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THE GARDEN MAGAZINE 



December, 1905 



The evergreens give warmth and comfort in the depth of winter when the snow hangs over all 



may rage beyond the belt of evergreens, but 

 here is peace and warmth. 



"The night was winter in his roughest mood; 



The morning sharp and clear. But now at noon 



Upon the southern side of the slant hills, 



And where the trees fence off the northern blast, 



The season smiles, resigning all its rage, 



And has the warmth of May." 



Here the line of coldframes may be placed, 

 for here the morning and the mid-day sun 

 will have a force not found elsewhere. The 

 genial sun seems to love such situations. 

 The growing plants within the frames will 

 add other forecasts of springtime, always 

 sweet in winter days. These plantings to 

 shield from wind may be extended to protect 

 an entire lawn of many acres in extent. 



WHAT TREES ARE BEST 



There are two of greatest value — the 

 Norway spruce and the American hemlock. 

 Both are of rapid growth, are completely 

 hardy, and of pleasing appearance. Our 

 hemlock is one of the most beautiful ever- 

 greens found anywhere. It is stately in 

 form, its branches are graceful, its foliage 

 is fine in texture and dark and rich in color. 

 The Norway spruce has done well in America. 

 It would be difficult to find specimens in its 

 native land to compare in beauty with thou- 

 sands among the older plantings in New 

 England and the Middle States. There is a 

 great difference in their habit of growth as 

 they attain large size. Some are stiff and 

 unattractive, while others have pendant 

 lateral branches and are very graceful in 

 appearance. 



Our white pine is a grand tree, that 

 becomes very picturesque in old age. It 

 should have a good place in winter planting. 



But there are other matters to be con- 

 sidered beside protection from winds, and 

 the diversion of drifting snows. We want 

 pleasant outlooks. The winter vista is more 

 important than the summer, because there 

 are then fewer attractions to please the eye. 

 There are two points of view that should be 

 carefully considered, so that each may have 

 the best the place affords. One is the ap- 

 proach to the house, preferably from the 

 drive, just as the house is reached, or it may 

 be from the steps at the front entrance. 

 You may have been familiar with the view 

 all your life, but it will gladden your gaze and 

 tingle your blood when you reach your home, 

 while the visitor will experience a pleasant 

 greeting, even before the host has welcomed 

 him. The other point is from the windows 

 from which you most frequently look — it may 

 be from the library, or the dining room, or 

 the "living room." If your place has any 

 charming view, be careful to make your 

 plantings so as to give the best to these two 

 points. Scarcely less important are the 

 windows of your dressing rooms. The day 

 starts the better when we look out upon 

 pleasant scenes in the morning. The win- 

 dows of the nursery should have consideration, 

 too. 



These vistas for winter effect should be 

 bordered by irregular groupings of both 

 evergreens and deciduous trees, with clumps 

 of rhododendrons and mahonias, hollys 



and alders, to give variety — "with each its 

 added charm." If the vista leads to wooded 

 hills and gentle, snow-covered slopes, it will 

 always be a joy. 



But there are many things to consider in 

 winter planting. It is always pleasing to 

 look away underneath large evergreens, with 

 their branches gracefully bending under the 

 weight of clinging snow. Here birds like 

 to gather for shelter, and if there are pheas- 

 ants upon the place, you may here tempt 

 them with scattered grain, so that they may 

 be often seen upon these feeding grounds. 

 But other birds should be enticed within 

 your view. Opposite a convenient window 

 there should be a tree where beef or mutton 

 bones may be hung, to which a fascinating 

 company of nuthatches and chick-a-dees, 

 will come to pick the clinging meat scraps. 



Plant those varieties of deciduous trees 

 that are beautiful when bare of leaves. All 

 the birches have fine twigs that show beau- 

 tifully against the winter sky. The weeping 

 cut-leaved birch is a charming winter tree; 

 so, too, is the American beech, with its leader 

 arms and graceful twigs and branches. 

 The English beech, which is worthy of more 

 attention in America than it has received, 

 carries its rich brown leaves quite through 

 the winter. Some people like this, and some 

 do not, but it makes an interesting variety. 



SHRUBS FOR WINTER EFFECT 



The rhododendron takes first place among 

 winter shrubs. Its great, rich, glossy leaves 

 are very beautiful, except when, in very low 



