TSyi.] THE WEST MEADOWS, EDINBURGH. 177 



now at command for all sorts of positions and purposes, whether for 

 bedding, massing, or specimens. Japan and China furnish us with 

 a rich variety of Evergreens, shrubby and coniferous. Effects can now 

 be produced in shrub-bedding for the winter-garden, equal in interest, 

 if less sho«^y from the colour points of view, to summer bedding with 

 flowers. Ehododendrons, the hybrid varieties, with their endless forms 

 and aspects, as well as for their unsurpassing beauty while in bloom, 

 take the first rank; they grow perfectly in light turfy loam, much 

 better than in some sorts of peat, which, like old garden-soil, is like 

 poison to them. Then come Aucuba, Laurestinus, Thujas aurea, Tar- 

 tarica, and Warreana, and the Colchian Laurel Kalmias. For small beds 

 and edgings there are the numerous Heaths, especially Mediteranea 

 and Carnea, Perrettya, Berberis Darwinii, Golden and Silver Queen 

 Hollies. Eetinospora ericoides has a colour vying with some of the 

 coloured Kales, and Eetinospora pisifera aurea makes quite a yellow 

 bed for winter, or for edging. Periwinkles, green and variegated, and 

 specially the beautiful Euonymus radicans variegata, one of the hardiest 

 of Japan things. Of berried things for winter there are the Coton- 

 easters. Eigida is of good size, and will be scarlet with bunches of its 

 bright berries. Simmondsii, of dwarf er habit and more elegant, shows 

 itself better than Microphylla. 



Of plants for specimens on lawns or shrubberies it would be im- 

 possible to name more than a few, and these will be favourites ; and 

 first of all Lawson's Cypress, with its profusion at present of beauti- 

 ful vermilion blossom buds — we still stick to the old pendulous variety ; 

 Juniperus Chinensis, a companion plant with its yellowish blossom 

 buds and fine green foliage ; Libocedros Chilensis and Decurrens, 

 Thujopsis borealis, and Dolabrata. In the south Auricaria imbricata 

 will still be planted ; it delights in a bleak position and a sandy peat 

 soil, or indeed in anything open. On the contrary, Wellingtonia, which 

 we are not aware has a fault, must be planted in sound moist soil ; 

 indeed the finest and healthiest growth we ever saw the big tree 

 make, was on a trenched bed of moist clay well drained and in a 

 sheltered hollow. Of Pines for specimens, the finest, to our mind, 

 are Picea lasiocarpa and Pinsapo, and Abies Douglassii. 



The Squire's Gardenee. 



THE WEST MEADOWS, EDINBURGH. 



A PUBLIC GARDEN FOR THE WORKING CLASSES. 



Gardening may be well said to be the purest of all human pleasures, in the 

 knowledge and pursuit of which the professional as well as the amateur 

 botanist experiences a perpetual secret joy and happiness which is better felt 



