AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
147 
dences with more interest than some of the 
log-houses I have seen at the west, with 
broad projecting roof, and the friendly grape¬ 
vine draping the door with beauty, and hang¬ 
ing in graceful festoons from the logs. They 
are pictures never to be forgotten, and are 
worthy of an artist’s pencil. We can all do 
something to clothe our dwellings with these 
simple charms. Such ornaments are not the 
gift of wealth, but of a love of nature. We 
are often told to plant trees, that our children, 
and our children’s children may sit under 
their shadow, accompanied with the sage re¬ 
mark that they will grow while we are sleep¬ 
ing. This is good advice, and such as I am 
very happy to follow, but I will venture to 
add, plant vines also, for not only may our 
children enjoy them, but we ourselves may 
reasonably expect to participate with them 
in their pleasure. 
The grape vine is itself a fine ornament, 
and may often be- planted near the house with 
much advantage, thus combining utility and 
ornament. In such cases, in trimming it re¬ 
gard always should be had to its two-fold 
character. I have used cedar standards for 
grape-vines thus planted, and have extended 
vines from these in any direction I wish the 
vine to take. Very pretty arches may be 
made over doors or windows in this way. 
In adorning our grounds, if we can not 
keep a gardener, whose business it is to at¬ 
tend particularly to such things, it is better 
not to attempt anything more than we our¬ 
selves can be sure of having leisure to do well. 
Flower beds in a barn, or front yard, if neg¬ 
lected, become really ugly, and disfigure what 
they were intended to improve while grass 
is always agreeable to the eye, and requires 
comparatively little attention. Shrubs re¬ 
quire much less care than flowers, and will 
thrive under treatment that would destroy all 
beauty in a flower bed. Borders for flowers 
are very pretty along the principal walks of 
the vegetable garden. Then they do not re¬ 
quire so nice attention as in front of the 
house, and beside, they are more easily kept 
clean, as no grass is permitted to grow near 
them. A bed of flowers somewhere about 
the house seems very desirable for the sup¬ 
ply of vases. No prettier ornament for a 
parlor can be found than fresh, and fragrant 
flowers, and it is an ornament, which in its 
season, should never be wanting in a country 
home. 
Children can make themselves quite useful 
in cleaning the yard, picking up the bones the 
dogs have carried there, and the dead branch¬ 
es the winter winds have scattered. They 
can rake up the dead leaves from around the 
house and put them in the barn-yard, and as¬ 
sist in planting shrubs and small trees. It is 
quite as creditable to have a nice yard as a 
nice parlor. 
Every year should witness some improve¬ 
ment about our homes, which will continu¬ 
ally render them more and more dear to us. 
A tree that we have planted and watered be¬ 
comes to us an object of special interest, and 
we watch its growth as we watch the growth 
of our children. Let us study Nature and 
learn her method of planting and grouping if 
we would do our work well. She abhors 
straight lines, and formal rows, but plants a 
tree here and a shrub there, with now and 
then a vine to clamber up the trees, or to 
creep along the ground. We are always safe 
when we conform to her rules, and never need 
fear falling into an absurdity. 
PUNT AN EVERGREEN. 
As we look out upon the dreary wastes of 
mid-winter, what more pleasing or inspiring 
object can greet the eye than a graceful 
evergreen tree, towering above the snowy 
mantle that decks the field, lawn, or other 
grounds around the rural dwelling, and con¬ 
trasts its living green with the spotless 
white 1 The very name of evergreen sug¬ 
gests pleasing reflections, and lifts the mind 
to the contemplation of those scenes where 
“ Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood, 
Stand dressed in living green.” 
Where 
-“ everlasting spring abides, 
And never withering flowers.” 
And 
-“ generous fruits that never fail, 
On trees immortal grow,” 
and where flows “ a pure river of water of 
life ” on either side of which stands the tree 
of life, whose perennial leaves are for the 
“healing of the nations.” 
When all else seems dead, apparently be¬ 
yond resurrection, an evergreen tree or 
shrub, like the bqw of promise, inspires 
hope that the stormy blasts will anon be 
past, and bright skies and genial sunshine 
will again reign. But leaving these con¬ 
templations, let us attend to the practical 
question which suggested this article. 
A friend asks “ what trees shall I get, and 
when and how- shall I plant them I We give 
a brief answer, Avhich applies to small plots, 
where a few trees only are required. Those 
having larger grounds to ornament, will seek 
more extended information than we now 
have time or room to supply. 
If one or two trees are desired, we rec¬ 
ommend first, the Norway Spruce, (Abies 
excelsa.) This is one of the most beautiful 
of evergreens, while it is also one of the 
hardiest, and retains its bright green color 
with great tenacity. It grows rapidly in 
almost any kind of soil, and is easily and 
safely transplanted. 
Next to the Norway stands the White 
Spruce, (Abies alba,) which though as easily 
cultivated, and as hardy as the above, is of 
slower growth. It is, however, a beautiful 
tree. 
Our third choice would be the Austrian 
Pine, (Pinus Austriaca,) which will contrast 
well with the preceding two. It has a dark 
green, heavy foliage, of robust habit, a free 
grower, hardy, and can be transplanted with 
safety. 
For a fourth, a good selection would be the 
Stone Pine, (Pinus cembra.) This may be 
classed as of secondary size compared with 
the preceeding three, but with its dense mass 
of dark green foliage, and fine globular 
head, contrasts well with them, and is alto¬ 
gether a splendid tree. 
A fifth selection may be the Silver Fir, 
(Picea Nobilis,) of the Balsam tribe. It is a 
fine evergreen, and should be planted with 
the others, both for its intrinsic beauty and 
to give variety. 
The sixth may be the Bhotan Pine, (Pinus 
excelsa,) a new pine somewhat resembling 
the W T hite Pine, but superior to it, having a 
more slender foliage, of a livelier and bright¬ 
er green. 
The above may be obtained of any good 
nurseryman. The usual price for those of 
the ordinary size for transplanting is about 
as follows : Norway Spruce, 50c ; White 
Spruce, 75c. ; Austrian Pine, 75c. ; Stone 
Pine, $1 ; Silver Fir, $2 ; Bhotan Pine, $2. 
They can be transplanted at any time after 
the ground is in working order, and until the 
middle of May. The earlier the better. 
No manure is required for this class of 
trees. If the soil be a good loam this is all 
sufficient. If a heavy clay, or light sand, it 
should be removed for a space of four feet 
in diameter, and a foot, or better two feet 
deep, and a good soil filled in. 
In planting any kind of trees care should 
be taken to loosen the soil well, and have the 
holes abundantly large so as not to cramp 
the roots in the least. 
In the above list we have omitted the Deo¬ 
dar Cedar, which has been very popular, but 
the past severe winter has somewhat affect¬ 
ed the appearance of their foliage. It re¬ 
mains to be seen whether the tree has been 
seriously affected.— Ed. 
EVERGREEN SHRUBBERY. 
Above we have described a few of the 
evergreen trees. To give additional variety 
there should be mingled with them some of 
the following evergreen shrubs. So also 
those who have not room for the larger trees, 
will find these smaller ones adapted to their 
wants. 
Hemlock Spruce, (Abies Canadensis.)— 
This is one of the most beautiful evergreens, 
having graceful pendant branches, and rich 
dark green foliage. It. requires a good soil, 
and will do best in a rather moist situation. 
Under very favorable circumstances it will, 
in time, grow to a tree of considerable size, 
but under ordinary treatment it grows only 
to the size of a large shrub. 
Cryptomeria Japonica, a peculiarly grace¬ 
ful plant, and should have a place on the 
lawn or grass plot—in a good soil with a dry 
bottom, if possible. 
English Yew, (Taxus baccata,) one of the 
best and hardiest evergreen shrubs ; foliage 
dark and unchangeable. 
Siberian Arbor Vitae, (Thuja Siberica,) 
also one of the best lawn plants ; very sym¬ 
metrical. 
Golden Arbor Vitae, (Thuja Aurea.) This 
is a superb plant—a gem irt its way—and 
should have the most conspicuous and best 
place upon the lawn. It is a dwarf in habit, 
forming almost a perfect cone with symmet¬ 
rical, smooth outline. 
Small-leaved Cotoneaster, (Cotoneaster 
Mycrophylla,) a low growing, spreading 
shrub, very pretty on the lawn ; bears bright 
coral berries. 
Tree Box, (Buxus Arborescens.) A neat 
shrub, valuable for its lively green, dense 
foliage, and compact habit ; a pretty object 
as a solitary specimen. 
Japan Euonymus, (Euonymus Japonica.) 
