1898.] ESSAYS. 29 



sorts : Picea Pungens, or Colorado Blue Spruce, growing at an 

 altitude of eight to ten thousand feet above the sea level, is one 

 of rare beauty ; its silvery-blue color and well-furnished 

 pyramidal form render it one of the most conspicuous and 

 charming of the evergreens, the very Conifer of the storms. 



The Concolor is from Colorado, and one of the finest and 

 most graceful, and often as blue as the Pungens. It is slowly 

 but surely taking a high rank in ornamental planting. 



Nordmans Silver Fir, when well established, is an impressive 

 evergreen, of strong, symmetrical habit, dark, massive foli- 

 age with lighter shade underneath. 



The Douglas Spruce, Engelmanni, is indigenous in the Rocky 

 mountains. Also we have from Japan a few sorts that are 

 not only proving hardy but more pronounced in many ways 

 than others. Abies Veitchii is one of the finest. Abies Alcock- 

 quiana is a magnificent tree of the greatest value. Picea Polita, 

 a Japanese variety, with a pleasant shade of deep green, quite 

 distinct. The Umbrella Pine, also from Japan, with long, 

 leathery leaves and very compact, forms a very singular tree. 

 Two fine specimens may be found at Elm park. It is too high 

 priced for general use. 



FLOWERING SHRUBS AND PLANTS. 



No grounds are complete without them. Each part of the 

 shrubbery should have a distinct character of its own, which is 

 easily done by grouping instead of mixing several sorts in one 

 group. Large grounds may have combinations of groups, but 

 plenty of space is indispensable for well-grown plants. The 

 charm of a garden of hardy plants is complete only in the con- 

 stant change in the season of bloom from spring until late 

 autumn. Each week to find some new phase of floral beauty, 

 and the expectation of what plants will be in bloom the follow- 

 ing week, develops increasing interest through the season. It 

 is well for small growers to commence with a few kinds most 

 easily grown and add to them as interest develops from season 

 to season. 



Among the hardy flowering shrubs that are always satisfactory 



4 



