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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of avenaes, of hedges, of screens for shelter, in the rock garden, 

 about the margins of lakes, on slopes within eye range of the 

 dwelling, where beautiful distant effects may be got, or for 

 memorial trees to stand in closer proximity to the house, to mark 

 in the memory some event with which the planting of the tree 

 has been linked. Conifers might be considered, too, in relation 

 to town gardens, and for the window boxes where even the town 

 garden is not possible. I am quite aware of the fatal effect of 

 smoke and the heavy atmosphere of cities and centres of dense 

 population, yet in the possession of the knowledge that a few 

 months would probably mark the life-limit, at any rate for 

 decorative purposes, of some of the better kinds, I would advocate 

 a freer use of Conifers for situations and conditions even such as 

 these, for I am an earnest advocate for the introduction of plant- 

 life in all available forms, especially the prettiest, about the 

 homes of the people everywhere. 



I have, however, come to the limit of my time and feel I 

 have only touched the fringe, and that but feebly and poorly, of 

 a subject wide, interesting, and familiar, for we are familiar with 

 the Pines and the Conifers generally. So common are they that 

 they are about us everywhere. Upon some of the more peculiar 

 types, such as the Araucaria and Salisburia, I have not spoken, 

 and yet upon these and upon all there is so much to say. I am 

 always thankful that these beautiful evergreen types of stateliness 

 of form and splendour of foliage both in character and colour 

 are so abundant and common on every side, and I feel inclined 

 to bring my remarks to a close with the words of Evelyn in his 

 *' Silva " — that splendid old English classic with which I hope we 

 are also familiar. Having discussed in his wonderful way over 

 the wide field brought before him, he concludes, as I shall ask to 

 be allowed to conclude, thus : But a wise and thinking man 

 can need none of these topics ; everywhere they are before him ; 

 and yet we do not admire them sufficiently because they are 

 common and obvious : thus we fall into the just reproach given 

 by one of the philosophers to those who slighted what they saw 

 every day, because they every day saw them. As if novelty 

 only should' be of more force to engage our enquiry into the 

 causes of things than the worth and magnitude of the things 

 themselves." 



