258 
CONIFERS AND TAXADS. 
from accidental or natural causes. The effect produced by the working of the latter 
we have not much control over, but that produced by that of the former is wholly 
preventible ; and should not, therefore, by any means, be allowed to occur. The way to! 
ensure that it does not, is to take plants while they are quite young, before any stunting 
or deformity has begun, and favour them in every possible way. No restrictions to 
roots and branches freely advancing should be opposed ; but all encouragement given 
by planting them well in the situation they are destined to occupy. If, owing to 
rareness, and value from other causes, it is decided to be more careful of, by growing 
any for a time in pots, an equal degree of freedom should be afforded, and, under 
either circumstances, certain shelter may be advisable ; for they are liable to injury 
from sources the generality of culturists may not be aware of ; one of which is, that 
some kinds of game do not scruple to devour many Conifers ; even one, among 
others, so formidable as the Chili Pine, is not free from their attack. 
If the foregoing hints are acted upon, notable results will ensue ; such as speak 
for themselves. It must not be fancied that so very complete a state of things as 
regards the beauty of Conifers , is not worth the trouble of attaining, that trees soon 
outgrow deformities, and grow away from symmetry and the like : similar reasoning 
to this would not be thought of in the case of household furniture and decoration ; 
then, why apply it to the furniture that adorns the lawn, &c.? — for we ought as little 
to think of putting up with a deformed shrub or tree, as rest content with a damaged 
parlour ornament or broken fixture of the drawing-room. Either may be bearable 
under certain circumstances, and in their proper place. The latter, for instance, as; 
curiosities associated with assemblages of their kind ; and wayward-shaped trees or 
shrubs may be planted upon or near to rockwork, wliere they can often be introduced 
with a peculiarly happy effect. We enlarge so much here because many Conifers 
are exceedingly regular and uniform in shape, and the peculiar charm of their 
appearance principally consists in this feature ; hence is it most advisable to take 
every step that tends to unfold and guard it. Of the other objection, against so 
much attention being given to Conifers in the young stages of their growth, because 
they become less beautiful as they increase in age and size, it remains to be 
observed, that rightly applied, the objection becomes an argument in favour of what 
we would wish to see extensively in force, and for the very simple reason, that it is 
as young trees only any individual can hope to derive gratification from specimens 
with which pains may have been taken. 
Planting Conifers on elevations that exist naturally or are produced, affords 
abundant evidence, as the plants increase in size and expand into their true shapes, 
that it is a judicious and indeed a necessary practice ; necessary, at least, if the 
appearance to the greatest advantage of the merit of a specimen is of consequence. : 
The Chili Pine and Indian Cedar ( Cedrus Deodara) in particular — and most of the 
large-growing kinds in the Order, to a greater or less extent — get very heavy in age 
much more so than their appearance indicates, which is another reason why they 
should be planted on a raised site ; for a consequence of the heaviness in question 
