The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-07
The Lnndscaue In Winter.

The following paper on this subject was
read by J. j. Thomas at the recent horticul-
tural meeting at Rochester:
The remark of Lord Bacon has been often
quoted, that higher degree Of civilization is
required for planting gardens than building
the houses. This is shown by the common
truth, that men even now are SO rich as to
erect dwellings that cost tens OF thousands,
who are too poor to expend a hundred in
planting the grounds. For the same reason
it was long before geometric gardening gave
place to the natural and graceful style. There
is still one department of natural gardening
that is too much neglected or dimly appre-
ciated. I refer to the want of attention TO
the beauty of the landscape in winter. The
foliage of deciduous trees and the bloom of
shrubbery and plants are all gone; but much
may still be accomplished by the rich and
varigated color of light and deep shades in
evergreens; by the brilliant display of masses
of crimson, scarlet and purple berries, and by
the graceful t1acery afforded by the trunks
and branches of silver and golden-barked
trees.
Among some of the trees and plants which
may be employed for this purpose are the
following:
For WINTER BERRIEs.-The Red Cedar,
when it grows in its natural luXuriance, is
sometimes densely loaded with its beautiful
purple berries, which ,massed among its dark
evergreen foliage, present and exceedingly
ornamental appearance. BY selecting the
berry-bearing trees in their wild localities,
strikingly ornamental effect might be pro-
duced.
Trinos uerticelldtG known also as Black
Alder bears in winter profusion Of brilliant
scarlet berries, if the most prolific bushes are
selected. It does best IN rich, moist muck.
Rush typinunp (Sumacb) might be made, in
connection with or in front, of dark ever
greens, to give fine ornamental display with
it dark masses of crimson berries.
The common Sweet Brier bears an album
dance of red berries, which continue in win
ter; and if the bushes are kept compact
and symmetrical, and well shortened in,
they bear more densely and make hne
show.
Some of the wild species ofCratoegus bear
snowy scarlet berries.
The Oak-leayed Mountain Ash Is to be es-
pscially recommend, not only for its scarlet
fruit, butIfor the beauty and symmetry OF the
trees.
Celdstrus scdndens, climbing shrub, dis
plays masses of orange scarlet fruit in winter,
and if properly trained may be made to pre-
sent brilliant show.
The common and the purple Burberry af-
ford beautiful winter ornament. The bush
Cranberry, (Vlburuum OGycoccuS) If placed
in cultivated grounds and allowed space to
grow, will bear more abundantly than in its
native swamps, and its scarlet berries will re-
tain their fine color into winter.
iShepherdid drgenteG buffalo Berry,, is
very ornamental late in autumn and early in
winter, from its dense masses OF light red
fruit.
The Pyracontha thorn makes an admirable
display with its red berries, and when shell
tered under evergreens is protected from in
jury by the cold.
But of all berry-bearng shrubs none ex-
ceeds the anonymous, (Burning-b ush, Straw
berry-bush), with its brilliant seed covers.
When the exterior borders of the grounds
are planted with evergreens, nothing of the
kind can exceed the beauty and brilliancy
these berry-bearing shrubs present, and with
their snowy colors set off by the dark green
foliage behind them. The more irregular the
grounds and planting, the better will be the
display thus afforded.
Among the trees and shrubs which con-
tribute by the color of their bark, to the
attractions the winter landscape, are the
| golden-barked Willow, White Birch, the
Golden Ash and the red-twigged Cornus,
| &C. alba) and if well relieved by dark back
ground of evergreens, they become objects of
much beauty and interest.
By due share of attention to these winter
ter ornaments, there is no necessity what
ever for the black and dreary appearance of
which so many complain; and even the bare
branches and the shining buds which invest
them. will become objects of study and de-
light A proper blending and contrast in
various shades of evergreen trees may be
made to give additional charms to the plant
ing of The grounds. These examples are