THE GARDENS OF NEU' FOR T—III. 



455 



is also a native of Terra del Fuego as well as of south- 

 ern Patagonia. It is known as F. bctitloides, as its 

 leaves resemble those of the birch in form. They are 

 hard and thick, quite glossy and permanent in spite of 

 theirinhospitable surroundings. Both of these antarctic 

 species have been carried to Europe and cultivated, but 

 except as botanical curiosities, they prove of little value. 



There are a few beech hedges in Newport, with the 

 promise of many more. These are made by planting 

 nursery grown specimens about six feet high and cutting 

 them back to four or five feet, and if a low hedge is de- 

 sired, keeping them there. Such treatment forces an 

 abundance of side branches and produces a good show 



common use. Smaller specimens scattered about in 

 otherwise vacant spaces, include a score of fern-leaved 

 and purple beeches and almost as many magnolias. 

 There are very few shrubs, but some fine larches, firs 

 and spruces, though the conifers do not occupy a very 

 prominent position in the collection. No better cared 

 for trees of large size are to be found in Newport, though 

 even here the thinning out process can be carried still 

 further to advantage. There is always danger, in such 

 cases, of leaving trees that have long been watched and 

 tended with almost parental care, to injure each other 

 before the axe or the saw is applied, and whoever plants 

 should keep the fact in mind that while there may be 



Entrance to the grounds of J. J. Van Alen, Newport, K. I, 



of foliage. In other cases where a screen is wanted, the 

 plants are trimmed so as to grow up to ten or fifteen feet. 

 I have never seen a hedge of purple or fern-leaved 

 beeches, but can think of nothing in this line that would 

 be more strikingly beautiful. They might be planted 

 singly or in combination, introducing all the forms de- 

 scribed, but the plants should be carefully grown in the 

 nursery with reference to this purpose in order to pro- 

 duce the best results. 



Among the large trees in Mr. Norman's grounds are 

 some fine specimens of the European linden, the syca- 

 more and other maples, horse chestnuts, elms, black 

 walnuts, tulips, oaks, poplars, birches and others in 



none too many for his grounds while the trees are young, 

 they can easily become crowded and ruinous to each 

 other in their maturity. It requires courage to remove 

 a beautiful tree, even under such circumstances, but it 

 must be done in time or the damage to those that remain 

 becomes irreparable. A great many trees in Newport 

 have been injured in this way, and though the work has 

 been accomplished at last, much of the mischief done 

 cannot be atoned for. Most men are slow to learn that 

 it is as essential to thin and prune wisely as to plant and 

 cultivate well. There is, in fact, no excuse for an ill- 

 shaped tree in any garden or on any lawn, for few things 

 are more subject to guidance and control during the for- 



