358 THE ENGLISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. [Oct. 



and of George the First, almost the only ornamental trees and shrubs 

 were the variegated holly and a few of the commoner roses. What- 

 ever our ancestors wanted in the variety, also quality of the trees 

 and shrubs, was however made up in the great quantity of each sort 

 that was planted. High box, yew, or holly hedges, wildernesses of 

 hornbeam, and bowers of roses were the staple ornaments of their 

 pleasure grounds, and a few lilacs and laburnums were introduced by 

 those who wished it to be thought that they possessed a taste for 

 botany. 



During the whole reign of Queen Anne, according to Loudon's 

 Arhoretum Britannicmn, not above half a dozen ornamental trees 

 were introduced, and in the reign of George the First not above nine 

 or ten more. 



Now that forest trees are being so generally planted, ornamental 

 trees might also be planted alongside of them which would awaken 

 pleasing associations in the mind of every landed proprietor, who is 

 not, like the great lexicographer, predetermined to hate everything 

 vegetable, and who can travel from Land's End to John O'Groat's 

 without seeing beauty in a single tree. 



The acacia (Bohina pscudo-acacict) deserves a place in every 

 shrubbery of extent. Many of the finer varieties are cultivated in 

 the south of England, and attain to stately trees, while some of the 

 commoner varieties are to be found in several of our best planted 

 northern residences ; but it must be remembered that they ought to 

 be planted in the most sheltered situations, otherwise they suffer 

 from frosts. 



A prejudice appears to exist against the ash, by which it is 

 almost excluded from park scenery, some objecting to it on account 

 of its lateness in coming into leaf in the spring, and others because 

 it sheds foliage soon, while others deny it any elegance of outline, 

 with many more objections to which it appears to be unfortunately 

 lialjle. The varieties exhibited are increased by grafting on the 

 common ash, and develop rapidly into trees of great magnitude, and 

 ultimately become as timber trees of as great value as the common 

 ash {Fraxinus excelsior). 



Purple beech {Fagus purpurea) is one of the most effective 

 foliage varieties when interspersed among other trees in the park, on 

 the lawn, or in the shrubbery, and is found to prosper in almost all 

 soils. The fern-leaved variety {Fagus laciniatns) is often planted 

 with good effect in the outline of ornamental shrubberies, although 

 it seldom attains any great size. Among the first specimens of the 

 purple-leaved variety introduced into this country, one was felled 

 some years ago in Perthshire, of wliich Mr. Brown had correctly 

 taken measurements after having been felled — height, 6 feet ; girth 



