160 
SOUTHEKN CULTIVATOR. 
tion on the barren rocks, where hardly a particle of soil is 
to be seen. In such places, striking its roots into the 
numerous cracks and crevices of the rock, and nourished 
mostly by the moist atmosphere, it often attains a height 
of 200 feet. Here, in the South, it must be shaded and 
mulched while young. Grows best in argillaceous gravel, 
and is raised from seed. 
Pinus excelsa (Bhotan Pine),fi-om East India, resembles 
very much the “White Pine” or Pinus Strobus, which is 
found on the Southern mountains, but its leaves are twice 
as long. 
Pinus australis (Long-leaved Pine). — This splendid tree 
indigenous to the sandy parts of Georgia, is a most beauti- 
ful object until it attains the height of 30 feet, after which 
it grows rather ugly. Leaves very long, often 14 inches, 
of a dark glossy green color. It is very highly appreciated 
in localities where it does not grow spontaneously, and 
deservedly so. Raised from seed. ^ 
Pinus canadensis (Hemlock.) — Is a beautiful spruce, 
indigenous to the mountains from Georgia to Canada. It 
forms a very symmetrical tree while young, and is most 
beautiful in the spring, when it makes its new growth. 
The young shoots are of the most beautiful grass- green 
color, and drooping, which gives the tree a most singular 
appearance. Many more pines could be enumerated, but 
hardly any superior in beauty to the above-mentioned 
ones. 
Podocarpus taxifolia (Chinese Yew), a shrub from 
China, not uncommon in our Southern gardens, mostly 
raised for the sake of variety, as it is of but little beauty. 
Strikes well from cuttings. 8 to 10 feet high. 
Taxodium semper Virens (Redwood of California). — This 
is one of the tallest growing trees in the world, attaining 
the height of three hundred feet. It resembles a spruce. 
Ifmulched and shaded for the first year or two, it will 
stand the Southern climate well. It strikes pretty freely 
from cuttings, but, unfortunataly, such plants, like the 
Araucaria excelsa, will never make handsome trees, until 
a sucker springs up and forms a leader. Rich gravelly 
soil IS preferable. 
Taxus baccota (English Yew), a native of the north of 
Europe and England, where it, from time immemorial, has 
been planted as ornamental in the churchyard. It is a 
bushy, slow growing tree, except in rich mountainous val- 
leys, and is best raised from seed. Its foliage is poison- 
ous for horses. 20 feet high. 
Taxus hibernica (Irish Yew), an elegant pyramidal 
shrub, seldom exceeding 8 feet in height. Requires rich 
soil, heavy mulching, and, if possible, shade. 
Thuja (Chinese Arbor Viise). — Who would 
not know this old habitant of Southern gardens, where it 
so often, by mismanagement and tasteless abuse, is crip- 
pled to one of the most unsightly objects'? In fact, the 
common propensity for “trimming it up,” like a long- 
legged pine, deprives it of all its beauty. It is a tree that 
ought never to be trimmed up, and never even touched 
with a knife, except for the shortening of any straggling 
limbs. It bears the shears well and makes a beautiful 
hedge, particularly when trimmed in pyramidal form. 
Easily raised from seed. 
Thuja stricta, from Nepaul, bears a great resemblance 
to the former, but is a more dense and compact bush, with 
much finer foliage and a very elegant form. Of all the 
“Arbor Vitte” tribe this is unquestionably the best for an 
ornamental hedge. Easiest raised from seed. 
Thuja pendula, also called Cupressus filiformis (Weep- 
ing Arbor Vitee) —This very singular shrub, a native of 
China, is still quite rare. Its pendulous little branches 
are very long and hair-like, not more than a sixteenth of 
an inch thick and frequently terminating in an elegant 
tassel, which gives the whole shrub a most peculiar ap- 
pearance. I do not know of any shrub better adapted for 
cemeteries. It stands our climate remarkably well. Pro- 
pagates best from seed. 15 feet high. 
All the Arbor Vitae tribe is fond of rich soil. 
Juniperus Sinensis (Chinese Juniper), a beautiful upright 
bush, from China, with elegant bright green foliage. It is 
particularly fine in the spring, when crowded with the 
cone like, bright yellow, male flowers, which form a 
beautiful contrast to the lively green foliage. 10 to 15 feet 
high. 
Juniperus excelsa, from the Himelayan mountains, also 
a conical shrub with handsome foliage of a blueish green 
color, 20 feet. 
Juniperus hibernica (Irish Juniper), a pyramidal shrub 
resembling the well-known Oriental Cypress, but seldom 
exceeding 10 feet. 
Juniperus squamata, from Nepaul, a most strange look- 
ing and awkward growing trailing shrub, which, in fact, 
looks more funny than pretty. It is, however, unques- 
tionably the most picturesque shrub for covering rock- 
work. 
Juniperus Sueeica (Sweedish Juniper) seems to adapt 
itself to nearly all latitudes. Its growth is bushy and 
spreading ; foliage of a greyish green color, with a brown- 
ish tint. 20 feet high. 
Juniperus virginiana, (Red Cedar). — Common all over 
America, and, nevertheless, a common favorite. A hedge 
of Red Cedars is always admired, and when growing up 
to trees, they form excellent and elegant shade trees. 
The whole tribe of Juniper can be raised successfully 
from layers, when made in the spring, just when they are 
starting to grow. 
In transplanting all these Evergreens, care must be 
taken to lift the roots with a spade, and not to injure them 
more than cannot be avoided. After transplanting, it will 
assist their growing considerably if a barrel without 
ahead is placed so as to keep a close moist air around 
them ; frequently syringing or sprinkling of water over 
the foliage, particularly by sunset, will be found to be of 
great service to them. Robert Nelson. 
Macon, Ga., April, 1856. 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH-LAY- 
ING OFF FLOWER GARDENS, PLEASURE 
GROUNDS, ETC. 
A very capable correspondent (in a private note) thua 
opens up a subject which we hope will engage his own 
pen and that of others, hereafter: 
“I have an idea of writing something (if capable of do- 
ing it) on laying out, planting and ornamenting Southern 
gardens. Downing, as well as many European authors, 
have written volumes about it; but our Southern climate 
is very different from theirs. How can we ever think to 
have nice green lawns 1 I doubt very much whether 
that ever will be accomplished in the South. But we can 
at least do away with those narrow, straight paths, fit 
only for two chickens to walk abreast. We can farther 
do away with the lining of the beds with bricks or planks; 
such “Dutchman’s work” looks miserably. An entirely 
different style ought to be introduced with us, and I have 
not yet seen anything on the subject of Landscape Gar- 
dening in the South, Do you know anything about itl 
then please let me know all about it. I have this winter 
been laying out a garden, and met with some difficulties 
following the “Downing style,” and it struck me at once 
that we, of the South, ought to find out some other 
method, but, as yet, I do not know what to do.” 
