CHARACTERISTICS OF TREES. 295 



kept within a size suited to the Hmited spaces of suburban lots, 

 either as single specimens, or as hedge screens. For the latter 

 purpose, where it is desirable to break the force of winds, or hide 

 unsightly objects, they may be grown and cut to almost any height 

 and form necessary for the purpose. While deciduous trees and 

 shrubs, which m summer torm massy walls of verdure, are all dis- 

 robed, and suffer the wintry wmds to whistle freely through their 

 bare branches, the evergreen screen is still a thick wall of protec- 

 tion to whatever of less height is under its lee. 



One of the most striking beauties oi evergreens is the manner 

 in which their branches bear great burdens of snow, and bend un- 

 der them. The softly-rounded drooping masses of light on the 

 outer boughs, relieved by dark recesses in the foliage, make every 

 tree, at such times, a study for a picture. 



The winter color of evergreens is much more affected by the 

 temperature than most persons suppose. In extremely cold weather 

 most evergreens become dull in color, and resume their brightness 

 only with returning warmth. This is always observed in the red 

 cedar, and some of the arbor-vitses ; the former turning to a dingy 

 brown in cold weather ; and the latter, though less discolored, are 

 much duller in tone during severe weather ; but with the return of 

 the warm days of spring both resume their normal brightness and 

 purity of color. Even the foliage of the white pine shows a very 

 marked change from the effect of cold; often turning to a dull 

 grayish green when the cold is greatest, though with the return of 

 warmth the same leaves regain their warm green color. These 

 facts illustrate that even evergreens are most beautiful in summer, 

 except so far as their masses of foliage afford a resting-place in 

 winter for the snow, and thus create beautiful effects peculiar to 

 themselves which deciduous trees cannot rival. 



The beauty of trees, whether deciduous or evergreen, depends 

 very much upon the character of light in the atmosphere. The 

 most beautiful foliage of a deciduous tree, under the leaden sky of 

 a winter day, would be most gloomy and unattractive compared 

 with its expression when bathed in the bright light of a June day, 

 or in the golden air of an August sunset. The summer light with 

 its golden shimmer is essential to the highest charm of trees ; and it 



