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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 19, 1967. 



sliftJo. The double-floweiing varieties are also indispensable as 

 pot i)4attt8, and ought to be grown in every establishment. 

 Zonal Aurantia striata, a new striped variety, must also be 

 added. This I have secured {or crossing, as we may expect 

 more novelties when it has been judiciously employed for that 

 purpose. 



I was pleased to see by a recent Number, that Mr. Wills has 

 succeeded in effecting a, cross between the Ivy-leaf and the 

 Zonal sections. — E. S. 



CUPRESSUS MACROCARPA. 



At page 423, in the report of the proceedings of the Floral 

 Committee of the Koyal Horticultural Society, it is stated that 

 "Mr. Jennings, of Shipston-on-Stour, sent plants of Cupressus 

 macrocarpa variegata, very ornamental, but like C. macrocarpa, 

 not always hardy." This statement as reg.irds C. macrocarpa, 

 although not positively incorrect, might so far mislead as to 

 deter people from planting this grand Conifer, even in situations 

 where it wonld thrive. I have an excellent specimen of it 

 growing here (Blechiugley, Sarrej), now about 25 feet high. 

 Duriug its progress it has required considerable attention, but 

 its beautiful appearance at all seasons of the year has amply 

 repaid the pains bestowed upon it. 



This plant was brought from a nursery in a pot in the au- 

 tumn of 1855 ; its habit and hardiness were then but im- 

 perfectly known. It was immediately planted out, and in the 

 following three or four winters, doubting its perfect hardiness, 

 and fearing injury from north-cast and east winds, to which it 

 is fully exposed, it was protected by placing around it boughs of 

 Laurels and other evergreens. The rapidity of its growth was 

 ■surprising. 



At the end of four years from the time of being planted out 

 the tree became too large to allow of any protection being 

 afforded it in severe weather. Then succeeded the memorable 

 winter of 18G0-1, when so many plants of this and other 

 Conifers were killed. To my great satisfaction my Cupressus 

 macrocarpa passed through the ordeal unsc8,thed, while a plant 

 of C. Uhdeana, of the same age, standing 20 yards distant, 

 ♦ was destroyed. From that time the tree has suffered a suc- 

 cession of mishaps from the wind. Owing to the roots of this 

 species spreading near the surface, added to the v.'eight and 

 bulk of its rapid-growing branches, it offers an extent oi surface 

 for resistance to wind immensely out of proportion to its age 

 and strength. My plant's growing in a light soil in which 

 sand predominates, a soil highly favourable for most kinds of 

 Conitcra', especially to Cupressus and its allies, rendered its 

 power of resistance to high wind much weaker, and still more 

 so if accompanied by heavy rain. Several expedients were re- 

 sorted to to keep the tree erect, but with little success ; the 

 supports at first applied were insufficient, and gave way one 

 very windy day in April, 18G.3, when the tree was almost blown 

 over. Stronger ones were substituted, these lasted for a time, 

 but one very gusty day they were shaken out of their places 

 by the rocking motion of the tree, and it was again at an angle 

 of 45" out of the perpendicular. The soil on the side exposed 

 was loosened by the distension of the roots, and many of these 

 ■were drawn quite out of the ground. 



One more effort to restore it. The loosened soil was re- 

 moved in order to put the roots bad: to their places as much as 

 possible; strong cords were carefully attached higher up than 

 the supports had reached, around a thick band of matting to 

 prevent strangulation, and secured at the opposite ends to 

 strong stumps driven deeply into the ground ; a good quantity 

 of soil was also placed around the bottom of the tree., chiefly 

 over the loosened roots. Excepting the somewhat absurd ap- 

 pearance of the tree being "moored stem and stern" this 

 plan answered very well for a considerable time. In the sum- 

 mer the cords were removed, leaving the tree to grow unchecked, 

 hut were tied again in the winter. 



Under such rough treatment the tree grew very much out of 

 shape. Before the cords were attached the main stem had be- 

 come curved, but was completely hidden by the branches and 

 foliage. Recourse was had to pruning, timidly at first, but 

 finding how beneficially it acted towards restoring the sym- 

 metry of the specimen, I became more confident, and have 

 pruned vigorously ever since, sometimes taking off whole 

 barrowloads of the ends of branches that protruded too much. 

 Por reasons which the practical horticultural reader will readily 

 comprehend, this operation was only performed late in the 

 autumn. 



And now I come to the greatest catastrophe that has yet be- 

 fallen my unfortunate tree. This occurred on the 10th of 

 January, 18ii6. On that day all the south of England was 

 visited by a terrific storm of wind, accompanied by a heavy fall 

 of snow. The " moorings " were slipped, the enormous weight 

 of snow broke down one side of the tree, excepting the lower 

 branches, and the remainder was again at an angle of 45°, or 

 something more out of the perpendicular. In despair of doing 

 any good with my Cupressus, I resolved to chop it up, and 

 should have done so had not Mr. Carson, one of our most ex- 

 perienced local gardeners, happening to call on me, strongly 

 deprecated the sacrifice, dilapidated as the tree was, and kindly 

 offered assistance to do the best to restore it. "With the aid of 

 three or four strong men the objectionable angle was mate- 

 rially diminished, a solid support again applied, and in the 

 succeeding autumn another vigorous pruning given. 



During the past summer so free has been its growth, that 

 the injuries have to a great extent disappeared, and would 

 scarcely be suspected by any one who had not seen it before. 

 Fortunately, since January, 186C, no very high winds have re- 

 curred in this neighbourhood, and I am in hopes that it is 

 now so firmly rooted, as to be able to withstand any future 

 shock. It is, with the exception of a Wellingtonia and a 

 Deodar, the finest single specimen Conifer that I possess, 

 although its top is slightly inclined. 



From the foregoing experience some useful hints may be 

 gathered. 



1. Cupressus macrocarpa thrives upon a light soil, and in an 

 airy situation ; but where practicable a spot should be selected 

 more or less sheltered from the effects of high winds. 



2. So active is the vitahty of the species, that it will recover 

 from great injuries. 



3. It will bear pruning to preserve its symmetry, but should 

 not be clipped. The operation should be performed with a sharp 

 knife, and terminal shoots of every branch pruned must be left, 

 for if the whole foliage of any branch be removed, I am very 

 decidedly of opinion that the branch so treated would not 

 " break," but m time die, and render the specimen unsightly 

 at that place. 



From observation of many plants in different places, I find 

 1 and 2 confirmed, also — 



That where Cupressus macrocarpa is planted in stiff and 

 heavy soils, its growth is much less free, the lively green of its 

 foliage on which its beauty so much depends, becomes dull and 

 less attractive, and the whole plant is divested of much of its 

 ornamental qualities. This is simply a corollary of the pre- 

 ceding. 



That if this Cypress is planted in contact with other trees or 

 shrubs, the foliage of thebranches in contact becomes thin and 

 sparse, and eventually the branch dies off. This is true of all 

 ConiferjB. 



That the experience of the winter of 1860-1, with that of 

 January, 18C7, shows that in places where the temperature fell 

 to zero, or within 3° or 4° of it, large plants of considerable 

 height were killed. Hence in all places where the temperature 

 is liable to fall so low, it is not advisable to plant Cupressus 

 macrocarpa. 



The power of endurance of many Conifers is remarkable. I 

 have alluded to the snow storm of January 10th, 1866. While 

 it lasted the branches of the Wellingtonia and Deodar collapsed 

 like a lady's parasol shut up, and they remained under the 

 enormous pressure "as firm as a rock." An Irish Yew was 

 bent like a bow by the weight of snow upon its top. Biota 

 (Thuja) aurea took the form of an inverted umbrella with some 

 of its whalebone stays broken. I witnessed all this from 

 within doors for some hours with extreme anxiety, but so 

 violent was the wind, and so rapid the accumulation of snow 

 around the dKelling-house, that it was impossible to afford 

 any help. The rapid thaw on the succeeding day restored the 

 plants to their natural shape. — Adolphus H. Kent. 



FRENCH AND ENGLISH GARDENING. 

 As Mr. Rivers states in his last letter that I went to France 

 in "April or May," and '• never !:aw " a French winter salad, 

 you will, I trust, allow me to state that I went there on the 

 15th day of January last, when the snow lay upon the ground. 

 Also, a word with reference to a letter in the number for No- 

 vember 28tb, signed by a " Stay-at-home Gaiidenek," and in 

 which it is stated that my "letter by some means got into 

 the columns of the Times," like that of a person named 



