PARK AND CEMETERY. 
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it is possible for them to thrive, they 
are charming, if planted along with 
some of the pines, such as the white 
pine (Pinus Strobus) and the pitch 
pine (Pinus rigida). The birches also 
thrive in sandy soil, which is favor- 
able to the pines themselves. The 
effect of the white bark against the 
perpetual green background oj the 
pine is, to many, more delightful in 
Winter than when the birches are 
covered with their Summer foliage. 
This beautiful effect is particularly 
noticeable in the regiop of Albany, 
N. Y., where it is the feature of the 
Winter landscape 
Excellent Winter effects are also 
obtained by what the forester terms 
the “Mixed Forest,” which is a mix- 
ture of deciduous and coniferous trees. 
This forest growth is often to be 
found along the Great Lakes belt and 
the effect is often ^fery beautiful. It 
would be well if we would learn from 
nature and reproduce these effects in 
our parks and large estates. While 
it is out of the realm of this paper to 
mention Fall coloration effects, this 
“Mixed Forest” effect is unparalleled 
when we behold the tints of the ma- 
ples mixed with the dark green pines, 
and the impression produced is one 
that lingers in the memory of the 
most casual observer. 
While we can secure much pleasure 
from the observation of trees in their 
bark, twig and fruit formation, yet 
the most impressive Winter effects 
are largely produced by using the 
hardy coniferous evergreen with a 
lavish hand. In this connection, it 
may be said that an infinite variety of 
evergreens is not necessary to pro- 
duce fine effects, while the list of the 
iron-clad evergreens, suitable for 
Northern climate, is woefully short, 
yet we have no reason to be dis- 
turbed. On larger places the liberal 
planting of pines and hemlocks for 
screening unsightly buildings and 
checking the force of the Winter 
winds, will have much to do with the 
successful treatment of the place, for 
one can better appreciate the subtle 
beauties of a Winter landscape if pro- 
tected from the force of the icy wind 
by an effective screen of tall and 
stately evergreen trees. The most 
useful large growing pines for North- 
ern planting are the white pine (P. 
Strobus), the Austrian pine (P. Aus- 
triaca), and the Scotch pine (P. syl- 
vestris). The soft effect of the deli- 
cate needles of the white pine when 
young, and its stately appearance 
when old, place it pre-eminently in 
the lead, while the larger needles of 
the Austrian and Scotch pines contrast 
well and give variety. The only ob- 
jection to the use of the American 
hemlock is that it cannot be employed 
near large cities on account of the 
smoke and sulphur gases, which are 
always present in manufacturing dis- 
tricts. In both large and small places 
the Douglas spruce (Pseudotsuga 
Douglasi) with its dark green foliage, 
and the Colorado green spruce (Picea 
pungens) and its varieties (glauca 
and Kosteriana), give variety to the 
Winter landscape. For immediate ef- 
fect and for filling in between the 
more permanent pines and spruces the 
Norway spruce (Picea excelsa) is use- 
ful, but as it very often outlives its 
usefulness at an early age it is only 
useful for the purpose of temporary 
effects. The mountain pine (P. Mug- 
hus) is the most useful of the low 
growing evergreens for our Northern 
climate and is not out of place on 
the smallest lawn. When massed at 
the foot of larger evergreens, it is 
extremely effective. Some of the 
junipers can safely be employed in 
the North. And by far the most ef- 
fective of all is Juniperus Virginiana 
glauca, the glaucous form of the com- 
mon red cedar. It is much more hardy 
than the type and it will thrive in the 
smoky atmosphere of the city as will 
no other cedar. Its whitish effect, like 
that of the Colorado blue spruce, is 
particularly striking. Juniperus Chi- 
nensis stricta is also an evergreen of 
the first rank for the North. 
For low planting, Juniperus Sabina, 
the Savin Juniper is excellent, while 
Juniperus communis var. nana, which 
is still lower in growth, gives us an 
opportunity to produce an evergreen 
carpet when it is desired. As a use- 
ful hardy evergreen we cannot over- 
look the Japanese yew (Taxus cuspi- 
data). It is a welcome addition to the 
list of really hardy evergreens. The 
American arborvitse (Thuya occiden- 
talis) in its numerous varieties is also 
useful as a Northern evergreen, but 
prefers the shelter given by wind- 
breaks. Its golden variety (var. au- 
rea) is extremely useful, as it is really 
golden and adds a touch of bright 
color, which harmonizes well with the 
prevailing deep green of the majority 
of evergreens. In sheltered positions 
it is safe to use the pea fruited retin- 
ispora (R. pisifera) and in some cases 
the silver retinispora (R. squarrosa 
var Veitchii), but although this is 
fairly hardy it is often injured by the 
Winter sun. While the evergreens 
enumerated do not include all of the 
coniferae that are hardy along the re- 
gion of the Great Lakes, yet they do 
include the very hardiest species and 
these are sufficient to produce a Win-, 
ter picture which, as far as coniferae 
are concerned, will be effective and 
leave little to be desired. 
What is true of the paucity of the 
really hardy coniferous evergreens in 
the Great Lake or Northern regions, 
is still more true of the broad leaved 
evergreens. One of the very few 
which is hardy under all conditions is 
the yucca (Y. filamentosa); when 
planted in large masses it is a cheer- 
ing sight in Winter, to say nothing 
of its profusion of bloom in Summer. 
It is doubly welcome, but its value 
as a Winter plant is its chief asset; 
even a solitary specimen on the lawn 
is an evidence of life in the snow. 
The rhododendrons, which are first 
thought of among the broad leaved 
evergreens, can be used safely and 
effectively in the northern parts of 
the Northern states, but only under 
the most ideal conditions and with 
the best of care, and it is only too often 
that they eke out a bare existence. 
Conditions under which they would 
flourish in the regions of New York 
and Philadelphia would be fatal in 
the Lake regons, and success is only 
reached by eternal vigilance.. When 
such a sight is seen as that in High- 
land Park, Rochester, N. Y., we are 
forced to believe that rhododendrons 
will thrive and be considered a factor 
in the Winter gardens of the North. 
If the planting beds are thoroughly 
prepared and Epsom salts judiciously 
used, they will be a success. Very ef- 
fective grouping can be obtained by 
using the great laurel (R. maximum) 
R. Catawbiense and the numerous 
hardy hybrids. 
What is true of the rhododendrons 
is also true of the mountain laurel 
(Kalmia latifolia) and Andromeda 
floribunda. The boxwood (Buxus 
sempervirens) cannot be called a 
Northern plant, but the more uncom- 
mon Buxus arborescens will stand a 
temperature below zero without cov- 
ering if well established. Excellent 
samples of it are to be seen in Geneva 
N. Y., which are over four feet in 
height. Its foliage is coarser, but it 
is an excellent substitute for the Eu- 
■ropean species. Its usefulness as a 
Winter plant cannot be overestimated, 
especially in formal work. I have the 
temerity to mention this species of 
box only after having seen it with- 
stand severe Winters. 
The best evergreen ground cover 
is undoubtedly the periwinkle (Vinca 
minor); its ability to thrive under ad- 
verse conditions of light renders it 
useful for other things besides Winter 
effect. It is an excellent ground. 
