IRISH GARDENING. 



II 



or late spring, rather than in mid-winter, espfci- 

 ally in districts at all subject to strong dry winds. 

 Plants from 16 inches to 18 inches aie usually the 

 best size, and should be stout and well rooted. 



Sijcaiiujie. — This may be considered the best 

 v\ind-resister of all broad-leaved trees, whether: 

 near the sea or elsewhere. It attains a greater 

 height than the Austrian pine, l)ut does not pre- 

 sent such a close unbroken front near the surface 

 of the ground, while, being deciduous, it provides 

 little shelter in the winter. It is useful, however, 

 where space cannot he spared for low-spreading 

 trees, or for mixing with lower-growing trees in a 

 small belt or screen. It requires fairly deep and 

 good ground to bring it to a large size, but when 

 it does attain large dimensions it is often a valu- 

 able timber tree. 



Beech. — On dry soils Beech usually makes a good 

 shelter tree, although taking up a good deal of 

 room in old age. For filling up old belts or screens, 

 however, it is often very useful, as it stands shade 

 well, and the yomig trees retain their leaves 

 through the winter, though in a dead condition. 

 It is probably best to plant it in thick masses or 

 groups here and there where its shade will do 

 no harm; but it is a bad hedgerow tree, unless it 

 be planted as a hedge itself, when it often provides 

 the best of shelter. Being deciduous at a mature 

 age, it requires the company of conifers to make 

 a complete shelter. 



Sifkd Spruce (uul Silrer Fir. — Where a high 

 shelter screen is wanted, and space is available, 

 these species attain a greater height in windy dis- 

 tricts than most trees. They may be planted in a 

 single row, the spruce on wet and the silver fir 'pn 

 dry groinid, or if more than one row can be 

 planted, common spruce or Scots pine can be mixed 

 with them respectively. 



WJiite American Spruce is a much hardier .tree 

 in exposed positions than the common spruce, 

 although of little value as a timber tree. On high- 

 lying moory soils, however, it makes good shelter 

 in the form of a thick row or belt, but it should not 

 be mixed with tall growing trees, or it will quickly 

 get crushed out. 



Birch. — Birch is chiefly valual)le as a shelter tree 

 when fairly young and closely jilanted. It is very 

 hardy, grows on any soil and at any altitude, but 

 seldom attains a great size or age, and is chiefly 

 mentioned because it is easily obtained, and may 

 aid in sheltering other species during the early 

 stages of growth. 



I'iiphirs and Willows. — On wet ground, and at 

 moderate elevations, the Black Italian Poplar and 

 Tree Willows are often usefid in quickly providing 

 shelter. Good drainage, however, is desirable, so 

 that their root-hold may be secured as much as 

 possible. They cannot be considered in the same 

 order as the trees named al)ove, so far as shelter is 

 concerned, but may produce useful timber, and 

 sufficient shelter for low-lying spots, and may 

 assist in drying spongy ground. Both species will 

 thrive near the sea. 



On fairly good or low-lying ground many other 

 species will succeed as well, or even better, than 

 the above. But in such cases it is usually possible 

 to plant ordinary timber trees which will provide 

 l)oth shelter and timber at the same time, particu- 

 lars of which, as already pointed out, will be found 

 in Leaflet No. 67. 



Trees for Ornament. 



In one sense all well-grown and normally- 

 developed trees are ornamental, and it might be 

 thought unnecessary to specify any species in par- 



ticular under this head. But for situations in the 

 immediate vicinity of a dwelling-house of any size, 

 trees are often features in the landscape which give 

 dignity and importance to their surroundings, and 

 for such purposes certain species are far more sviit- 

 able than others. 



The chief characters of an ornamntal tree are 

 grace, symmetry of outline, and varied details in 

 leaves, flowers, or fruit. It must also harmonise 

 with its surroundings sufficiently to enable it to 

 be regarded as an appropriate object of interest 

 when looked at in relation to them rather than by 

 itself. 



It is not intended to deal with trees which might 

 be appropriate in a park or pleasure ground, hux 

 only sut'h as are suitable for planting in a small 

 garden, or on a piece of lawn in front of a farm 

 house where the space is necessarily limited. For 

 such a purpose many of the ornamental conifers 

 are the most suitable and appropriate. They have 

 a synnnetrical outline, are evergreen, and rarely 

 grow to a size which renders them unwieldy and 

 ultimately dangerous to the house itself, or an 

 obstacle to free circulation of air or to the svm's 

 rays. 



To enumerate all the trees that might be con- 

 sidered suitable is impossible here. The following 

 will, however, generally be found to meet all re- 

 quirements : — 



Abies nohilis. — This tree likes a deep, well- 

 drained soil, and on such it is fairly hardy and 

 fast growing. It should not be planted in low 

 frosty hollows, as its yoinig shoots are rather 

 tender. It has a beautiful silvery hue, and a per- 

 fect outline when healthy. 



Tsuga Merfeusiava. — On fairly light, dry soil this 

 makes a beautiful tree, with dark green feathery 

 branches which clothe the stem to the ground. It 

 grows rapidly and provides a good deal of shelter 

 on a north aspect. 



i'ryptonieria joponica. — This is a Japanese tree 

 of moderate size, and is very ornamental when 

 mature. It succeeds on most soils, and does not 

 produce such a dense mass of foliage as many 

 conifers. 



Ciipressus Lavsoniaiat . — A well-known tree t.f 

 moderate size, grows almost anywhere, and makes 

 a good screen or shelter when planted in a row 

 about eight feet apart. 



Thuia (liganfea. — Stronger and faster growing 

 than the last, but wants more room as a specimen. 



Welliufjfovia gigantea. — Usually does well on 

 clayey soils, and is very hardy, but often gets bare 

 at the bottom. 



Among broad-leaved trees, the following are use- 

 ful : — 



Quercvs lle.r. — This evergreen makes a thick 

 bushy head, without growing to a great height. It 

 does well near the sea, and bears cutting back when 

 required to be kept low. 



Mouufairi Asli . — This is an easily grown tree, 

 and very ornamental, and may be useful in exposed 

 situations where other trees cannot be grown. 



For many situations certain of the larger shrubs, 

 as for instance, Portugal Laurel, Laurestinus, 

 Rhododendron, Arbutus, &c.. are more suitable 

 than trees, as thev can be cut back or pruned from 

 time to time when necessary .^ — Leaflet Nn. 68, 

 Department of Agriculture and Technical In- 

 struction for Ireland. 



