600 Classification of Plants. 
native countries, become deciduous when transferred to a colder 
climate, and the reverse is said to apply to some of our indi- 
genous species when taken to a warmer climate. But the dis- 
tinction is clear enough for all practical purposes. As generally 
understood, the term Evergreen is restricted to those plants 
whose foliage is persistent, and retains its natural hue during 
the whole of the year, or during several years. Or perhaps a 
better definition would be that the old leaves persist and retain 
their beauty until after the succeeding growth has furnished 
a fresh supply of fully developed foliage. Some of these, it 
is true, assume a different tint in winter, but the same leaves 
regain their freshness with the advent of spring. 
a. Evergreen Trees.—With the exception of the Common 
Holly, Box, Portugal Laurel, Magnolia grandiflora, Evergreen 
Oak, Strawberry-tree, Sweet Bay, and a few others, this class 
is mainly furnished by one family, the Conifere. 
Thus it will be seen that we are almost entirely dependent 
upon the deciduous class for trees bearing conspicuous flowers. 
Evergreen trees possess little that is attractive either in flower 
or fruit; but by way of compensation, the foliage of many 
species is very ornamental, and in habit they are unsurpassed 
for dignity and grace. We do not forget the bright scarlet 
berries of the Holly, and the handsome cones of some of the 
Firs and Cedars; but the former is oftener seen as a bush, and 
fruiting Conifers, with the exception of a few species, are still 
rare in this country. Although planters have now a very large 
number of species to select from, comparatively few of them 
have attained their full development with us, and therefore 
we are unable to judge of their value for permanent planta- 
tions. Many of them that are exceedingly beautiful when 
young, become unsightly as they rise above the dimensions of 
a shrub, and this, in many instances, may be ascribed either to 
uncongenial soil, defective planting, or exposure to bleak winds. 
The Yew, Cedar of Lebanon, Deodar Cedar, Norway Spruce Fir, 
Silver Fir, Mammoth Tree, Red Cedar, Austrian Pine, Pin- 
aster, Pinus excelsa, P. insignis, P. Benthamiana, Picea, 
Pinsapo, P. Nordmanniana, P. nobilis, etc., Abies Douglasii, 
A. Canadensis, Araucaria imbricata, Crvptomeria Japonica, and 
several others, are known to be hardy. But several of these 
are impatient of a wet, heavy soil, whilst others will not 
flourish in an exposed situation. The question of suitability 
of soil and situation forms the subject of another paragraph. 
