224 THE FLORIST. 



RANDOM NOTES ON GARDEN MATTERS. 



(Concluded from p. 199.) 



4. Pinus patula is considered tender; possibly it is so in some 

 localities, but in the gardens at Redleaf is a most charming specimen 

 of this exquisite pine. If P. insignis is remarkable for its deep green 

 and noble aspect, as it most certainly is, P. patula is no less attractive 

 for its delicate tint and airy foliage. 1 know of no pine more beau- 

 tiful than P. jjatula. I have in some other garden, which I cannot 

 recollect, seen another specimen, evincing no sign of being tender. 

 Those who may have been deterred from planting this Pine from 

 ideas of its being too tender may take courage from these notes. 



5. I have frequently thought, when walking through rough and 

 romantic spots, which are often found in many gardens. — I mean, in 

 the walks leading through woods and old disused quarries, and such- 

 like situations, — that if strong-growing climbing plants were intro- 

 duced, the beauty of such spots would be much enhanced. Appro- 

 priateness is one of the first principles to be attended to in garden 

 scenery ; and in such localities unrestrained wildness would be es- 

 sentially appropriate. The Vine, flinging its beautiful festoons of 

 foliage from bough to bough unchecked by the pruning knife, would 

 be ajipropriate. And if prepared spots were provided, and plenty of 

 the Orange-gourd, or any of its numerous relations, were encouraged 

 to wreathe overhead their large foliage and flowers, and hang their 

 gigantic fruits amid the branches of the overhanging trees, a novel 

 feature would be eff^ected. Creepers are not employed sufficiently 

 in our gardens. So graceful are they in the disposition of their 

 branches, so appropriate in many situations, and so rapid of growth, 

 that nothing but apathy or neglect can be pleaded as apology for 

 neglecting them. There is another circumstance in connexion with 

 the flower-garden, or rather the pleasure-ground, to which I may 

 here advert, I mean, the pertinacity with which, in the majority of 

 cases, the outline of the shrubbery is from year to year renewed. 

 Masses of shrubs, gracefully spreading their boughs to the turf, 

 are infinitely superior in beauty to those having a hard outline of 

 new edging, yearly renewed with the edging iron. The contrast 

 between the two can scarcely be credited, except by comparison. 



Amongst the numerous readers of the Florist must be some who 

 are familiar with the gardens of Sir George Beaumont, near Ashby- 

 de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Their recollection will be familiar with 

 the appearance of masses of Rhododendron on the lawn there, in the 

 condition I am advocating. These gardens are celebrated as having 

 been partly laid out by the poet Wordsworth. In the remains of an 

 old stone- quarry, which forms part of the grounds designed by him, 

 is a seat like a niche hewn out of the solid rock. In this the poet 

 was wont to sit during the progress of the works, reading and giving 

 directions by turns. Much cannot be said for that portion of the 

 grounds in the present day, the original design being now obliterated 



