The child-blossom and his predecessor are heightening graces, each to the other - neither so beautiful alone, and both finding room enough, and enjoying the same summer together. Parent and child are one glory. The home-tree was not stripped and deserted for the new-comer. Of that most precious of our wayside religions - the homestead-hallowing - it seems to me that the Hemlock should be the chosen emblem." A historian tells us that when Xerxes first beheld the oriental plane-tree, he halted his army " to admire its pulchritude and procerity, and became so fond of it, that, spoiling both himself, his wives, and great persons, of all their jewels, be covered it with gold, gems, necklaces, scarfs, bracelets, and infinite riches; * * * * and when he was forced to part with it, he caused the figure of it to be stamped on a medal of gold, which he continually wore about him." Would Xerxes have done less on first seeing the Hemlock? No "far-fetched and dear-bought" tree equals this. It is suitable for any place or purpose. For a lawn, nothing can be more refined and elegant; it groups well with itself and with other trees; it makes a compact screen and hedge, being improved by an occasional shearing.

It is one of the best trees for cemeteries (for private lots, especially), because of its unchanging verdure, and because it can be kept, by pruning, within the smallest compass. If transplanted on a misty day in spring, with a ball of earth about the roots, there is no difficulty in removing it. After planting, the roots should be mulched with leaves, tan-bark, or fiat stones.

* "It has added not a little to our interest in the Norway Spruce to learn, of late, that fossils of it have been found in the rooks of a by-gone age. It would seem that it was too good a. tree to perish altogether with the Northern mammoth, hippopotamus and rhinoceros, which once roamed beneath its branches." - Testimony of the Rocks, p, 153.

3. The White Pine

This native tree (sometimes called Weymouth Pine) is superior to any known foreign variety. Pinus excelsa, of the Himmalay Mountains, rivals it in many respects, but is proving itself less hardy at the North than was expected. The White Pine is a stately tree, hardy, easily transplanted; its leaves a deep, rich green, arranged in heavy silken plumes, which, when swayed by the wind, have almost the freedom and grace of deciduous foliage. Its balsamic fragrance is a pleasant odor, and is thought to possess medicinal properties. The slightest motion of the wind through the branches produces a silvery murmur, which a poetical mind might say is the echo of a storm at sea, roaring around a brother pine, the mast "Of some tall admiral".

It retains its greenness throughout the winter. It is too large a tree for small premises; its most appropriate place is in extensive parks, and on the outskirts of cultivated grounds.

4. Scotch And Austrian Pines

We place these together, because they are similar in habit and merit, though, perhaps, the Scotch is preferable of the two, on account of the pleasant blue tinge of its foliage. The Austrian is a noble, dark, sea-green tree, almost sombre, yet so grand and bold in its out-spreading branches as to command universal admiration. In these last respects, Pinus ponderosa (a new-comer from the mountains of Oregon) bids fair to outstrip it ; but it has not yet been fully tested.

5. Balsam Mr

This time-honored tree deserves this rank, both for its real merits and for the associations connected with it. Hardiness, ease in transplanting, peculiarity of color, symmetry of form, the persistency of its verdure throughout the year - all combine to recommend it. It is specially suited to small grounds. No tree forms a finer contrast with others. When mingled with deciduous trees, it shoots up its dark spires among their lighter spray in a most picturesque manner; and even in winter, its effect among leafless trees is quite pleasing. The objections made to it are, confessedly, somewhat formidable. It is stiff and prim, and, in old age, becomes lean and shabby. Bat is it stiffer than the European Silver Fir which seeks to supplant it? If set in a deep, generous soil, it retains its good looks for twenty years or more; and a tree which holds its own for a generation, is not to be despised. When it has outlived its beauty, it can easily be displaced for a younger and better. It has been so long planted by the doorstep of cottage and mansion as to become a household tree, and it should not be hastily set aside.

The European Silver Fir, though an exceedingly neat and symmetrical tree, and one which grows old more gracefully than the Balsam, can hardly be relied on at the North. Good specimens are occasionally seen in the latitude of Newburgh, on the Hudson, but it often loses its leader in winter, even as far south as Pennsylvania.

[When young, it does so, though not as a rule. When established, we have found it uniformly hardy, and remember what a beauty it will become at the time the Balsam is utterly unsightly, and must be removed. - Ed].

6. Black And White Spruce

The White is not very common, but good specimens, well grown, are hardly inferior to the Norway Spruce. One in the grounds of the late Mr. Downing, is the admiration of every visitor. The Black Spruce is more abundant, and, as generally seen, has smaller branches and thinner foliage than its Norwegian relative. It makes an excellent leader in a group of other trees. Its numerous pendulous cones are not the least of its attractions.

7. Siberian Arbor- Vita

This resembles the American variety, but its foliage is denser, darker, and becomes less browned in winter. Its hardiness is evinced by its origin. It is one of the best trees "for general purposes." As an ornamental screen, it ranks next to the Hemlock. Its slow growth recommends it for planting in small yards and in cemeteries. [It is unfortunately yet expensive, but must ultimately be our evergreen hedge-tree__ED]