284 PARKS AND PLEASURE -GROUNDS. 



The necessary expansion of tlie lawns in a regular and 

 well-appointed Pinetum, tends to discourage some pro- 

 prietors from allowing tlie ample space which is requisite 

 for their formation ; and where land is very valuable, we 

 cannot wonder that it should be so. In hilly or upland 

 districts, there is often much more space than is required 

 for this purpose thrown away on useless or promiscuous 

 woods of little character or value. In such cases want 

 of room is no valid objection. But even when his ter- 

 ritory is limited, the pine-fancier need not be wholly 

 discouraged, as he may have a considerable collection of 

 his favourite trees, and derive much pleasm'e from their 

 cultivation, if he is content with the opportunity of ad- 

 miring them when they are young, or during the first 

 twenty or twenty-five years of their growth : but after 

 that period, he may expect to see them disfiguring and 

 destroying each other by their mutual pressure, or he 

 must be prepared to exhibit the decision of the sailor 

 who cuts down one mast to preserve the others. The 

 misfortune is, that the pine-grower does not feel his own 

 life in danger while his trees are gradually perishing, 

 and so cannot steel his mind to the requisite use of the 

 axe. We think it possible to arrange a small Pinetum 

 so that when the sorrowful period of extirpation has 

 arrived, such trees as P. nobilis, Deodara, JDouglasii, At- 

 Imitica, Lambertiana, Benthamiana, etc., might be left 

 in their glory, at well-spaced intervals ; while P. Cana- 

 densis, Abies, Picea, Cevnbra, and other of the commoner 

 sorts might be swept away. We question, however, 

 whether the actual planter would ever have the heart to 

 carry out such a plan. Another alternative is to scatter 

 the Conifers, in separate groups, through the grounds, 

 as a main part of the evergreen trees of the place. Pines 

 of varied character are not so deficient in calmness and 



