HOUSE AND GARDEN 
August, 
1914 
A good planting of hemlock spruce masses the evergreens in a manner that diverts the wind and affords the garden, 
both winter and summer, a fitting background 
It is along an axial line that unity is attained. Start with this, 
then extend the limits of the garden as far in each direction as 
may be convenient, and consistent with complete shelter. A win¬ 
ter garden may be large if desired, for suitable planting will pro¬ 
vide shelter over even a good-sized area, but small spaces develop 
into charming little winter retreats, delightful to humans and 
birds alike. 
Nothing will ever excel an inclosure of unclipped arborvitaes 
around the garden proper, although a sheared hedge of these, or 
of hemlock or spruce or pine will serve as well for protection. 
Pine, however, even though it stands shearing and makes a very 
rugged and interesting hedge, is not very satisfactory, to my mind, 
because of its naturally open growth. By its very nature it cannot 
present as even and perfect a surface when sheared as does hem¬ 
lock or spruce; and when soil conditions are favorable to any¬ 
thing else, I should not advise the use 
of it. In light and sandy soil it may be 
advisable to plant it, but under ordi¬ 
nary conditions hemlock will grow and 
thrive, and so will arborvitaes and the 
white spruce ( picea alba). The latter, 
however, is not satisfactory south of 
the fortieth parallel, for its home is in 
the coldest regions of the north, and it 
languishes under heat. 
All these are native trees, and there 
is really no reason for considering any 
exotic species except, perhaps, the Nor¬ 
way spruce ( picea excelsa), which 
grows faster than the native and is 
therefore sometimes to be preferred. 
It is commonly used more for hedges 
than the native picea alba , but there 
seems to be no good reason for this; it 
does not stand pruning any better, 
neither is it any handsomer as a tree. 
And the native is more aromatic, which 
is a decided advantage if one wants the 
spicy odor of the winter garden to be a 
feature. 
Inside the inclosing hedge, walks may 
be bordered with almost any of the 
smaller growing evergreens that fancy 
dictates, and the pattern or design marked out with these. The 
thing to avoid in this, as in every other kind of garden, is too 
many kinds. Select with deliberation that kind which best 
pleases you individually, then use it mainly, with perhaps one or 
two other kinds where circumstances may demand or permit. 
Such planting will produce restful and dignified effects — the exact 
opposite of what a mixture will do. 
In the garden of the little diagram, for example, the entire 
design might be carried out in arborvitae, sheared to the differ¬ 
ent heights required; or the outer and inner hedge might be of 
hemlock, sheared, with the inside borders around the squares of 
Retinospora obtusa, unsheared, and the arches of Thuya occidcn- 
talis pyramidalis; or hemlock or pine or spruce might form the 
outer protective hedge with the Chinese arborvitae, which is Biota 
orientalis conspicua or Biota orientalis pyramidalis for the inner 
When sheared, the spruce hedge presents an even and perfect surface. Its use for inclosures and for the for¬ 
mal garden near the house is unexcelled 
Good taste frowns on the “fancy massing" of varieties. 
Stick to one 
