108 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
A CHAPTER ON EVERGREENS. 
Above we present a cut of the Douglas 
Fir, a native of California, introduced into 
Great Britain in 1826 from the Western 
Coast of America, by Mr. D. Douglas, from 
whom it received its name. This tree has 
flourished well in England, and is there very 
highly esteemed. The tree from which the 
above drawing was made grew from seed 
planted in 18-28, and is now over seventy 
feet in hight, and its branches extend about 
thirty feet on each side of the trunk. It is 
reported that in the native soil trees of this 
variety have been measured which were one 
hundred and eighty feet in hight, and the 
spread of the branches near the ground one 
hundred and forty feet. The wood is of a 
yellow color, firm and heavy. The London 
Florist says of it: “ It assumes an upright 
conical form, with numerous horizontal 
branches from the ground upwards, thickly 
set with foliage; the leaves are of a pleasing 
green color, and remain a long time on the 
branch, and thus form a dense mass of foli¬ 
age, which adds much to its value as an or¬ 
namental tree ; and when the young shoots 
(which are at first of a bright silvery green) 
protrude in the Spring, the contrast between i 
them and the older shoots from which they ! 
proceed, shed a varied mass of light and 
shade at once beautiful and striking.” 
Thus much for the Douglas Fir else¬ 
where. It would be a most desirable tree in 
this country, but some attempts to cultivate 
it here, made by a highly intelligent and 
skillful friend, indicate that it will not flour¬ 
ish in our climate. We shall hardly give it 
up yet, but so far, we cannot hold out any 
strong hopes that we shall be able to add 
this majestic tree to our list of valuable 
evergreens. 
THE BEST EVERGREENS. 
Below we'give a list and brief description 
of some of the best evergreen trees, placing 
them in the order we would select them, ac¬ 
cording as we desired one, two, three or 
more. As a matter of convenience, and to 
save inquiries, we annex the price at which 
they are usually sold from first-class, well- 
regulated nurseries. The prices are a little 
higher in special cases where the trees are 
particularly symmetrical and well-formed. 
1. Norway Spruce (Abies excelsa ).—For 
all purposes, and under all circumstances of 
soil, climate and culture, this tree will give 
better satisfaction than any other evergreen. 
Possessing neither the rich gracefulness of 
the Hemlock, nor the feathery lightness of 
the White Pine, it has yet a solid richness 
in its heavy foliage, and, when well-grown, 
droops with a graceful curve when grown 
singly; or if planted in masses, it forms the 
finest back-ground in the world against 
which to embroider all sorts of flowery de¬ 
ciduous trees and shrubs. It will bear trans¬ 
planting better than any other evergreen; 
out of many thousands we have known 
transplanted, very few have been lost. A 
young Norway Spruce, in June, when its 
young shoots arc just putting forth, and so 
weak as to droop gently over, is one of the 
most beautiful evergreens we know. It is 
also an excellent tree for a hedge, and when 
kept trimmed, will form a close, compact 
screen more quickly than any other ever¬ 
green. The trees are now quite common in 
; nurseries, and can be obtained at reasonable 
prices. Last season we paid $2 apiece for 
some very fine specimens, but those of the 
usual size for planting can now be had for 
50 to 75 cents each. These are four to five 
feet in hight. Smaller ones, say twelve to 
twenty inches in hight, are sold at 10 to 20 
cents each. 
2. White Pine ( Pinus slrobus). —This tree 
will come next to the Norway Spruce in 
value, although it will not so well bear 
transplanting. It never becomes rusty, is 
always noble in its stature, and its rustling 
branches produce that pleasant, peculiar 
sound, like the distant roar of the ocean. Its 
color is a bright, fresh green ; it grows very 
rapidly, and it always gives pleasure. It. 
bears the shears well, but is handsome as a 
single specimen. The usual nursery price 
is about 10 to 12 cents for each foot in 
hight—the price varying with the beauty 
and symmetry of each specimen. After the 
above two selections, if variety is sought 
after, we would name the 
3. Austrian Pine ( Pinus Austriaca). —It 
has a coarse, heavy foliage, of robust habit; 
is a free grower, and bears transplanting 
very well. It contrasts well with the White 
Pine. Nursery price, say 25 cents {fler foot 
of hight. 
4. Silver Fir ( Picea pectinata). —This is 
a fine evergreen, of the Balsam tribe. It. 
should be planted with those previously 
named, both for its intrinsic beauty, and to 
give variety. Nursery price about 31 to 37 
cents for each foot in hight. 
5. Hemlock Spruce ( Abies Canadensis ).— 
This is the common Hemlock of the Ameri¬ 
can forests, and it is one of the most beauti¬ 
ful evergreens, having graceful, pendant 
branches, and rich, dark green foliage. 
Unless in the best soil, in a rather moist, 
situation, it does not grow very large. Nur¬ 
sery prices about 25 cents per foot. 
C. White Spruce (Abies alba). —This is 
transplanted with ease and safety. It is, 
like the Hemlock Spruce, a slow grower, 
but every way worthy of at least a sixth 
place in any collection of evergreens. Nur¬ 
sery price 25 to 30 cents per foot for well- 
grown specimens. 
7. Bhotan Pine ( Pinus excelsa). — This 
