September, 19 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



313 



A fine specimen of Mughus Pine, (Pinus Montana Mughus) 



Evergreens for the Home Grounds 



By Henry Wild 

 Photographs by Nathan R. Graves 



HERE are several classes among the Ever- 

 greens from which a choice selection can be 

 made to make the home grounds attractive. 

 Many of them are sturdy and reliable, while 

 some of the most beautiful and graceful 

 varieties only need the natural protection of 

 the stronger and faster growing kinds. When the plant- 

 ing is to be made in an open or exposed position, a wind 

 break composed of Pines and Spruce not only adds to the 

 welfare of the less hardy forms — but in many cases to the 

 general appearance of the estate. 



A start should be made with a planting of Scotch Pines 

 ( Pinus Sylvestris) , and the White Pine (Pinus Strobus) 

 using in the foreground the "Austrian Pine" (Pinus Aus- 

 triaca) and the "Bhotan Pine" (Pinus Excelsa). 



This will give a wide range or planting of Pines, and a 

 color scheme in the various shades of Nature's color green 

 that is hard to equal. 



Another selection for the same purpose can be made up 

 of the following varieties. The White Spruce (Abies 

 Alba) the Oriental Spruce (Abies Orientalis) with a broken 

 foreground of Hemlock (Taya Canadensis) and Pinus 

 Densiflora. The last two make a charming combination 

 for fronting a wind break, the lighter green of the Pine 

 blending beautifully with the dark green of the Hemlock. 



Both are 'hardy in the sense of frost exposure, but neither 

 will stand the severe whipping of a northwest wind. The 

 same applies to the Norway Spruce, a majestic tree in the 

 distance, but generally losing its lower branches in its battle 

 with severe winds. 



With a natural shelter of either of the foregoing wind 

 breaks, it is practically safe to go ahead with the general 

 list. Should the grounds be of small dimensions it is not 

 necessary to make a heavy planting of Pines, or Spruce for 

 protection, merely enough to break the strong winds. 



To many of us the sighing of the wind among the Pines 

 and Hemlocks is an added attraction, recalling the poem 

 of our childhood, the "Murmuring Pines and the Hem- 

 locks," beautifully portrayed by Longfellow. 



Among the Spruce we have the three forms of the Colo- 

 rado type. First, the Blue Spruce (Picea Pungens Kosteri), 

 the most beautiful and highly colored of the family. Then 

 comes the Colorado Blue and also the Green variety (Picea 

 Pungens). All of these are hardy and splendid for any 

 position where they have room to grow as specimens. 



Another fine Picea is the variety Englemanni, compact 

 and pyramidal in form, rather inclined to be pendulous in 

 habit and silvery in color. Picea Orientalis is a variety well 

 suited to plant with Englemanni, and exceedingly attractive, 

 where a grouping of more than one color is required. 



