LA WN-PLANTING FOR WINTER EFFECT. 139 



charms are enhanced twofold by the distance that here Just 

 suffices, not only to lend enchantment to the view, but to 

 give an adequate impression of the plant considered as a 

 whole. The plants that stand nearest the evergreen back- 

 ground are evergreen also, both because they are allied by 

 nature, and because they appear most bold and character- 

 istic seen at a little distance from the house. One excep- 

 tion to this arrangement may be effectively made by 

 interspersing among the evergreens white birches, the 

 value of which can hardly be overestimated in any lawn- 

 planting, and in winter, ornamentally considered, they are 

 almost indispensable. Notice the striking effect of the deli- 

 cate, gleaming white stems placed here and there directly 

 against the dark background of evergreens, and surrounded, 

 perhaps, by fields of snow and ice. See how the contrast 

 brightens the whole scene, and how curiously the white 

 trunks and graceful drooping branches bear snow wreaths 

 or icicles, each in its own characteristic way. A solid back- 

 ground of evergreens presents much variety of rich color, 

 blue, green, and silver, but the whole effect is, as it were, 

 punctuated by these white birches. Nature uses the 

 birches most delightfully in many a woodland winter scene, 

 and our lawn is, we find, greatly improved by the free use 

 of this artistic i-esource. But our attention is specially 

 claimed by the specimens occupying the middle-ground. 

 Here, too, we find a fair admixture of evergreen trees ad- 

 visable. The evergreens disposed near the foreground are 

 of medium, and in some cases of dwarf size, but always of 

 interesting character, well fitted to make single features on 

 the lawn. 



