June 19, 1909 



HORTICULTURE 



861 



Water Scenery 



Ax Av)iATic Pool 



In continuation of my remarks on styles of tree and 

 shrub planting in the vicinity of lakes of large areas it 

 will be imderstood tliat only trees which have decided 

 characteristics are mentioned. These consist of the 

 pendulous, the horizontal branched, and the columnar 

 or pyramidal in form, all of which have special effects 

 in the landscape and contrast admirably with the hori- 

 zontal plane of the water. According to fancy, they 

 may in the case of the pendulous be planted in small 

 groups or in a continuous line on portions of the banks, 

 and so close to the water as in the course of years to 

 hang over and into the water. Of such mention may be 

 made of Salix babylonica (the common weeping willow), 

 one of the most effective by reason of its pendulous 

 shoots and a rapid grower. It is perfectly hardy in even 

 the colder parts of North America, and it is not affected 

 ■by any insects excepting the wood leopard moth, whose 

 caterpillars bore galleries in the trunks of aged trees. 

 It is, however, well to keep a sharp lookout for these 

 and kill them by inserting a piece of stiff wire into the 

 ■galleries, as if left to the woodpeckers ugly wounds are 

 made by these birds in their efforts to reach them. 



Other willows suitable as weeping trees are S. Caprea 

 pendula (Kilmarnock weeping), and S. regalis, syn., 

 S. alba argentea. Tamarix, which when aged has a pen- 

 dulous habit, looks well on the banks : and T. gallica and 

 T. germanica are among the more effective species. Of 

 the Robinias, Pseudo-acacia Bessoniana, E. p. a. iner- 

 mis and E. p. a. inermis foliis vaxiegatis are of value 



when their shoots are left to grow to their natural 

 length, so as to become pendulous. Pyrus of the apple 

 and pear section, always beautiful in flower and in fruit, 

 offer the weeping habit in P. Malus Elise Eathke and 

 P. salicifolia pendula. Other Pyrus destitute of this 

 habit of growth, yet desirable trees or half trees, are P. 

 coronaria, P. c. florepleno, P. Malus Halleana, P. M. 

 Scheideckerii, P. prunifolia, P. spectabihs, etc. The 

 Flowering Ash (Ornus europasa) is a handsome pendu- 

 lous tree when aged. Laburnum vulgare in its numerous 

 varieties has the weeping habit in so far as its blossoms 

 go. Fraxinus excelsior pendula and F. oxyphilla pen- 

 dula and Fagus purpurea pendula are good waterside 

 trees. As a small tree of great hardiness, of which the 

 pendulous habit is a marked feature, Cornus florida 

 pendula is a beautiful Dogwood worthy of a place near 

 the water. Cerasus (cherry) sinensis pendula rosea is 

 a beautiful half tree; Celtis (nettle tree) occidentalis, 

 has a weeping habit, and it does well where its roots 

 have access to water. The insignificant flowers are suc- 

 ceeded by small, black edible berries. 



The trees with horizontal branches are mostly to be 

 found among conifers. The silver firs (Abies), of great 

 hardiness, are A. coucolor, A. c. Louriana, A. grandis, A. 

 lasiocarpa, A. magnifica and A. nobilis. The hemlock 

 spruces as A. Albertiana, A. A. aurea and A. Douglasii, 

 all have this habit when aged. Pinus Strobus is the 

 most characteristic of all the conifers in the matter of 

 liabit. 



Trees of columnar or pyramidal habit among decidu- 

 ous species are plentiful among those of a hardy nature. 

 Suitable positions may be found for them among masses 

 of round-headed trees, in clumps of half a dozen speci- 

 mens planted sufficiently wide as to afford full develop- 

 ment without crowding and spoiling each other. Betula 

 fastigiata, a form of the common birch, Corylus Colurna, 

 Ginkgo biloba, Populus Bolleana, P. nigra pyramidalis, 

 Quercus peduneulata fastigiata, Ulmus montana (Wych 

 Elm) fastigiata. Most conifers have this fastigiata 

 form, and in the Thuias, Cupressus, Juniperus, Taxus 

 baccata (Upright Irish), Sciadopitys verticilata, the 

 hemlock, silver, and spruce firs we see it in the more 

 pronounced manner. Xot only do these species of coni- 

 fers contrast and relieve the monotony of the roimd- 

 headed deciduous trees, but when planted in conspicu- 

 ous positions as solitary specimens, or in small groups 

 or at bends and promontories of the banks, they attract 

 the attention of the beholder, and add to the general 

 effect. On the banks of large lakes the planting of 

 flowering shrubs, excepting such as grow to large dimen- 

 sions, is better omitted, the effect being to fritter the 

 more noble arboreal, imposing features of the trees. In 

 the background, or distant landscape, 100 yards or fur- 

 ther from the water's edge, shrubs of any kind would 

 be in their proper place, and quite admissible, more es- 

 pecially if paths led in their direction. 



In my next article I will touch upon water in the 

 home garden, and methods of decorating the adjacent 

 area of land. 



London, Eng. 



