THE BEST HARDY CONIFERS -e. h. wiison, t 



Arboretum 



[Editor's Note. — The information contained in this article is based on the matured observations of forty years at the Arnold 

 Arboretum. It must be understood while presenting the facts under the above title that the selections have, perforce, been made with 

 particular reference to New England, and that observations continued for an equal length of time in other regions are likely to lead to 

 somewhat different conclusions. Yet the fact remains that the rigorous climate of Xew England is the severe test, and that what is 

 proved best in the Arnold Arboretum is much more likely to prove best over the wider spread of territory than if the situations were 

 reversed. For instance, on Long Island it is quite possible to grow successfully a number of beautiful Conifers which are not hardy at 

 Boston, but everything that woidd grow at Boston will also grow equally well on Long Island. The great lesson to be learned from 

 this article is that we have presented to us the absolutely sure things that are safe for general planting anywhere. All other subjects that 

 are under observation are still in the experimental stage, and planters would do well, therefore, to treat them experimentally. Use them 

 by all means; try to introduce variety into your plantings; but for the frame work, for the backbone, place your reliance on the thoroughly 

 tested, proven kinds that are recommended herewith. This is the seventh consecutive article in Mr. Wilson's series] 



CONIFERS rank among the patri- 

 archs of the vegetable kingdom 

 and in their size, their beauty 

 and their usefulness to man they 

 are not surpassed by any 

 other group of trees. In a 

 general way every one is 

 acquainted with these 

 cone-bearing plants and 

 the_\- are universal favor- 

 ites. The family is dis- 

 tributed from the Arctic 

 Circle nearly to that of the 

 Antarctic, and its mem- 

 bers are abundant in the 

 temperate regions of both 

 Hemispheres but the}- are 

 rare within the tropics. 

 One genus only, Liboced- 

 rus (Incense Cedar), is 

 common to the north and 

 south Hemispheres. In 

 longevity and massiveness 

 of bulk, the Redwoods of 

 California (Sequoia) ex- 

 ceed all other trees, and in 

 height these giant Conifers 

 are only approached by 

 the broad - leaved Blue 

 Gums (Eucalyptus) of 

 Australia. With exception 

 of the Larch (Larix), the 

 Chinese Golden Larch 

 (Pseudolarix) , the Swamp 

 Cypress (Taxodium) and its Chinese rel- 

 ative (Glyptostrobus), all Conifers are 

 evergreen; and it is this character, together 



with their noble aspect, that make them 

 horticultural!}- of such supreme importance. 

 No other tree or shrub gives quite the same 

 effect or adds so much restful dignitv to 



Alleviate the bleakness of the winter landscape by the use of evergreens near the house. In this case the 

 hedge will also be evergreen — it is of Arborvitae 



northern landscapes. Although the family 

 is so universally distributed, many of its 

 members are fastidious in their requirements 



and only a limited number thrive in the 

 rigorous climate of New England, where 

 hot dry summers and cold winters are the 

 rule and where, in March, hot sun and 

 dmng winds by day are 

 followed by low tempera- 

 tures at night. Such con- 

 ditions are most inimical; 

 nevertheless, the White 

 Pine {Pinus Strobus) and 

 the Hemlock {Tsuga can- 

 adensis), two of the hand- 

 somest of coniferous trees, 

 are native of that region, 

 and where these thrive the 

 lovers of evergreen trees 

 need not lack material for 

 their plantations. 



In the early days of 

 horticulture in this coun- 

 try it was customary to 

 import from Europe nearly 

 everything required — even 

 trees and shrubs native of 

 this country. On the 

 whole this experiment has 

 not proved a success and 

 in the matter of hardy 

 trees (and especially Con- 

 ifers) has occasioned much 

 disappointment. How- 

 ever, the failures and suc- 

 cesses of the past are, if 

 rightly appreciated, a 

 wholesome lesson to the present generation 

 of garden lovers since the benefits are theirs 

 to enjoy. For the work of proving what trees 



A very satisfactory, hardy, and highly ornamental tree is the Japanese White Pine (Pinus Perfectly hardy, very ornamental and most suitable for lawn and park planting is the 



parvifiora) Chinese Golden Larch (Pseudolarix Kaempleri) 



'Copyright, igis, by Doubleday, Page & Co. 145 



