388 



THE GARDENS OF NEWPORT. 



three feet high. In some respects it resembles the 

 creepers, as in its growth it spreads outward from the 

 central stem on every side until it forms a fiat, glossy 

 cushion of green, sometimes four to six feet in diameter. 

 It is especially valuable for rock work, and can often be 

 made a thing of beauty in shady situations where the 

 grasses, even, will not thrive. The var. nana aurea 

 possesses similar characteristics, but is of slower growth 

 and has bright, yellow foliage. The two, planted to- 

 gether, form an attractive combination. 



The R. pisifera is a small tree with scale-like leaves 

 in four rows along the branches. Some of the leaves 

 are slightly elongated and curved, the whole tree pre- 

 senting a feathery appearance. It is an attractive plant, 

 and can be employed to good advantage. It is some- 

 times called the pea-fruited variety, from the appear- 

 ance and character of the seed. 



lycopodioides has its foliage arranged around the 

 branches, the leaves being more or less awl-shaped, in 

 opposite pairs, imbricated and of deep green color. 

 The branches are slender and numerous, forming a 

 broad but beautiful head. It is sometimes known as the 

 club-moss retinospora. A variety with variegated foli- 

 age is highly prized, but is too rare to be often seen in 

 cultivation. 



The R. coDipacta is a low tree with a round, compact, 

 dense head and bright green foliage. It can be used as 

 an evergreen to much advantage in many situations. 



The R. Jllicoides is a vigorous plant with bright green 

 foliage. The leaves are small, egg-shapped, imbricated 

 and somewhat curled. Branches flat, with numerous 

 branchlets on either side, which are, usually, dark-green 

 above and much lighter beneath, the whole head hav- 

 ing a fern-like appearance. It is a hardy and free 

 grower. 



The R. leploclada grows to a height of eight to ten 

 feet in pyramidal form. The branches are numerous 

 and short, with many sub-divisions ; the leaves linear, 

 and of bright green color. It is a beautiful little tree, 

 but has not withstood our winters so well as some of the 

 others. It appears to suffer more, however, from the 

 sun than the frost. There are still other varieties, but 

 none of especial value as compared to those named. 

 The list given affords a wealth of evergreen foliage such 

 as few persons, not actually acquainted with these 

 plants, are prepared to appreciate. 



With possibly one or two exceptions all these 

 species and varieties are grown in Newport without 

 difficulty. The only protection afforded them in 

 winter is, in bleak exposures, to place around the 

 groups close board fences, such as are of almost, 

 if not quite equal advantage to the pines, spruces 

 and arbor vitas. In some few cases branches of 

 evergreens are placed over their tops to guard 

 against the sun's hot rays, but this is of doubtful 

 utility. I left a hundred specimens, including 

 nearly every variety named, in the open ground 

 last winter without the least harm to a single plant. 



and yet it may be well to give such valuable, though 

 not especially costly plants, the best opportunities 

 possible. In a colder climate than that of southern 

 New England, extra care may be desirable, and 

 probably should be afforded. 



The illustration on page 387 shows another group 

 of these conifers forming part of a continuous 

 border to a walk circling about the grounds. As 

 before, the golden colors are shown by the lighter 

 shades, and the larger pyramidal forms are fine 

 specimens of Bioia i-/t'ga?itissima, the variety which 

 here shows the greater hardiness and superior 

 beauty. The others are retinosporas plumosa, ar- 

 gentea, and Swiss stone pines, P. cembra. As the 

 border continues, there are numerous equally inter- 

 esting groups in which nearly all the species named 

 appear in a continuous band, with many introduc- 

 tions of other sorts adapted to such combinations. 

 This border, if in a straight line, would reach out 

 at least an eighth of a mile, every section of which 

 by itself would be, if standing alone, an object of 

 rare beauty. The tall trees are pines, with purple 

 beeches and purple-leaved maples, Acer Reitenbaclii, 

 at the left. On the opposite side of the walk at the 

 left, is a large bed of hardy roses, and on the right, 

 a promiscuous collection of shrubs and plants, in- 

 cluding a great variety of spireas, deutzias, bar- 

 berries, etc. The Colorado blue spruce, Picea piin- 

 ge?is, is also somewhat conspicuous in the vicinity, 

 and several specimens fully justify the highest praises 

 bestowed on that western prodigy. There are a 

 good many of these spruces in the grounds, but all 

 are not up to the required standard of color. In 

 the distance is seen a portion of the summer house, 

 with suggestions of its immediate surroundings. 



The opposite side of the house is again seen to 

 be embowered in foliage. The plants in the border 

 in summer are largely composed of the French and 

 other new cannas that are now much employed in 

 garden decoration. These are of many colors, both 

 in flower and foliage, and are much admired wher- 

 ever planted. 



The lily pond is in a recess formed by the conser- 

 vatories, and is thus enclosed on three sides, the 

 remaining one being open to the south. The ever- 

 greens on the border are small spruces, while beyond 

 and across the gravel walk is seen a variety of 

 conifers and deciduous trees, mostly of the well- 

 known and common sorts. The pond is well stock- 

 ed with water lilies, and though not large is, in the 

 proper season, always a thing of beauty and rich 

 in its supplies of aquatics. The illustrations give 

 some idea of the general character of this and 



