CHARACTERISTICS OF TREES. 
295 
kept within a size suited to the limited spaces of suburban lots, 
either as single specimens, or as hedge screens. For the latter 
purpose, where it is desirable to break the force of winds, or hide 
unsightly objects, they may be grown and cut to almost any height 
and form necessary for the purpose. While deciduous trees and 
shrubs, which in summer form massy walls of verdure, are all dis¬ 
robed, and suffer the wintry winds to whistle freely through their 
bare branches, the evergreen screen is still a thick wall of protec¬ 
tion to whatever of less height is under its lee. 
One of the most striking beauties oi evergreens is the manner 
in which their branches bear great burdens of snow, and bend un¬ 
der them. The softly-rounded drooping masses of light on the 
outer boughs, relieved by dark recesses in the foliage, make every 
tree, at such times, a study for a picture. 
The winter color of evergreens is much more affected by the 
temperature than most persons suppose. In extremely cold weather 
most evergreens become dull in color, and resume their brightness 
only with returning warmth. This is always observed in the red 
cedar, and some of the arbor-vitaes; the former turning to a dingy 
brown in cold weather; and the latter, though less discolored, are 
much duller in tone during severe weather; but with the return of 
the warm days of spring both resume their normal brightness and 
purity of color. Even the foliage of the white pine shows a very 
marked change from the effect of cold; often turning to a dull 
grayish green when the cold is greatest, though with the return of 
warmth the same leaves regain their warm green color. These 
facts illustrate that even evergreens are most beautiful in summer, 
except so far as their masses of foliage afford a resting-place in 
winter for the snow, and thus create beautiful effects peculiar to 
themselves which deciduous trees cannot rival. 
The beauty of trees, whether deciduous or evergreen, depends 
very much upon the character of light in the atmosphere. The 
most beautiful foliage of a deciduous tree, under the leaden sky of 
a winter day, would be most gloomy and unattractive compared 
with its expression when bathed in the bright light of a June day, 
or in the golden air of an August sunset. The summer light with 
its golden shimmer is essential to the highest charm of trees; and it 
