197 



Not the least of these advantages is the moderation 

 of intense heat and cold — producing grateful shade 

 and shelter from dangerous winds, generating abun- 

 dance of rain, giving origin to springs, and thus pro- 

 ducing abundance of water ; increasing the evapora- 

 ting surface, and consequently rendering the atmos- 

 phere more humid. 



In gardening, shade and shelter are not of less 

 impo-'tance than in general economy; and 'ever- 

 green trees are among the most important elements 

 in securing this object. Whether used in plantations 

 or hedges their effectiveness is decided. 



The use of evergreen hedges in gardening is of 

 long standing, and is now beginning to be of acknow- 

 ledged importance in agriculture, and may be con- 

 sidered as the criterion of improved culture and love 

 for the beautiful. 



When a tract of land lies bleak and and is open, 

 cultivated in the common field manner, divided by 

 common post and rail fences, the want of sufficient 

 individual interest precludes all interesting exertion, 

 and the country always exhibits the ,same barren ap- 

 pearance, to persons of cultivated taste, that is 

 quite incompatible with the practice of improved 

 agriculture. 



SECLUSION. 



The seclusion afforded to the dwellings of citizens 

 by hedges, or by screens, plantations, or groups of 

 evergreen trees, in their small but snugly planted 

 villas, is of the highest importance in relation to 

 domestic comfort. Trees, by their elevation and 

 compact fo.iage, shut out and hide external objects, 

 obstruct the gaze of the over-curious, thus giving a , 

 sense of security from observation, while it leaves 

 the owner in the possession of an agreeable privacy 

 in which he may feel that perfect freedom from all 

 restraints — enjoying himself in his own way, which is 

 one of the great pleasures of life. In scenery where 

 great deformities or disagreeable objects are mixed 

 with the beautiful, trees will modify and often com- 

 pletely conceil the former, while at the same time 

 they may be so an anged as to display the other to 

 advantage. 



The concealment of unpleasant objects is well- 

 known to be one of the principal uses to which ever- 

 green trees are applied. In small places and in the 

 thickl}^, built up portions of large cities, the desire 

 to shut out and conceal dwellings of others, and 

 espe ially those too near, is universal ; and this, not ; 

 from any particular dislike to one's neighbors, but 

 from a wish to have a quiet, secluded and pleasant 

 place of retirement, and from an earnest desire to 

 have a home in the country as much like the coun- 

 try as possible. 



Evergreen trees give to indifferent objects an in- 

 terest that would otherwise escape notice, or whose 

 beauties would be lost in a general view. They also 

 contribute to and heighten the effect of agreeable 

 objects, by associating and grouping, or, in other 

 words, by a judicious and tastefully arranged system 

 of planting, in' connection with those objects, and 

 thereby forming a complete design or a perfect 

 whole ; and as every complete whole consists of a 

 number of parts^ it will be easily understood that 

 the more effective the portions the more perfect and 

 complete will be the whole ; and as evergreen trees 

 form one of the principal parts of rural economy, it 

 consequently follows that a country residence with- 

 out the aid of trees would be but an imperfect part 

 of the whole, and, in effect, anything but harmoni- 

 ous or consistent. 



In the immediate vicinity of this city are numbers 

 of residences that are highly ornamental, elegant and 

 even beautiful; but how much more beaut'fcil ^ould 

 they appear if more regard was paid to the embel- 

 lishment of the surroundings, that are intimately 

 connected with the dwelling. Architectural beauty 

 ought to be considered conjointly with the beauties 

 of the landscape and rural scenery, as component 

 parts of the general scene, united with surrounding 

 lawns, trees and shrubs, the whole forming a har- 

 monious union so charming and beautiful to culti- 

 vated taste. 



The distinction that any hind of trees imparts to 

 dwellings is considerable ; but evergreens are so 

 much more conspicuous and ornamental than decid- 

 uous trees, not only on account of their beautiful 

 forms and colors, but by their distinctive features in 

 general. In connection with horticulture and agri- 

 culture they are indices of cultivation and taste. It 

 is very gratifying to see the increasing taste for pro- 

 gressive improvement in horticulture, in all parts of 

 the country, that have taken place within a few 

 years, showing that the people can and do appreci- 

 ate the warm and cheerful air of comfort imparted 

 to a dwelling snugly embosomed in the foliage of 

 trees, or on the sunny side of a group of evergreens. 

 The expression of domestic comfort is highly sug- 

 gestive, — convej^ing, as it does, a pleasure of the 

 highest order both to the occupant and the passing 

 stranger. 



The distinctive features of evergreen trees is not 

 less remarkable to the traveller as he passes rapidly 

 over the country, as he notes the improved and im- 

 pressive character of the surrounding landscape 

 dotted with rural residences, surrounded by orna- 

 mental evergreen trees and shrubs, creating at once 

 the impression of a pleasant and lasting satisfaction, 



