228 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



thrives well in the deep cool shades of mountain valleys. In 

 the Highlands of the Hudson, it grows in great luxuriance; 

 and in one locality, the sides of a valley near Cro'nest, the 

 surface is covered with the most superb growths of this tree, 

 reaching up from the water's edge to the very summit of the 

 hill, 1,400 feet high, like a rich and shadowy mantle, sprink- 

 led here and there only with the lighter and more delicate 

 foliage of deciduous trees. 



The average height of the Hemlock in good soils is about 

 70 or 80 feet ; and when standing alone, or in very small 

 groups, it is one of the most beautiful coniferous trees. The 

 leaves are disposed in two rows on each side of the branches, 

 and considerably resemble those of the Yew, though looser 

 in texture, and livelier in colour. The foliage, when the 

 tree has grown to some height, hangs from the branches in 

 loose pendulous tufts, which give it a peculiarly graceful 

 appearance. When young, the form of the head is regular- 

 ly pyramidal : but when the tree attains more age, it often 

 assumes very irregular and picturesque forms. Sometimes 

 it grows up in a thick, dense, dark mass of foliage, only va- 

 ried by the pendulous branches, which project beyond the 

 grand mass of the tree ; at others it forms a loose, airy, and 

 graceful top, permeable to the slightest breeze, and waving 

 its loose tufts of leaves to every passing breath of air. In 

 almost all cases, it is extremely ornamental, and we regret 

 that it is not more generally employed in decorating the 

 grounds of our residences. 



The uses of the Fir tree are important. The Norway 

 Spruce Fir furnishes the white deal timber so extensively 

 employed in Europe for all the various purposes of building; 

 and its tall, tapering stems afford fine masts for vessels. The 

 Black Spruce timber is also highly valuable, and is thought 



