The Prinos glaber is a native plant which might with advantage be extensively used, and I am not aware that it possesses any quality that unfits it for the shrubbery. Too many people suppose that beautiful results in ornamental planting can only be effected with uncommon, and consequently, expensive plants. There can be no greater mistake than such a supposition. It is the arrangement and the knowledge of the materials employed (as to their color of flower, time of blooming, and habit of growth, etc.) that produce the pleasing result, and not the rarity of the plants made use of; and very much may be done in renewing and ornamenting an old, neglected place, by a skillful hand, simply by the re-arrangement and regulation of the materials on the premises with such additions as the surrounding woods afford.

Of exotic evergreens that appear best adapted to the purpose under consideration there are two, that may be found at moderate prices in most nurseries; - the one is the Berberis aquifolium, or Mahonia; the other the Euonymus Japonious. The Mahonia, unfortunately, in many situations suffers in the leaves during the winter, from having them injured by the frost, hut its early bloom and rapid growth in early summer render it a very beautiful object for the greater pert of the year. There are three or four other varieties of this shrub, which, although not equally desirable, are still sufficiently so to become valuable additions to the limited list of hardy evergreens. These are M, repens, M. facicularis, and M. nervosa. (3) The Euonymus Japonicus is undoubtedly the most desirable and the least known of all the hardy evergreen shrubs. There are three varieties: one with larger leaves and more robust growth than the other two; the latter having variegated leaves, the one green and white, the other green and yellow. The first named is the most desirable; the leaves are a very deep, but bright, shining green, and the shrub is of pretty rapid growth. It strikes readily in the open ground from cuttings, in a shady aspect.

This plant forms by far the best substitute that is at present known for the Portugal Laurel and Sweet Bay in New York; and from my knowledge that, a very small plant in an exposed situation stood the severe winter of 1851 and 1852, I have little doubt that it will stand in Connecticut and Massachusetts, although I have not yet used it in my plantations in the latter States.

The English and the Irish Yews (4) are of such slow growth that they are useful and ornamental when used as shrubs. The Box also lends its humble but useful aid, and can often be introduced in the foreground with effect.

The Arbor Vitae is an evergreen of which North America may justly boast, and which is most valuable in the formation of shrubberies. Of this there are also many foreign species, all of which are handsome, and the Chinese, one of the best, can be bought at a reasonable price. The value of this shrub arises in a two-fold manner- from its individual beauty, and from its distinct and peculiar outline, which makes it valuable for separating other shrubs of kindred character; and thereby keeping up that continuous variety of expression which should prevail in a well-arranged shrubbery plantation.

The Swedish Juniper is equally useful with the Arbor Vitae, and for the same reasons; and were it not for the paucity of the broad-leaved families of evergreens, they would, with the Conifers, and Rhododendrons, leave little to be wished for beyond the fitting proportion of well-chosen deciduous plants to enable the landscape gardener to produce a finished scene of artistic beauty.

Upon the subject of the hardy or tender nature of evergreen trees and shrubs of recent introduction in different localities, I would caution your readers against forming hasty opinions, or relying too implicitly upon those of others. One winter or one plant is no criterion by which to judge. I was told recently by a very clever horticulturist at some distance north of New York, that he had twice tested the Cedrus Deo-darOy and found it impossible to preserve it in tolerable health in his locality, and he felt positive it was useless to plant it there. An hour afterwards I accidentally met with two specimens of it at a nursery within a mile of his grounds in perfect health, which had stood out three winters 1 As a general proposition it will be found that evergreens that are tender will bear a northern aspect better than any other. (5) The physiological reason of which is that their hybernation is less disturbed by the changes of temperature during the winter months, because they are less exposed to the action of the sun's rays; and the slight difference in the degree of severity of temperature is of less consequence to their vitality than the avoidance of frequent alternations of temperatures during the twenty-four hours.

The same indications are furthered in many cases by the greater protection from excessive cold afforded by the covering of snow which in northern exposures remains less influenced by the temporary thaws occasioned by a mid-day sun.

I had intended to make some remarks upon the families of plants, (such as the Andromedas and some others), from which, so far as analogy goes, it is fair to presume an attempt to introduce them would be successful. But my paper is already, I fear, longer than you will desire. Many useful suggestions might be made as to the situations and climates from which new evergreens should be sought by travelers, on which, if you think it would be useful, I will, on some future occasion, send you some remarks. (6)

[ 1. We prefer evergreen boughs, whenever they can be obtained; straw inunsightly, and can scarcely be used unless when laid on rather thickly. We once saw rare and tender Conifers protected with evergreens in the grounds of H. W. Sargent, Esq., of Fishkili, and it struck us then as a very decided improvement on straw. Every day we see the winter effect of gardens marred by numerous straw coverings, like so many miniature straw stacks.

(2.) The Catawbiense varieties are the most hardy. Indeed, they stand quite well on Mr. Sargent's grounds. This gentleman has groups of them that would not discredit an English lawn. With us, as far north as 43°, they stand too, especially in situations facing north. We usually throw a few leaves over them on the setting in of winter.

(3.) The Mahonias we regard as by far the most valuable low-spreading evergreen. It is of free, rapid growth, and succeeds in all places. The leaves do get browned slightly in winter, where exposed to the sun, but not in shaded places. There is very little practical difference in the general appearance of those named - the distinctions are botanical. The Euonymus Japonicus will not stand here without protection -none of the varieties -they get cut to the ground. We have to take up the nursery plants and winter them in frames.

(4.) The English Yew stands well in almost every part of this country, and though of slow growth makes a fine bush in a few years, and is always improving.

(5.) This is quite correct On the north side of a gentleman's dwelling in this city, stand two of the most beautiful Deodars of their size (some five or six feet high) that we remember having seen anywhere; and they have had no protection. In other places about town this tree has generally suffered from the winter.

(6.) We shall be very happy to hear from Mr. Munn further on this subject.