We have often thought of painting, as a lesson and study for our friends in various parts of the land, who have the good fortune to reside in the country - two pictures; the one representing a house pleasantly situated, but wholly without shrubbery, lawns, or shads trees, bare, naked, and dreary as Sahara; the other, its counterpart, depicting the same house, charmingly environed by green and velvety lawns, with blooming shrubbery, fine shade trees, and groups of beautiful evergreens. And, we cannot but believe, that the latter picture would go ranch surpass the former in its attractiveness, as to hare a very striking effect upon every beholder, and help to bring about a great and delightful change in the appearance of country seats, farms, and villages. It is true, that the old destructive system of cutting down and burning up everything in the shape of a shade tree, - thanks to the efforts of yourself, Mr. Editor, and other philanthropists like you - has fortunately been banished from the civilised parts of the country, and that there is a growing interest in planting the graceful Elm, magnificent Maple, and other noble natives of the forest, around our houses, and along the lines of our streets, at least - and that men of real taste and intelligence are doing something more than merely setting out long, stiff, formal rotes of shades; but still, the soul as well as sense, is continually pained at sight of bleak, bare hills, and stark-naked, staring houses, baking in the summer's sun, or shivering in the freezing blast of winter.

Indeed, though we have in our northern states, Six to eight months of winter - as witness the season now so grudgingly passing away - yet, in all our rural embellishments, we have scarely given a thought to the improvement and adornment of the wintry landscape. And, notwithstanding that many of the most beautiful evergreens in the world are indigenous to the soil, there is hardly an instance where they have been employed to any extent among us. When we reflect that the graceful, feathery Hemlock, the fringed and sombre Black Spruce, and the sun-shiny Yellow Spruce - (which, when well cultivated and flourishing, can scarcely be distinguished from his more fashionable cousin of Norway) - the stately spires of Fir, - the grand and noble White Pine - the curious and beautiful Holly - the pyramidal Arborvitae - the rich green of the low growing Yew - the splendid Rhododendron, and the Magnificent Mountain Laurel, are all found, growing in wild luxuriance, even within the borders of " the old Bay State,"we shall see how unnecessary it is to go abroad for beautiful evergreens, and wonder that these native resources for adorning our grounds and villages, and especially for embellishing the wintry scene, should have been so utterly neglected.

Use gives fitness and propriety, and hence use is an element of beauty. And a fine evergreen tree, like all things else in nature, is not only a beautiful object in itself, but the idea of cooling shade in the summer solstice, and protection and defence againt the inclement blasts of winter - the idea of use adds a new charm, and has the effect to enhance the pleasure one experiences at contemplating a luxuriant group of such trees. When the hills, and fields, and plains, are stripped of their leafy verdure, and all is bleak and bare, or covered as far as the eye can see, with a dreary expanse of cold and drifting snow, what a relief to the wearied vision, what a charming and beautiful effect does a line or group of living verdure, here and there, give to the wintry and desolate scene. We were strongly impressed with this fact, in visiting, during the last winter, a beautiful New-England village, in which some of the earliest inhabitants had the wisdom and good taste, years ago, to plant, here and there, groups of such trees; and we remarked, that they not only relieved and beautified the dreary sameness of the snow-clad scene, but that they seemed even to give a positive warmth and comfort.

And we have no doubt, that on places exposed to the cold winds, they would contribute very much, not only to shelter human dwellings with their denizens, from the severity of their winter assaults, but that planted on the north side, and thus not in the way of the sun-shine, they would form quite an effectual barrier against the severe boreal blasts, afford a protection to fruit trees, and. even to tender shrubbery, and really prevent the frost from striking down deep into, the anil. Even setting aside all considerations of beauty, we would advise the planting of belts, and screens of evergreens, for the sole purpose of protecting gardens, orchards, and the ground itself, from freezing winds. Many a choice exotic shrub, and tender delicate plant, might live and thrive under the fostering shelter of a group of evergreens, that otherwise could not survive the cold of our northern seasons.

In the grouping of trees in planting, nature, as in everything else, should he our teacher, and our model. Nothing appears more awkward, and displeasing to the eye of taste, than a stiff, straight row of deciduous or evergreen trees, standing in one rigid, uncompromising line, like so many petrified grenadiers. If we turn our eyes to the fields and the meadows, we shall observe the wild trees and shrubbery gathering themselves into charming companies, or single spreading trees, dotting irregularly here and there, the emerald carpet of waving grass. And if we would produce an effect, either lovely or picturesque, we must follow beautiful nature, avoid all stiff, straight lines, all precise regularity and uniformity, and dispose our trees in graceful groups, with here and there a single tree of fine form and habit, resting its rich dense foliage upon the green lawn. Evergreens have a very natural and pleasing effect, planted upon a slope, or steep bank - especially if there he mossy rocks - different shades of green being mingled by way of contrast; or, if we wish to give the appearance of distance, to place those with lighter hue and finer foliage in the back ground, with those of more sombre colors, such as the Fir and Black Spruce, and the Pines with coarser foliage, in front.

This, though diffcult to manage, has the effect of perspective. Larches may be combined to advantage with the evergreens in the back ground. A collection of beautiful evergreens, tastefully arranged, with an underwood or bordering of Rhododendron, Kalmia, and our rich, green, trailing Yew, is one of the most charming pictures that can meet the eye, in winter especially. There are certain trees, however, we confess, that lose much of their beauty by being crowded in with others, and only appear to their best advantage when set alone. This is particularly true of the Hemlock, and the Black and Norway Spruces, and the Aborvitae; at least they should form the outside of a group, while the stiff, ungraceful Fir, gives the finest effect by thrusting its tall spires through the masses of softer foliage, by which it should be surrounded. Evergreens, however, when set alone, should be allowed to grow naturally, with their lower branches leaning upon the lawn. Indeed, nothing is in worse taste than an evergreen with its branches lopped off half way up. It is but half a tree.

It resembles a wretched man, who has undergone some surgical operation that has taken his arms off to his shoulders; and we should as soon think of shaving off the wavy, silken tresses of a fair girl - Chinese fashion - up to the crown of her head, as of mangling in this way a beautiful tree. The Black Spruce, with its thick-tufted, and dense foliage, of sombre deep sea-green, the Norway, with its fringed branches of bright gold-bronzy hue, and the graceful feathery Hemlock, are objects of unwearied delight, when thus treated. If the upper branches tend, when young, to overshadow the lower, they may be easily clipped, so that those below may never suffer from the exclusion of sunlight and air.

Evergreens - Their Use And Culture #1

If Mr. Richardson preaches as well as he writes, his hearers are to be envied. There is a positive unction in this article that goes to the understanding, if not to the heart, of every one interested in growing evergreens, or who loves country life at all. His treatment of this subject is thoroughly practical, and as simple as practical; so plain, and seductive withall, that one can hardly resist the disposition to go forthwith into a sturdy plantation of firs and cedars.

I have thought a thousand times of the great additional good which our country clergymen could do, in the way of their " duty," if they would cultivate a love for horticulture and planting, and preach that, on week days in their parochial visits among their peo pie, as episodes interspersed among the " more important subjects" usually confided to their charge. I have, in the course of my life, known some country clergymen, long resident among a rural population, whose influence in such subjects have been moat beneficial and lasting. Beautifully shaded avenues, luxuriant court yards, delightful flowers, grand overshadowing trees, blooming orchards, and rich gardens, have grown up under their teaching, and the influences of their refined taste, equally with the pure morality and sincere devotion which surrounded the altars of their own hallowed sanctuaries. How delightful and salutary the influence of such a man among an improving people, and how many of the rural paradises of our country can point to the labors of a faithful pastor, as one who taught them, both by precept and example, how to create the beauty and the luxuriance with which they are surrounded! The very subjects which so deeply interest his calling - his early classic studies - his daily readings of volumes in which the most exalted lessons of instruction are illustrated by reference to objects of surpassing interest and beauty - his simple, natural, yet cultivated taste; all these draw his thoughts into a deep love and attachment to the harmonies of creation, which, if he be a man fit for his calling, cannot but tell out in such works of grace and embellishment.

Labors like these, constitute a marked feature in the " daily beauty" of a pastor's life, and more forcibly illustrate that purity of purpose, and sanctity of example, which should, and do in so many familiar instances, signally distinguish the life of the country clergy.

I must even, while in the vein, refer to the many eminent men, scattered all over the United States, distinguished in the several neighborhoods of their residence for their fine taste in gardening-and planting, as well as for their more popular attainments) who received their school-hoy education at their home firesides, and whose minds and tastes, were formed under the teachings of the devoted clergy of the rural parishes of our older states, at whose " studies" they daily or weekly attended for years, while deprived of the advantages of public classical schools in their own secluded neighborhoods. Their restricted means did not permit them to enjoy - fortunately for their own success and fame in after life-the advantages of "academical*' education; but with strong minds, sound hearts, and determined purposes, they went forth into the world, from the wholesome teachings of their parish "minister" to become, in due time, the strong men of our country.

Things are not so now - and none the better that they are not. Were they so, We might witness less brilliancy, but more integrity, honesty, strength and virtue. God bless the country clergyman!