166 THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



formal in outline, yet often attractive from their very oddity. A 

 feature very often overlooked in American gardens is the massing of 

 trees that are beaatiful in the autumn. Most places can be improved 

 by a little group of these brightly-tinted species, and for this purpose 

 I would name for the back-ground the scarlet oak {Quercus coccinea,) 

 dazzling in its scarlet dress ; the sour gum {Nyssa MuWjlord), with 

 the deepest shade of crimson ; the red maple {Acer ruhrum), gay with 

 yellow, red and orange, and a sassafras {S. officinale), with golden 

 yellow leaves. To the front I would place a white flowering dogwood 

 {Cornus Florida,) with its vivid shade of red; one or two common 

 sumacs {Rhus glabra), as bright as the petals of a crimson peony, with 

 a few vines of the green brier (smilax rotundi folia), of golden hue, 

 and ampelojysis quinqucfolia, dyed with crimson, clambering over the 

 whole. It is needless to add that the effect of such a blending of 

 colors cannot be overrated. In leaving the deciduous trees, I would 

 merely call your attention to the neglected family of oaks, although 

 beyond the limits of such places as we are discussing to-night. For 

 very large lawns no genus in the flora of the world can exceed their 

 majesty of form, their picturesqueness of outline, nor their value for 

 every purpose appertaining to the landscape art. 



We now arrive at the Evergreens, but as my time has nearly 

 expired, I will hurriedly particularize a few of the most valuable for 

 the majority of our country places, all of which will undoubtedly 

 succeed in this vicinity. In the spruce family, as not only the first 

 in the genus, but among all cone-bearing trees, the Norway Spruce is 

 fully intitled to consideration before any other. You all know it well, 

 and knowing it have nothing to say against it. It is a tree at once 

 appropriate in all situations and for every purpose ; hardy everywhere, 

 and exceptionally beautiful 



More formal in outline, but remarkably pleasing in color, the white 

 spruce stands next, and the hemlock, with its charming drooping 

 branches, curving in even circles to the ground, must never be 

 neglected. In particular localities and exposures, the Ahies Smithiana, 

 A. Douglasii, and A. Menziesii are among our handsome kinds. In 

 silver firs, the A. Nordmanniana is without doubt the best liardy 

 species known to us at present — always beautiful and healthy, we 

 cannot well dispense with its presence. Almost as valuable, the A. 

 Pichta ranks next. With varying success, although generally firm. 



