CONIFERS FOR LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



35 



Comparatively few Conifers like a cold water-logged soil, some 

 thrive in very barren dry soil, but the majority like good rich 

 ground, well drained. Pines, as a rule, succeed in dry stony 

 land, where Firs soon get covered with red-spider and become 

 stunted and unsightly ; generally speaking, the Firs like more 

 moisture in the soil than Pines, and a cool bottom. 



It may be as well to say here that I do not intend entering 

 into a long disquisition on the merits or demerits of Conifers as 

 elements in the landscape. No doubt a park where Conifers 

 predominate very markedly lacks the beauty and variety of 

 another in which, Conifers not having been overlooked in the 

 arrangement, due advantage has been taken of fine deciduous 

 timber and other ornamental trees. There are places where 

 under the stress of a great love for Conifers, the owner has got 

 together a fine series of Pines, Firs, and their allies, but has only 

 succeeded in producing a general effect of sombreness and same- 

 ness objectionable from the artistic point of view. 



All the taller- growing Conifers make striking objects either 

 as single specimens or in groups, and, skilfully arranged, may 

 be made to play an important part in the landscape. Wonderful 

 colour-effects are at the command of the planter who knows how 

 to make the best use of the material at his command. From the 

 soft light green of the Larches and deciduous Cypress to the black- 

 green of the Austrian Pine there exists an extraordinary series 

 of shades. The leaves of the Golden Larch assume a fine rich 

 golden yellow before falling, and those of the deciduous Cypress 

 a fine brown. The young growths of many, too, contrast 

 strikingly with those of previous years. Li the following list — 

 which could be very considerably extended for many localities — 

 only the hardiest are given, those, in fact, which may be most 

 generally recommended. It will probably be somewhat of a 

 surprise to many that the Douglas Fir finds no place in this 

 selection of large-growing Conifers for parks. In Scotland and 

 elsewhere I have seen magnificent specimens ; I have also seen 

 the species fail completely in many places where most of the 

 Conifers I name succeed admirably. The Deodar is another case 

 in point. 



The nomenclature adopted (except in one or two instances) 

 in this paper, as also in the collection of specimens exhibited by 

 Kew, is that of Beissner's " Handbuch derConiferen-Benennung," 



