352 A SEPTEMBER RAID IN NORTHUMBERLAND. [Oct. 



estate. In one of 300 acres, done about thirty-seven years ago, 

 with a poor clay suljsoil, the larch disease appeared, and the larches 

 which had previously done well were cut down before arriving at 

 the profit-showing stage. In 1852, about 600 acres of very poor 

 moorland, at an altitude of 600 to 700 feet high, were planted on 

 the same lines before the larch disease made its appearance in 

 the district; and they now show some effects of this mysterious 

 complaint, though the larches presented a splendid growth for 

 the first twelve years ; what was planted in Scotch fir and 

 spruce promises fairly well. Here there is room for the special 

 labours of the English Arboricultural Society. We may soon expect 

 to hear, through their efforts, more of the local effects of the larch 

 disease. But we desiderate further statistics on the point raised by 

 Mr. Jewitt in the letter before us, that profitable tree-planting 

 depends much on nearness to a market for timber, a railway station 

 or seaport from which it can be sent to market. Thus the value 

 of timber may be double or treble in one part of the country to 

 what it is in another. Such a difference may be very mai-ked even 

 in districts under one hundred miles apart. 



The visitor to Hexham, emerging from the railway station, sees 

 the square towers of the old city, forming the farther end of a 

 vista in which, at this season, trees and shrubs of the most 

 variegated colours adorn the sides of a broad walk the ingress 

 to which is freely open. Coming from the north, our visitor 

 will have already had several reminders, by extensive breaks, hot- 

 houses, and other adjuncts of arboricultural practice, that this 

 shady lane is at the extreme end of one section of the Wentworth 

 nurseries. In the autumn time he will be struck by the vigorous 

 growth of choice conifers, such as Betinospora ohtusa gracilis, B. 

 pisifera, B. squarrosa, which here hold their own with sturdy 

 Wcllingtonia gigantcas or plants of Biota sonperaiirescens and B. 

 oricntalis. In the collection of Cupressus, the dwarf golden 

 Cuprcssus Lawsoniana lutea as well as the stately C. erecta viridis 

 are well represented. Taxus WasMngtonia may be taken as 

 representing yews of the variegated type, specially of the golden 

 variety ; whilst the variegated poplar, Popidus Ontario variegata, adds 

 a pleasing variety to the autumn foliage of these ornamental 

 trees, concerning which Mr. Brown, the manager, discourses at 

 length farther on in this issue. Eoses, which are cultivated this 

 season to the extent of 15,000, add their subsidiary aids to the 

 gorgeous display of foliage from sombre green to bright gold. 

 And extensive plantings of Mahonia aquifoliuin now showing its 

 dark purple fruit, claim for it a place in ornamental grounds as well 

 as game coverts. 



