Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-05-08
Arrangements or Erergreens.

Arrangements or Eyergreens
1t seems somewhat surprising that
the great advance in horticultural
knowledge, as we'll as the improve
ment in a rural taste, should not ere
this have lead to more iudlcious en-
ployment of Evergreens than is gen.
orally apparent. The serious mis-
takes of our fathers, and their failure
to realize the most common features of
Evergreen growth and needs, have
resulted more in a feeling of disgust
towards the whole coniferous fa.hily
than in a disposition to try again,
with view ofavoiding the errors of
the past. The rapid growth, thickly
massed branches, and persistent
foliage of Evergreen frees should
have taught that close to the parlor
windows and the front walk was not
the place for the larger species of
conifers; but they obviously failed to
teach the lesson, the consequences of
which failure are to be seen in the
miserably trimmed-up specimens to
be seen aboat the way dwellings.
Frank J. Scott, IN his valuable
work on the cart of Beaatifying
Suburban Home Grounds" says that
Zone of the most striking beauties of
Evergreens in the manner in which
their branches bear great burdens of
snow and bend under them. The
softly rounded dropping masses of
light on the outer boughs, relieved
by dark recesses in the foliage, make
every tree, at such time, a study for
a picture. He might have added
that this beauty was only seen in its
highest perfection where the lower
branches rest upon the slawn. Upon
this fact, and the other one, -that
Evergreens hide what is beyond, lis
found the key note of Evergreen
planting.
For sheltering wind breaks, and
close screens to hide unsightly OBJ
iects, the larger growing Evergreens,
as the White, Austrian, and Scotch
Pines, the Norway Spruce, and Bal
sam Fir,-have value that is far
from being appreciated. For a low.
broad screen to separate ornamental
grounds from those devoted to the
raising of crops nothing is pretter
than the Hemlock. For a higher
screen, where a very narrow base IN
proportion to the height is wanted,
the American Arbor Vitae fiji the bill
exactly. The stiff formal look which
single rows of Evergreens have can
be materially modified by planting
larger wind breaks in the form of
elongated groups, and by making the
most prominent sides of screens back
grounds for smaller Eyergreens or
Towering shrubs. Their use for
fences, especially in very small in
closures, and where one joins another
at right angles, gives an inapt,
clumsy look to a place that more
than counterbalances any beauty
the trees may be supposed to pos
sess.
For the location of individual speci-
men trees, or groups, upon a lawn,
it is difficult to give anything but the
general rules. Undoubtedly the
queen of large Evergreens is the Nor
way Spruce; but like other rulers, it
needs large field for action. This,
and the American White Pine, should
only be planted on very large
grounds, and the former should al
ways have clear expanse of lawn all
around.
Large Evergreens should also be
placed on the outer borders of
grounds. For lawns or less than one
third of an acre nothing is better
than the Siberian Silver Fra com
paratively rare, but very beautiful
tree.
In lawns of large extent there is
nothing more effective than large,
irregular groups of Evergreens,
presenting deep recessess or bays,
partially dividing the lawn into
smaller and somewhat detached por-
tons. These add variety and seclu-
sion, and afford abundant opportun-
ity for unexpected surprises in the
way of Aower-beds, and the most Of
fective display of scrubs of marked
characteristics. L. B. PIERCE in tEe
American Garden