Jnne 26, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



409 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



! D«y 



I ol 

 Month 



Day 



of 



Week. 



JUNE 26— JULY 2, 1873. 



Th 



F 



8 



Son 

 M 

 To 

 W 



Average Temoera. . Kain in Sun 

 tare near LonaoQ. 43 years Risea 



Snn 

 Sets. 



Spalding Horticultural Show. 



Koyal Horticultural Society's Bath Show 

 3 Sunday afteu Trisitv. [closes. 



MeetintT of Royal Asiatic Society, 3 p.m. 

 Grantham Horticultural Show. 

 Royal Horticultural Rose Show, and Coni- 

 [mittee Meetings. 



Clock Day 

 before of 

 Sun. . Year. 



31 ' 177 

 44 178 



179 



180 

 181 

 182 

 183 



From observations taken near London during forty-three years, the average day I ?n-T— atnre of the week is 73.6' ; and its night temperature 

 49.3^ Tho^eLlSeat wa°9y,"n the 27th:i8i6l and the lowest cold Sf, on the 28th and 3uth, 1863. The greatest fall of rain was 1.18 mch. 



ORNAMENTAL PLANTING.— No. 4. 



render these notes as comprehensive and 

 useful as possible, it is requisite that they 

 should embrace the planting of such features 

 of ornamental grounds as are not usually 

 met with, as well as those of au ordinary 

 character. Before proceeding to the con- 

 sideration of mixed borders and groups I 

 will, therefore, request the reader to accom- 

 pany me to a secluded glen or dell with 

 steep, high, winding banks that spring up- 

 wards abruptly in picturesque irregularity from each side 

 of a narrow, rocky, watercourse, worn and furrowed into 

 a thousand curious hollows and channels by the "babbling 

 brook " that is the glen's great charm, tiie one animated 

 featm-e of its still life, such as it is always desirable to 

 secure whenever we tiy to imitate natural scenei-y of this 

 description. Let not anyone suppose it possible even in 

 the faintest degree to imitate the wild grandeur or ma- 

 jestic aspect of a rocky highland glen ; every feature of 

 the scene that I now wish to portray is so minute and 

 trifling iu comparison, that the only possible similarity 

 ■would be not in the xAysical formation, but in the plants 

 and trees. 



Given, then, the glen, let us proceed with the considera- 

 tion of how it may be most advantageously planted, and 

 what are the best kinds for such a purpose. The ground- 

 work of the planting ought certainly to be arranged on 

 the principle of massing, and here the common HoUy 

 takes a leading position, so hardy is it, so tlourishing 

 upon the sides of the steepest hillside, and under the deep 

 shade and drip of umbrageous trees, and so fine is the 

 effect of high banks clothed with its deep, rich, glossy 

 foliage, that it may well form the staple of our planting. 

 Mingled with the Hollies, and in large masses by itself, 

 we place that 



" Flower of the wild, whose purple glow 

 Adorns the dusky mouutaiu's side " — 



the Heather (Calluna vulgaris), which is so beautiful when 

 in flower as to fully atone for its dull appearance at other 

 times. No trifling patches of it will serve to produce the 

 effect I aim at, but there must be bold, spreading, irre- 

 gular masses, meeting and interspersed among the ad- 

 joining growth of trees. Ferns, or shrubs ; for there should 

 be no sharply-defined lines of demarcation, no formal 

 angularity of outline in such a scene, but a blending of 

 growth and a certain air of the wild irregularity of nature. 

 Suitable positions will occur for groups or single plants 

 of other varieties of Heath ; thus, near the sides of the 

 path wo may place Erica Tetralix with its lovely bells of 

 a delicate pink hue ; its white variety is also worthy of 

 a prominent place. Patches of the more common Erica 

 cinerea, the deep-colom'ed Menziesia polifolia, and the 

 shrub-like Erica mediterranea merit a place, and for an 

 early display in spring, the bright pink Erica carnea is 

 unrivalled. Perns, Lichens, and Mosses should fringe 

 the stream, and spread their graceful forms and green 

 enamel among the rocks ; then, too, an occasional mossy 



No. 639.— Vol XXIV., Nkw Skubi. 



knoll or bank has an agreeable effect, more especially 

 when the cool air of the glen is sought after during: the 

 hot days of summer ; then, as the path winds along from 

 side to side, over an occasional rustic bridge, under tho 

 shade of overhanging branches of spreading Beech or 

 drooping Bh-cli, while Larch and Pinuses cluster or stand 

 out singly high up upon tho crests of the glen's steep 

 sides, each feature, each cool grot or mossy cell, is doubly 

 appreciated. In the hottest, driest summer, when idants 

 that are fully exposed to drought present a parched 

 and starved appearance, here all remains green and 

 flom-ishing. It must, however, be very apparent, that 

 although at such a time the contrast to most other scenes 

 would be more forcible and striking by its peculiar fresh- 

 ness and beauty, yet it continues almost equally attractive 

 at all seasons of the year. 



The common Bracken (Pteris aquilina) is another excel- 

 lent plant for massing. In favourable situations it forms 

 a dense thicket of the most beautiful description ; the 

 noble fronds upwards of 9 feet high surpass all other of 

 our native Ferns iu dignity of aspect, excepting, perhaps, 

 the Osmunda. It hasa fine effect either alone or mingled 

 with the Holly and Heather. Berberis Aquifolium also 

 makes a good mass; it is very hardy, and has strong 

 claims upon our notice for its value as a decorative 

 plant; its abundant bright yellow flowers produced in 

 bold dense clusters are followed by gi-een berries, which 

 ripen into a deep purple hue, and the spreading growth 

 is thickly clothed with deep green glossy foliage, which 

 becomes purple, and often crimson, in autumn. 



It does not appear desu-able to extend the list of plants 

 for massing in the glen. Rhododendrons might certainly 

 be introduced with good effect, and a bold group of Yucca 

 recurva upon some prominent curve or position of import- 

 ance would tell well ; but the Holly, I em, and Heather 

 harmonise so well, and large masses of them are so ad- 

 mirably in keeping with this scene of semi-wildness, 

 that they ought certainly to predominate very largely. 

 Ample rehef and variety may be imparted by an admix- 

 ture of such single specimens or small clumps as there 

 may be space for— of Pampas Grass and other Grasses of 

 a tall and stately character, such as Arundo conspioua, 

 Holcus saccharatus, and Erianthus Ravenna. A few 

 flowering shrubs, too, form an agreeable feature. Of such 

 I would select the single and double varieties of both 

 pink and white Cratasgus, as well as the newer double 

 crimson kind ; Laburnum ; Gueldres Rose (Viburnum 

 Opulus); Cytisus albus, the graceful white Broom of 

 Portugal ; Cytisus Scoparius, the common yellow Broom ; 

 the cream-coloured 0. pallidus ; and the yellow Spanish 

 Broom, Spartium junceum. To these may be added 

 Philadelphus.grand'iflorus, Pyrus Aucuparia (the Moun- 

 tain Ash), and of Lilacs the common white kind, and the 

 large, rich purple variety. Dr. Lindley. An occasional 

 Birch tree near the side of the stream or upon the steep 

 slopes makes a pleasing break. Larches, too, may be 

 introduced singly or in clumps. The space, however, is 

 usually too much restricted to admit of many tall-grow- 

 ing trees, which should, therefore, be introduced with 

 No. 1291.— Vol. XLIX., Old Sesies, 



