January 25, 1872. J 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



7S 



appreciated is shown by the numerous fine examples of the 

 best known varieties now common to most gardens. The 

 graceful forms are constantly to be met with, and one cannot 

 but admire them wherever they are seen flourishing. With 

 this feeling of admiration, however, comes the thought. Have 

 Conifers yet found their right place in gardenesque scenery, 

 and have we fully realised all that is capable of being etifected 

 by the skilful arrangement of the beauties possessed by this 

 large natural order ? I think that such is not the case, and 

 purpose devoting the present paper to the consideration of this 

 important part of my subject. 



With many of the 

 choicest varieties won- 

 derfully rich and tlis- 

 tinct effects may be se- 

 cured in extensive 

 shrubberies, as well as 

 in park and landscape 

 scenery generally. Mai'k 

 the effect produced by a 

 group of solemn Pines 

 fringing the brow of 

 some high hill, and 

 then try to imagine that 

 which a grove of Deo- 

 dars would present on 

 its steep slopes. What 

 so suitable for such a 

 purpose as the Deodar '? 

 The sweep of its pen- 

 dant brsinches makes it 

 as suitable a tree for 

 covering the steep hill 

 side or fringmg a moun- 

 tain torrent, as it is for 

 adorning our lawns and 

 pleasure grounds. 



In advocating the 

 more extensive intro- 

 duction of Conifer.s I 

 do not mean to ignoie 

 the merits of such noble 

 deciduous trees as the 

 Oak, the Beech, tie 

 Elm, or the graceful 

 Bu-ch, BO beautiful in 

 winter. These are far 

 too valuable ever to lie 

 set aside. But I think 

 the two classes may bo 

 advantageously blended 

 together. 



The form and extent 

 of dressed grounds veiy 

 much affects the way in 

 which Conifers should 

 be arranged in thom. 

 Great attention should 

 be given before deciding 

 upon the number uf 

 plants and the most 

 suitable varieties. In 

 many iaistances more 

 plants are used than 

 there is any necessity 

 for, and a confused 

 crowded aspect is im- 

 parted to what, with a 



little judicious management, might have been a gracefxil and 

 enjoyable scene. It may be useful to quote a simple instance 

 or two by way of illustration. On a small plat of grass in 

 front of a pretty villa I once saw a single plant of Aiaucaria 

 . imbricata in good health and of most handsome proportions ; 

 a few groups of Roses and other flowering plants were tastefully 

 dispersed around upon the turf, hut as there was no other plant 

 of the same species to detract from its appearance, the effect was 

 singularly pleasing. In contrast to the chaste simpUcity of 

 this scene take another. On some turf very simDar in size 

 and position, a number of Conifers of various kinds were 

 planted in straight rows, causmg it to look more like a portion 

 of a nursery garden than a viUa lawn. It is unnecessary to 

 dwell upon this lesson further than to observe that it is appli- 



cable in the case of the most extensive gardens. It is best, 

 therefore, in grounds of no great extent, to keep to a few choice 

 kinds planted singly, or with other shrubs, upon the lawn in 

 suitable positions. In selecting kinds for such a purpose, care 

 should be taken to choose those of established merit and dis- 

 tinct appearance. If six were wanted I would choose Cu- 

 pressus macrocarpa, Picea Nordmanniana, Picea Pinsapo. 

 Thujopsis borealis, Cedrus Deodara, and Araucaria imbricata. 

 If a dozen, I would add Juniperus chinensis, Thuja Lobbii, 

 Wellingtonia gigantea, Piuus insignis, Cupressus Lawsoniana, 

 and Taxodium distichum. These are all distinct and ex- 

 cellent species, but to 

 do full justice to them 

 a considerable expanse 

 of turf would be re- 

 quired. 



In large gardens I am 

 sure that grouping may 

 be earned to a greater 

 extent than it has 

 hitherto been done, 

 judging from what I 

 saw during a visit to 

 the nursery of Mr. 

 Mitchell at Piltdown. 

 The many kinds o 

 Coniferffi cultivated at 

 this nursery are re- 

 markably healthy and 

 vigorous, and a clear 

 idea of their relative 

 value can easily be ob- 

 tained from the number 

 there associated. The 

 Araucaria, however, was 

 the one which particu- 

 larly attracted my at- 

 tention. For some way 

 along each side of a 

 broad walk are rows of 

 this tree, all of them 

 symmetrical, but some 

 notably so. I remarked 

 a fine specimen about 

 30 feet high, which has 

 its branches so regular- 

 ly aiTanged as to ren- 

 der it conspicuous even 

 among the others. An- 

 other large plant is a 

 strange yet beautiful 

 object, having long 

 twisted arms closely set 

 with spinous leaves, but 

 presenting a naked ap- 

 pearance from the ab- 

 sence of any lateral 

 growth. Many of the 

 lower branches spring 

 out fully 10 feet from 

 the bole, twisthig in a 

 singular and not un- 

 graceful manner, so as 

 to stamp the tree as 

 being almost a distinct 

 variety. At the en- 

 trance of the avenne 

 stands by far the finest 

 specimen I have ever seen (of this we give a figure). It is a 

 vigorous tree, 45 feet high, and beautifully clothed with 

 branches from the base upwards. What an attractive feature 

 an avenue or a group of such fine trees would form. 



Mixed groups and borders are common enough, and gene- 

 rally do not fail to please the eye ; but if Conifers were in- 

 troduced in masses, I think some additional beauty might 

 be gained. Thus, besides a grove of Araucarias, there might 

 be others of the lofty Abies Douglasii, the rich gieen Cu- 

 pressus macrocarpa, WeUmgtouia gigantea, and such Pinuses 

 as ponderosa, the glaucous macrocaiTa, and the bright green 

 insignis. Many other specie s of Conifers might be quoted 

 as being equally suitable for such a purpose, and with these 

 individual taste" can vary the list so long as it confines itself 



