INTRODUCTION OF NEW CONIFEROUS TREES INTO PARK SCENERY. 173 



XXI. — On the Introduction of New Coniferous Trees into Park 

 Scenery. By R. Glendinning, F.H.S. 



(Communicated Dec. 10, 1849.) 



Few persons will be inclined to dispute the beautiful appearance 

 and remarkable pictorial effect produced by the Cedars of Le- 

 banon. When rightly disposed in the grounds of any gentleman, 

 they constitute a feature that it can scarcely be possible to appre- 

 ciate too highly ; nor can we praise too mucli those who so libe- 

 rally in the past age conferred upon us the delightful pleasure of 

 beholding them. The Oak every one admits to be a beautiful 

 tree ; this would not be diminished in the smallest degree, but 

 the contrary, if contrasted with the Cedar : striking effect is pro- 

 duced by contrast, and interest is increased by variety. How 

 much of both would be destroyed were the noble Cedars of 

 Goodwood, Sion, Wilton, Claremont, and other places, cut down ! 

 Look at any park planted entirely with deciduous trees : when 

 denuded of their foliage, how dreary and inhospitable is the effect 

 they produce, especially to those who are accustomed to observe 

 a more varied and refreshing landscape ! We therefore have 

 some examples of what the Cedar has effected in converting the 

 cheerless, wintry aspect of some of our baronial residences by its 

 noble bearing and verdant foliation. It is a question worth 

 asking, whether the landed proprietors of the present age are 

 availing themselves of the opportunities so abundantly and 

 reasonably afforded them of introducing a vast variety of trees 

 equally interesting, both as regards pictorial effect and individual 

 beauty, which the Cedar of Lebanon exemplifies. 



Take, for example, the Pinuses of California, and we find 

 sufficient in them alone to work out an entirely new feature 

 in the landscape. What in a park can give expressions of 

 dignity and grandeur surpassing the Abies Douglasii ? The 

 rapidity of its growth is quite marvellous. It is only a few 

 years since it was introduced into this country, and in some 

 places it is now actually vying in loftiness with the Cedar of 

 Lebanon itself: when we also consider the enormous altitude 

 it, as well as numerous other species from the same country, 

 attains in its native regions, what we are accustomed to call 

 trees will comparatively dwindle in our estimation to mere 

 stunted bushes. Among these may be mentioned Pinus insignis, 

 Lambertiana, ponderosa, Coulteri, Sabiniana, and others. Nor 

 is the height which these attain their only recommendation. 

 They not unfrequently make a growth of three feet and upwards 

 in one season, and this is not uncommon even in exposed situa- 

 tions. Their variety of foliation, which is so decided and ex- 



