Jane 9, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



409 



extensively produced in Florida, and other Southern States, of 

 which family several fine varieties of Oranges and Lemons 

 have already been introduced and propagated for trial), and 

 for an extensive collection of medical plants ; also those fur- 

 nishing textile fibres, useful gums, sugars, and dyes. Structures 

 for orchard houses, cold graperies, and other purposes, are to 

 be extended in the rear ; the entire design forming a compact 

 and economic arrangement especially adapted to the various 

 purposes contemplated in its ereotion. 



The largest portion of the enclosed area upon which the build- 

 ing is located is appropriated to an arboretum, a collection of 

 hardy trees and shrubs. While these are planted in accord- 



ance with a botanical system, each order of plants being united, 

 yet the landscape effect has been carefully studied, thus pro- 

 ducing a combination altogether novel, that of forming pleasure- 

 ground scenery, and retaining a strict systematic classification 

 of the trees and shrubs employed in producing it. 



About ten acres are set apart for experimental purposes, for 

 testing species and varieties of small fruits, seeds, and for the 

 culture of hardy plants. 



Much time and attention have been given to the improve- 

 ment of the grounds of the department. The flower garden 

 in the main front of the building is completed, with the excep- 

 tion of the architectural terraces. The principal avenues and 



walks are rapidly approaching completion. Draining has been 

 effected as far as means will allow; muoh. however, of this 

 fundamental work remains to be done, as the ground is largely 

 underlaid with a retentive subsoil. For purposes of protection 

 and shelter, an Osage Orange hedge has been planted round 

 the boundaries of the enclosure. 



About three-fourths of the list of plants have been secured, 

 and preparations for planting are now in progress, so that, when 

 the proper season arrives, no delay may occur in placing each 

 plant in its assigned position. The space allotted to each 



plant is computed so as to allow full development of growth 

 for the period of forty years, so far as data have been available 

 in deciding upon the respective dimensions each may assume. 

 Alterations as indicated by progressive development, can, to 

 a great extent, be effected for many years to come, without 

 interfering with the main design, and, in view of the novelty 

 of the arrangement, such modifications may become ne- 

 cessary ; but it is believed that there will be but few changes 

 to make in the present position of the plants. — (Boston 

 Cultivator.) 



SEA- SIDE 

 I thank your correspondent, Mr. Owen, for his communica- 

 tion at page 371 on sea-side planting, and hope some one else 

 will supplement it by further information ; or perhaps Mr. 

 Owen will give his opinion on other shrubs and trees, mention- 

 ing those which grow badly, as he has done in the case of the 

 Rhododendron and Larch. Information of this kind is in- 

 valuable to those who, having lived mostly inland, are called on 

 to superintend the planting and arranging of grounds near the 

 coast, and who, in the absence of all knowledge of what plants 

 are suitable for such a place, are very liable to make serious 

 mistakes. 



Although I hope Mr. Owen's list of plants succeeding near 

 the coast will be increased, yet other considerations ought not 

 to be lost sight of, and these are soil and situation. Mr. Owen 

 justly points to these as likely to influence the well-being of 



PLANTING, 

 the plants made use of quite as much as the sea air to which 

 they are subjected. This matter has, I think, hardly received 

 the attention it deserves, yet a very slight inspection of the 

 different sites that may require to be clothed or embellished 

 with trees and shrubs will show that materials which answer 

 well at one place can hardly be expected to do so at all. For 

 instance, the coast of North Wales, which I take to be rocky, 

 with a soil in a great measure formed by the decomposition of 

 the strata these rocks consist of, must differ widely from the 

 soil which overlies the chalky cliffs of the south-eastern coast, 

 or the low, flat shores of the eastern counties, and it cannot 

 be expected the plants which would flourish in the one case 

 would do equally well in the others. Soil and altitude un- 

 questionably exercise some influence, as well as the sea spray. 

 If those who have had experience in the management of trees 



