

 New Haven. 



The ground hemlock, Taxus Americana, is also useful in some 

 places, especially about rock work. 



If I were to suggest a native shrub to take the place of the 

 introduced rhododendron, I should name the mountain laurel, 

 Kalmia latifolia. Though its leaves are smaller, it is an ever- 

 green more hardy than the rhododendrons ; will thrive in dry 

 soil and the flowers are of better color than many rhododendron 

 blossoms. It transplants well in the fall and will grow in 

 sun or shade. 



Our holly, Ilex opec/, is a most attractive evergreen shrub 

 and is, I believe, hardy in this latitude. 



VINES. 



Of all the vines, native or introduced, I doubt if we can 

 select one that for all situations and for all purposes will 

 surpass or equal the Virginia creeper, Ampelopxis qutnquefolia. 

 It does not cling as closely to buildings as the Boston ivy, but 

 it gives greater variety of form and color throughout the season 

 and has the very great merit of being extremely hardy and 

 vigorous in all situations. Its autumn coloring is especially 

 brilliant. 



