May 22, 18«G. 1 



JOUENAL OF HORTICULT0RE AND COTTAGE GAIiDENER. 



379 



will lead him to look on this correction with pleasure. He, 

 I am son-y to say, saw our Pines under very unfavourable cir- 

 cumstances, for, as all who visit here annually know well, our 

 autumn and winter Pines of 18G5 were at least 30 per cent, 

 below their usual mark, which arose from their being started 

 \vithout first making an early summer growth — a circum.stance 

 over which unfortunately I had do control. — D. TnoirsoK. 



EVERGREEN SHRUBS. 



At p.ige 312 Mr. Hobson invited attention to a subject 

 which has not received generally the consideration which it 

 deserves. I fully share in the regret there expressed, and 

 hope that he and others will again advert to tho subject; by 

 doing so, they will at least bring under notice objects worthy of 

 attention, and it is to be hoped that such notice may tend to 

 promote an extended distribution and culture of shrubs not at 

 present so well known as they should be. I shall be happy to 

 add my mite of information to tho contributions of irtlier 

 correspondents. 



There are many beautiful plants attainable that will afford 

 not less pleasure, and, at the same time, cost less trouble than 

 most of those which require the protection of a glass stnicture ; 

 and to those who have not the luxury of a greenhouse, but 

 wish to cultivate a taste for plants, and to seek amusement 

 and instruction from them, there are abundant materials to 

 repay their care. Among them evergreen, deciduous, and 

 flowering shrubs arc distinguished for their beauty, duration, 

 and easy culture ; for, after all, the greatest pleasure of the 

 garden is to be found out of doors. 



Although new plantations are being constantly made every- 

 where, and grounds laid out, the subjects used to ornament 

 them exhibit a sameness that seems to ignore the existence 

 not only of the many beautiful and interesting shrubs recently 

 introduced, but also of some that have been long known. It is 

 only when plantations have been superintended by persons of 

 experience, and possessing a knowledge of what is available for 

 adding some uew and interesting feature to the shrubbery and 

 kept grounds, that objects now too rarely seen are met with, 

 and when met with are not always passed by unobserved. It 

 is an additional instance of the sound judgment that has 

 marked the proceedings of the Committee of the International 

 Horticultural Exhibition, that by introducing classes for hardy 

 trees and shrubs an important item of out-of-door gardening 

 will be there represented. 



I subjoin, 80 far as my experience goes, a short notice of the 

 subjects of Mr. Eobson's inquiry, with the addition of a few 

 others not mentioned by him, in accordance with the expressed 

 invitation to correspondents to record their views. 



SKI5IMI-1 .TAPosicA. — I have had this shrub about five years ; 

 it appears to thrive best if peat be mixed with the common 

 soil in which it is planted. My first plant was too much ex- 

 posed to the sun's rays, which had the effect of discolouring 

 the foliage and rendering it unsightly ; upon removing it to a 

 more shady situation it failed to produce berries, although it 

 bloomed freely, but its growth is slow. Other plants grown in 

 pots, and kept in a cold frame during the winter, produce 

 berries. 



Desfontainia spixosa did well here for two years after it was 

 planted oiit, it also produced bloom ; it then retrograded from 

 a cause which I was long in discovering ; being placed in a 

 favourable spot near the corner of one of my borders, I at 

 length found to my great annoyance that a neighbour's dog 

 had made it a special object of attention. Removal to another 

 place is restoring it. I am inclined to think that the Desfon- 

 tainia will do well as an out-of-door shrub, if planted in rich 

 light soil sheltered from the north and east. 



Eugenia Uoni has stood out during the last four winters ; 

 the flowers are pretty but not conspicuous ; the fruit is edible, 

 but too small and of insufficient flavour to be of service. 

 E. apiculata I have not tried. 



CoTONEASTER SuiMONSii has retained its bright orange scarlet 

 berries all the winter nearly up to the present time. The 

 great drawback to this shrub is, that as soon as the berries 

 begin to be well coloured, the leaves become shabby and fall 

 off. The erect habit of Cotoneaster rigida renders it distinct 

 from C microphylla. 



Peknettya mucrosata grows rapidly out of doors here, 

 planted in a mixture of peat and common soil. Like Skimmia 

 japonica it blooms freely but does not produce berries, a cir- 

 cumetanee I am unable to account for. It is, however, a 



beautiful shrub, its glossy deep-green foliage contrasting well 

 with the reddish purple wood of the young shoots. P. epe- 

 ciosa, more compact and with smaller leaves, is also well 

 worthy of a place. 



GitisELiNiA LiTTORALis provcs hardv here thus far; I have 

 had it about two years and a half. 'When Mr. Kobson first 

 pointed it out to me at Linton seme time ago (it was a stranger 

 to me then), I was at once convinced that it ought to be more 

 generally kno^vn. Its habit and cheerful appearance fuPy 

 justify the occasional favourable mention which Mr. Eobson 

 has made of it. It might be t.iken for Majorca Box but for tho 

 slight turn of its leaves. It is, however, quite distinct. 



CoLLETiA BicTONENSis is au interesting curiosity; its pro- 

 minent triangular spines give it an appearance quite imlike 

 any other hardy shrub. It gi-ows well in rich light soil. 



Ceanotbus r.iGiDus will withstand any of our ordinary winters. 

 The severe winter of 1860-Cl was fatal to it here, but other 

 plants of it have done well since. Its delicate blue flowers are 

 very pleasing; and as it blooms freely when young, and. is 

 easily propagated by cuttings in the autumn, there appears to 

 be no obstacle to its being more frequently met with. It is 

 best planted iu a sheltered situation, and allowed to grow 

 freely, not tr.ained against a wall or otherwise. 



EuoNVMus .lAPoxicDS is a neat compact shrub, with elongate 

 oval foliage ; it looks well in winter, and thrives in almost any 

 soil. There are two or three variegated forms of it, but neither 

 of them so good, in my opinion, as the green kind. They are 

 useful for variety. 



Bnxcs snrrr.nTicosA elegans should have a place where small 

 and compact shrubs are desirable. It should not be planted 

 in the shade, or the markings of its foliage will be rendered 

 less distinct. This is an evident instance of the influence of 

 direct solar rays upon the variegation of plants. B. balearica 

 is probably better known than any of the preceding ; it is 

 worthy of a passing notice. 



Ilex dipybena is one of the most distinct of green Hollies 

 — but I am getting into an extensive field — this and Eex opaca 

 ought to be in every shrubbery. 



It would not be difficult to extend the list. Before conclud- 

 ing I wish to ask for information respecting ChamaTops For- 

 tuni and C. humilis. I have not yet ventured to give them 

 full exposure during the winter. Has any one done so ? — and 

 how do they comport themselves ? Should they prove capable 

 of bearing our climate they will indeed be valuable acquisitions, 

 giving quite a uew feature to the garden. I should also be 

 glad of any information respecting Escallouia montevidensis 

 and E. pterocladon, do they approach in excellence the well- 

 known E. macrantha ? 



Our old favourite the Laurustinus is found in different 

 species. Does Viburnum macrocephalum form a good shrub, 

 or rather tree ? The subject of this article constitutes a wide 

 field of inquiry, and this, if directed in a proper spirit, cannot 

 fail to be useful and interesting. 



The common Aucubas here are covered with bloom ; as this 

 is probably the case generally we may expect in time to hear of 

 some fine berried specimens. — AnOLEHna H. Kent. 



ORIGIK OF THE HAGUE AND LAPSTONE 

 KLDNEY POTATOES. 



In perusing Tue Joubnal of HoRTicuLTrEE for March 20th, 

 my attention was drawn to an answer by your correspondent, 

 " XJpv.-ABDS AND Onwaeds," to " D., Dcol." respecting the origin 

 of the Hague and Lapstone Kidneys. Tour correspondent has 

 been misinformed, and I beg through your Journal to inform 

 him and the public accurately. 



These Kidney Potatoes were propagated by Major Hague, 

 but they were raised by his son Joseph, the particulars of 

 which are as follows. 



I (Joseph Hague) in the year 1827, then residing at Thomer, 

 near Leeds, planted t\Y0 pecks of Potatoes, which I had sent 

 me from Clap Gate, near Harewood. Those Potatoes produced 

 an extraordinary quantity of fine berries, which induced me lo 

 try to raise seedlings from them. In that I succeeded, and 

 selecting the two best from among the quantity, I again planted 

 the seedling tubers, but subsequently removed to Bramham, 

 where I now reside. Having no garden connected with the house 

 I then occupied, I took my seedlings over to Bardsey, and they 

 were planted in my father's garden, and as he was the first to 

 propagate them, the general impression was, and is with man^ 

 people to this day, that he raised them himself; but he never 



