November 27, 1868. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



407 



In 1864 wo transplanted about 120 trees varying from 2 to 

 10 feet in height. These were all growing on rock, so hard that 

 it made quite a job for the blacksmith. I am pleased to say 

 they have all done remarkably well. In 1865 wo only removed 

 about a dozen, from 11 to 18 feot high, but with equally good 

 results, except in one case, which I can easily account for, as 

 the tree had been growing in light gravel, and had some large 

 tap roots, so that in attempting to remove it all the ball was 

 broken, bit this is the only plant I have lost in all my ex- 

 perience. 



We have had Wellingtonias in most kinds of soil, some 

 growing in strong clay, others in light vegetable soil, some in 

 peat, others in leaf mould ; but in no soil with which I am 

 acquainted does the Wollingtonia succeed so well as in a good 

 loamy clay, with about one-third loam, and not too much 

 moisture. Wellingtonias growing in soil of this description, 

 with a favourable aspect, will more than realise any expectation 

 that may be formed of them, and will transplant as well as, if 

 not better than, Aucuba japonica, which every gardener knows 

 to be easily managed as regards transplanting; but, doubtless, 

 a good result is greatly dependant on the kind of soil in which 

 they are growing. 



I may state that we have about 700 Wellingtonias, all planted 

 out, varying from 1 foot up to 24 feet inches iu height. I 

 am pleased to say we have one with cones containing good 

 seed. We have had hundreds of cones in former years, but 

 no good seed. — P. Davie, Gardener to the Marquis of llunthj, 

 ' >rt m Hall. 



CONIFERS AT LILLESDEN, 



IIAV.KHURST, KENT. 



Judging from my own feelings when reading the excellent 

 articles from Mr, Robson's pen on the species of Conifers 

 at Linton Park, I conclude that any information relating to 

 that tribe of plants will be read with interest and benefit : 

 therefore, I offer a few remarks ou the Conifers growing at 

 this place. The collection is limited to about thirty species, 

 and as some have only been recently planted, I shall confine 

 my remarks to established plants, showing the effects arising 

 from the different soils and situations in which they are placed, 

 which in many instances are far from satisfactory. Our place 

 being new, I have no fine specimens to boast of, but many 

 promise to become very handsome. 



Abies Douglasii. — Of this we have several trees, the highest 

 10 feet. Some, planted in a soft loamy soil resting on sand- 

 stone, thrive and keep their colour well ; while others, planted 

 in a poor, undrained soil resting on a layer of clay and another 

 of gravel, make very slow and uneven growth, lose their colour 

 and much of their foliage in winter, and in exposed places be- 

 come much disfigured by the wind. 



Araucaria imbricata, the highest 14 feet. This does not 

 do well in our wet soil, but where planted in deep loamy ground, 

 or on mounds f t ue same material mixed with sandstone, it is 

 giving great satisfaction. 



Cedrus df.od.uia. — There are about seventy distributed over 

 the pleasure grounds in different soils, in which they all appear 

 to thrive ; but those in wet soil make a more slender growth, 

 causing them to suffer from strong winds. Three of them, 

 planted in a soil of a dark loamy character mixed with a good 

 portion of ironstone, are yearly becoming more erect iu habit, 

 shorter in growth, and darker in foliage, nearly like a distinct 

 variety. 



Ccpressus Lawsoniana is doing well in both heavy and light 

 loamy soil, and promises to become one of the greatest orna- 

 ments to the pleasure ground. Its seeding so freely is a check 

 to its growth, but the cones are considered a great ornament by 

 my employer. It stands the wind well. 



Picea cephalonica and pinsapo are growing in a heavy rich 

 soil on a gravelly bottom, and are very pretty plants of about 

 10 feet in height. They are quite exposed. 



Picea Weisbiana is doing badly in a rather yellow sandy soil 

 of some depth. It is stunted and unhealthy, while younger 

 plants in a more favourable soil are making rapid growth. 



Pincs austriaca does not bear the wind well, neither does it 

 make much progress in the wet soil in which it is placed. 



Pints insignis.— Here we have plants standing in a wet and 

 heavy undrained soil, the foliage nearly battered to pieces every 

 winter by the wind, in consequence of the growth being made 

 so late in the season ; while others of the same species, planted 

 in a loamy soil with a sandstone bottom, and as much exposed 

 as the former, thrive amazingly, and are not in the least de- 



gree affected by the wind. They are 1 handsome specimens, the 

 highest about 'Ao feet. 



Pints kxi-klsa is planted also in a wet soil, in which it makes 

 a too slender growth, and late in the season. This is also in- 

 jured by the wind. 



Taxodium sempervirens. — Hero we have four plants on an 

 island, in one of the wettest and poorest soils we have. They 

 thrive admirably, having made a growth of 2 feet inches this 

 season, and they are 28 feet high. They appear to stand the 

 wind well. 



Tnujorsis boeealis. — This is planted in a loamy soil in a 

 sheltered situation, which evidently suits it, from the free 

 growth and good colour which the plant exhibits. 



Wellingtonia oigantea. — Too much cannot be said in praise 

 of this stately Conifer. We possess many plants in various 

 soils, and those in the wettest portion make a more slender growth 

 than others more favoured ; but with that exception they are 

 all that one can wish. The highest plant is 17 feet high ; and 

 the next, 14 feet in height, perfect in shape, and much ad- 

 mired ; it made a growth of 2 feet this season. — Thomas Record, 

 Gardener. 



PROGRESS OF HORTICULTURE IX CANADA 

 EAST. 



I noticed in The Journal of Horticulture for the last 

 week in July, an article entitled " Horticultural Progress in the 

 United States and Canada," taken from the Canada Farmer. 

 Now, with all due respect for that periodical, I beg to dissent 

 in no small degree from the writer of the article in question. 

 I readily admit that much remains to be done before we can 

 attain perfection in horticulture ; but to give such pre-emi- 

 nence to the Americans for their taste iu floriculture is what we 

 of Lower Canada cannot allow, and that because they choose to 

 print some flaming advertisement about some novelty, which 

 (thanks to The Journal of Horticulture for our information), 

 is probably, if worth anything, already in Canada. As an in- 

 stance, the Cyanophyllum ruagnificum was advertised in the 

 American catalogues at the enormous sum of 26 dols., or a 

 trifle over £5 sterling, while we Canadians very quietly im- 

 ported it from England for the modest sum of 3s. (jd. Doubt- 

 less, iu a pomological point of view, they are our superiors, 

 which seems to be the sum total of the aforesaid writer's idea 

 of horticulture. Their climate and season are extremely fa- 

 vourable for fruit-growing, neither of which advantages do we 

 possess, having ODly five mouths in which to perform all our 

 out-door operations, the other seven bearing a strong resem- 

 blance to the same months in the Arctic regions. Moreover, 

 when we consider that not more than twenty years have elapsed 

 since horticulture was mooted in this locality by a stranger 

 visiting Quebec for the first time, it would scarcely be credited ; 

 and I safely say now, that as regards taste in floral display, 

 the ancient capital yields to none on this side of the Atlantic. 

 The great number of prizes annually awarded to us will amply 

 testify to the quality, and many of the leading English and 

 French nurserymen can tell of the large orders of new plants, 

 &c, which they forward to us. 



Had the writer confined his remarks to Upper Canada, there 

 would have been a fair amount of truth in his statement. If 

 he ever stood in the magnificent Crystal Palace where the Mon- 

 treal Horticultural Society hell their annual Exhibition in 

 1862, and again iu the spacious Victoria Skating Rink in 1866, 

 he might there judge whether progress was perceptible. He 

 might there have seen Dahlias and Hollyhocks which would have 

 been no discredit to a Regent's Park or Crystal Palace Show. 

 Black Hamburgh, Alicante, Lady Downe's, and Muscat of Alex- 

 andria Grapes, which might have graced a royal board ; Peaches, 

 Nectarines, Apples, Pears, Plums, and Figs of the first water. 

 With regard to vegetables there was left nothing more to be 

 desired. Upwards of one thousand greenhouse and stove plants 

 were there, their healthy appearance giving abundant evidence 

 of careful and superior cultivation. Among the stove plants 

 might have been seen superb specimens of the newest Begonias, 

 Caladiums, Gymnogramma chrysophylla, Pteris tricolor, Cyano- 

 phyllums, Dracaenas. Cycads, Marantas, and many other new 

 and interesting plants. 



Did he ever visit the greenhouses of Quebec or Montreal 

 during the winter and spring months '.' If he did he must 

 have failed to notice the dense masses of bloom which they 

 presented, well-grown Camellias, Azaleas, Acacias, &c, among 

 which may be found almost as fine specimens as can be met 



