542 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



It is scarcely necessary to say that this is one of the hardiest of 

 ornamental trees, of free growth in almost every district and in almost 

 every variety of soil, and few are more ornamental. The singular 

 beauty of its curiously-formed leaves, and its picturesque aspect at 

 all stages of its growth, commends it to all who have a taste either for 

 landscape effects or for elegance of form in foliage. 



Hugh Eraser. 



SUMMING UP. 



AVe have again arrived at the last monthly number for the year, and 

 in summing up impressions of our magazine for the eleven months 

 that have gone, we feel satisfied it has been a successful year, as far as 

 the literary interest and usefulness of the matter it has contained is 

 concerned ; and also feel a conviction that the gardening periodicals of 

 the country have, on the whole, fully maintained their position in 

 general interest, as far as we are acquainted with them, and able to 

 judge. It is also abundantly evident that the public interest in 

 gardening matters is on the increase, as must inevitably be the case 

 with the renewed prosperity of the country, and as polite and in- 

 tellectual tastes with the many supersede the animal and merely 

 sensational. 



It appears also pretty clear that Horticulture has now at last broken 

 loose from her leading-strings, and is able to walk alone — indeed, has 

 taken to carry her old nurse on her back, and give her an airing 

 in the country betimes. No doubt the old lady complacently fancies 

 she has the good behaviour of her old foster-child still in her keeping ; 

 but it is evident to other eyes that she is in her dotage, while Horti- 

 culture is in the vigour of health and growth. 



One of the most melancholy reminiscences of the year are the unfor- 

 tunate squabbles of the Eoyal Horticultural Society, which seems yet 

 as far from settlement as the Tichborne case : we wait with some interest 

 the summing up of each when it comes. Many gardeners in the 

 country begin to be puzzled what the Royal Horticultural Society 

 really is, and if there be such a thing, inquire, what earthly use is it to 

 gardening ? The Society and Horticulture seem two distinct entities, 

 and instead of the Society fostering gardening, it and gardeners 

 generally are brought into contempt by the connection. The Society 

 has a couple of gardens, one of which it cannot conscientiously call its 

 own : dignity will not pay the rent, as Mr Micawber more than once 

 found by experience. The other garden is the scene of little horticul- 

 tural farces, at intervals — Peas, Potatoes, and Pelargoniums are made 

 to show their paces before an interested public : we, in the country, 



