IV. 



A FEW HINTS ON LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



November, 1851. 



"\TOVEMBER is, above all others, the tree-planting month over 

 -1^1 the wide Union. Accordingly, every one who has a rood of 

 land, looks about him at this season, to see what can be done to im- 

 prove and embellish it. Some have bought new places, where they 

 have to build and create every thing in the way of home scenery, 

 and they, of course, will have their heads full of shade trees and 

 fruit trees, ornamental shrubs and evergreens, lawns and walks, and 

 will tax their imagination to the utmost to see in the future all the 

 varied beauty which they mean to work out of the present blank 

 fields that they have taken in hand. These, look for the most rapid- 

 growing and effective materials, with which to hide their nakedness, 

 and spread something of the drapery of beauty over their premises, 

 in the shortest possible time. Others, have already a goodly stock 

 of foliage and shade, but the trees have been planted without taste, 

 and by thinning out somewhat here, making an opening there, and 

 planting a little yonder, they hope to break up the stiff boundaries, 

 and thus magically to convert awkward angles into graceful curves, 

 and harmonious outlines. Whilst others, again, whose gardens and 

 pleasure-grounds have long had their earnest devotion, are busy turn- 

 ing over the catalogues of the nurseries, in search of rare and curious 

 trees and shrubs, to add still more of novelty and interest to their 

 favorite lawns and walks. As the pleasure of creation may be sup- 

 posed to be the highest pleasure, and as the creation of scenery in 

 landscape gardening is the nearest approach to the matter that we 



