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JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABUBNEK. 



[ Juno 7, 18T7. 



of other objects becomes enhanced. The infinite variety of 

 the forms of trees and their tints of light and shade evoke 

 feelings of admiration. In spring they give us the idea of 

 freshness and gaiety with softness and delicacy ; in summer 

 they afford shade and shelter ; and in autumn their variety of 

 rich glowing tints accord admirably with each other, and form 

 splendid masses of colour superior in depth and richness to 

 that of any other period of the year. It is astonishing how 

 much variety may be produced by the artistic disposition of 

 trees even in town gardens. In the London parks the Beech, 

 the Elm, the Lime, the Horse Chestnut, the British Oak, and 

 the common Ash are represented, also the Plane. The Plane 

 tree holds a distinguished place as a town tree, for it grows 

 freely almost anywhere, and its beauty is generally acknow- 

 ledged. There are other trees of a medium size equally suit- 

 able for metropolitan parks and gardens. 



The Mountain Ash (Pyrus Aucuparia).— This, though one 

 of our smaller trees, is by no means unworthy of notice. The 

 foliage is light and graceful, and the colour a lively green. 

 The branches become elongated and bent down under the 

 weight of their verdure in spring and produce fragrant cream- 

 ooloured flowers, which as the autumn advances are succeeded 

 by bunches of ooral-red berries. It is a pleasing treu, and a 

 favourite around the metropolis. 



The White Birch (Betula alba).— This is comparatively a 

 small tree, but it makes up in lightness and elegance for its 

 deficiency of size. It has been well characterised as the light, 

 airy, pendant Birch. As an ornamental tree in landscape 

 effect it cannot be surpassed. Coleridge awarded the palm of 

 beauty to it, calling it the most beautiful of forest trees — " The 

 Lady of the Wood." 



Tlie Hornbeam (Carpinus). — This tree is better known as a 

 hedge shrub than as a timber tree, yet when allowed to grow 

 unmutilated it frequently attains a height of 50 feet. It very 

 much resembles the Beech in its appearance, although its 

 head is still closer and more round. It thrives in situations 

 where some other forest trees would dwindle away or make but 

 little progress. The leaves adhere to the branches long after 

 vegetation appears to have ceased, rendering this tree very 

 valuable as a shelter. 



Tiie Sycamore (Acer). — This is a tree of but second-rate pre- 

 tensions, but in the Loudon parks it frequently equals in mag- 

 nitude trees of the first rank. Its foliage is thick, and affords 

 an impenetrable shade. Its spring tints are tender and glow- 

 ing, while the deep green of its summer hue harmonises with 

 its massive form, and the brown and reddish tints of the fading 

 leaves in autumn produce a beautiful effect. The bark fre- 

 quently peels off' in a manner similar to that of the Plane. 



The Poplar (Populue). — There are several fine species of 

 this tree. The IJlaek or Italian Poplar (Populus nigra) attains 

 to a large size in a comparatively short space of time. The 

 foliage is of a pretty pale green, the leaves are smooth and 

 shining, and, as may be observed in Poplars generally, they 

 flutter with the gentlest breeze, thus producing ever-varying 

 shades of green sparkling in the sunbeams. It generally 

 possesses a fine stem and an ample head, and when planted in 

 an appropriate situation often appears very ornamental. 



The Lomhardij Poplar (Populus fastigiata) is a tree of the 

 most rapid growth. It shoots up in a spire-like form, the stiff 

 appearance harmonising well with buildings, and its growth 

 not being impeded by the presence of smoke it is peculiarly 

 adapted for a town or city tree. This Poplar, from its tall and 

 slender growth, possesses a beauty perhaps peculiar to itself, 

 for when assailed by the wind it forms a waving line, gracefully 

 bending from the breeze. 



2'he Afpen (Populus tremula) is an elegant tree, rather 

 slender for its height, and pleasing in outline. It has a clean 

 straight stem, the branches shooting out horizontally to form 

 the head. As the tree advances in growth the branches gradu- 

 ally assume a pendulous character. The leaves are of a fine 

 light green, and are in a constant tremulous motion. This 

 tree grows well in all soils except clay. The roots spread near 

 the surface. 



The Acacia (Robinia) is an elegant and ornamental tree. It 

 must ever be admired on account of its light and delicate foli- 

 age and its fragrant flowers. Its pendant form, when arrived 

 at maturity, must cause it to be regarded as one of the first 

 ornaments of our parks and pleasure grounds. 



The Tree of Heaven (Ailantus glandulosa). — This hand- 

 some tree is a native of China, but it bears our winter well. It 

 is a fast grower, and many specimens are to be met with in the 

 neighbourhood of London. Some beautiful examples can be 



seen in Kensington Gardens from 30 to 40 feet high. Its fine 

 pinnated leaves and their rich green colour impart to it great 

 distinctness and beauty. 



The Weeping Beech (Pagus sylvatiea pendula) is a tree of 

 great beauty. Unlike many weeping trees it grows upright, 

 its branches afterwards descending in all sorts of fantastic 

 shapes. No tree in Kensington Gardens elicits so many ex- 

 pressions of admiration, where its branches form a dense arch 

 over the long flower walk, and produce a striking effect. In 

 the same garden the Weeping Ash is noted for its regular 

 umbrella-like shape, and forms a beautiful head when grafted 

 sufficiently high. 



Xlie Willow (Salix). — There are numerous varieties of this 

 tree. The Weeping Willow (Sahx Babylonica) is perhaps the 

 most ornamental, beautifying the margins of lakes and ponds 

 in parks and pleasure grounds by its graceful pendulous 

 branches. It grows to a large size and attains a considerable 

 age, and when appropriately planted and its branches dipping 

 into water the effect is highly picturesque. 



Pine Trees (Finns).— Two of the most hardy and picturesque 

 of this genua are the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus Libani) and 

 the Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris), and these are very difficult 

 to cultivate in town gardens, but in a more congenial atmo- 

 sphere they form handsome trees. 



The Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a very orna- 

 mental tree, its graceful form and pleasing colour making it 

 highly appreciated. The leaves are, like the fronds of Ferns, 

 divided into narrow leaflets, which in autumn fade into a rich 

 tint before they drop off. It thrives fairly well in suburban 



The Tulip Tree (Liriodendron Tulipif era). —This has been 

 recommended for a town tree, but the climate of London does 

 not appear to suit it, for where there is one good specimen 

 there are twenty bad.- Its branches die without any perceptible 

 cause. The foliage of this tree when healthy is certainly very 

 beautiful both in spring, summer, and autumn. 



The Walnut (Juglaus) and the Spanish Chestnut (Castanea 

 vesca) have also had advocates for town planting. I object to 

 them for that purpose on account of their fruit, as it is almost 

 impossible to keep the boys from damaging the trees. 



One great principle in forming beautiful trees or groups in 

 woods or parks, so that they shall ultimately be healthy and 

 picturesque, is never to plant too thickly. Trees for orna- 

 ment will not require to be pruned up to such a height as those 

 grown for timber. In growing trees for beauty it is neoessaiy 

 to avoid the mutilation so frequently inflicted by barbaric 

 pruning. A small pruning knife (with the exercise of fore- 

 sight and good taste) is all that is needed to form a beautiful 

 tree, provided it has room to grow and spread. In concluding 

 these remarks I would especially draw attention to the im- 

 portance of the proper preparation of che soil before planting ; 

 and efficient draining is also very important. — N. Cole. 



NOTES ON VILLA and SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Where trees abound and much damage has been done by the 

 late boisterous winds it will be necessary to gather up all pieces 

 of broken wood and give all lawns, paths, &o., a good sweeping. 

 Lawn grass grows faster now thau at any time during the 

 season, and requires mowing very frequently. Should any bents 

 prove too long for the mowing maciiiue they must be out off 

 with a scythe. An occasional run-over with this implement in 

 the early morniug while the dew is on the ground (for the bents 

 can be seen better then than during the heat of the day) keeps 

 all in proper order for the mowing machine during the rest of 

 the year. While the grass grows fast weeds have the same ad- 

 vantage, and must be kept from all beds and borders by fre- 

 quently hoeing and stirring them. Any shrubs which have 

 been newly planted must not be permitted to suffer by want of 

 water, a copious supply of which enables them to become the 

 sooner established in their new situations, and mulching whore 

 practicable should also be adopted. Hollies and many other 

 newly planted shrubs are none the worse for casting off a great 

 quantity of their foliage ; it is almost a certain sign that they 

 are forming roots and will do well. 



Clematis, Roses, and other climbers on walls require attention 

 now. Kegulate their growths and prevent them from becoming 

 a tangled mass. Timely attention in this respect is especially 

 requisite with Clematises, the young growths of which soon 

 become matted together and cannot be separated without mnoh 

 injury being done. The late winds have done some damage to 

 Virginian Creepers, Ivy, &c., which must be fastened again in 

 their intended positions. A good washing either from a syringe 

 or garden engine will do much good to Roses on walls, helping 

 to keep off fly and other marauders. The Gloire de Dijon, 



