Angast 26, 18fi9. ] 



journaIj of horticulture and cottage gardener. 



169 



with fruit, what will be said when that king oJ the forest, the 

 Wellingtonia, is assailed ? Yet it bp.s been hinted that in this 

 country the tree is not likely to hold the high position which 

 at first it seemed destined to occupy. 



A few years after its introduction much emulation existed 

 amongst those who had the beat specimens, and for a year or 

 two the heights of the most promising plants were recorded in 

 the gardeniug periodicals ; but this practice has died out of late, 

 so that I fear the tree is not such a favourite as it was. Be 

 this as it may, some iuquiry into the present condition of those 

 trees which occupied so high a position about 1860 or 18G'2, 

 cannot fail to elicit something; and if the result should show 

 that one-half of these trees have snocumbed to disease or 

 cUmatic action, we may then conclude that the tree is not 

 destined to effect the change in our arboricultural scenery 

 which was expected. I myself have grave doubts of the plant's 

 doing well for any length of time. Occupying iu its native 

 country a higher elevation by many thousands of feet than can 

 be assigned to it here, it is quite, possible the rarefied air of 

 these upper regions may suit the plant better than the dense 

 atmosphere of its usual sites with us. Before, hov?ever, ven- 

 turing further conjectures on this question, let us inquire if 

 there be reason to suspect it of constitutional debility, or, in 

 other words, if many of the specimaas of large size ehow signs 

 of ill health or want of vigour ; and should one-half of them 

 do so, it is sufficient to create alarm if no locs'-l cause can be 

 assigned. The vigour with which the tiee grew at first, and is 

 reputed hardiness, led many to predict for it a great future 

 (myself amongst the number, although I never supposed that 

 it or any other imported tree would exceed our iadigeuous trees 

 in size), and I yet hope this tree will in many cases equal 

 native ones; still we have uefo'o ns the unpleasant sight of 

 trees 2.5 feet high and upwards falling into an unhealthy state. 

 II this should be the case generally, then adieu to the Welling- 

 tonia as an ornamental tree; an I as I have heard of some 

 trees, not so high as 2-5 feet, having " gone off " iu an un- 

 satisfactory manner, it becomes important to publicly ask the 

 question, ''Are such oases frequent?" I hope the answer 

 will be in the negative ; but a f^ir public inquiry will solve 

 the problem. 



Some years ago a fiue tree of this species occupied a place 

 along with other Conifers and ornamental shrubs in the nur- 

 sery ground of Messrs. Bunyard, of Maidstone. The soil was 

 dry and fertile, overlying the limestone rock, called here 

 Kentish rag. This tree grew vigorously for some years, until I 

 believe it attained something over 13 feet in height, when it 

 gradually declined. The reason assigned by some was, that its 

 reots had been impeded iu their descent by the rock. This 

 was not a likely cause, and might not have been much noticed 

 had not some Wellingtonias at other places fallen into a similar 

 condition ; and I recollect a wsU-iuformed nurseryman from 

 Scotland pronouncing it a " rank impostor." This, I thiok, 

 was more than was deserved, but enough was said againtt it to 

 call for further inquiries, and, by way of setting an example, 

 I may say that one of the largest plants we have here, which 

 in the autumn of 18G.5 was upwards of 18 feet high, and as 

 healthy as could bo until the dry weather of last year, began to 

 ehow signs of distress in the July of that year, its inner foliage 

 dying off, and also a branch or two near the bottom. As the 

 tree occupied a position on the lawn where its roots were not 

 likely to encounter those of other trees, I expected that a good 

 watering at the time, and the ample rainfall of the past winter 

 and spring, would have restored the tree to its wonted vigour. 

 I find, however, this is not the case, the ripening and djiug off 

 of the foliage going on more extensively this summer than 

 last, and some branches have actually died. The leader con- 

 tinues healthy, and the tree has grown taller, being now up- 

 wards of 26 feet high, and, like mf>6t of its class, symmetrical 

 in outline ; but I fear it has arrived at that period when growth 

 is slow, if not uncertain and sickly, and hearing of other trees 

 of a similar size going wrong, I begin to fear for this. All our 

 other trees seem healthy enough, the next largest being nearly 

 23 feet high, and in every respect a more robust tree than that 

 described, and it stands in the open park with nothing higher 

 than itself for 100 yards or more. A fence serves to prelect it 

 from cattle. The spread of the branches is nearly as many feet 

 in diameter as the tree is high, and it is succeeding well ; so, 

 too, are all our other trees, of which we have a great number; 

 but if the defective constitution of the plant only exhibits itself 

 when it has attained some size, there may be time enough yet for 

 them to go wrong. The situation of the tree which has shown 

 signs of not thiiying is a favoarable cne, much moie so then 



that of a fine Thuja Lobbii not far fromit, which has outstripped 

 it ingrowth, being now nearly 29 feet high, and as straight as a 

 gun barrel. This fine tree has grown nearly 10 feet within the 

 last four years, and in the preceding five years it grew upwards 

 of 15 feet. I am rather sorry to say it is now loaded with fruit, 

 and that may, perhaps, check its future growth, otherwise it is 

 a species not planted to half the extent it ought to be. Are 

 there any specimens of this tree higher than that referred to — 

 29 feet ? Probably there are, as the situation iu which it is 

 placed is not one of the best. 



Returning to the subject of Wellingtonia, I may add that a 

 fine tree in the garden of Messrs. HoUingworth, at Maidstone, 

 continues in the most robust health, and is now 28 feet high ; 

 and I believe a still finer one at Fairlawn, the seat of J. Ridg- 

 way, Esq., is also healthy and vigorous, being 31 feet high. 

 Theoe examples ought to create a hope that in the cases where 

 a retrogression has taken place, some local cause might have 

 affected the specimens, and let us trust it is eo ; but I am told 

 of more failures than I have authority to name, and conse- 

 quently feel somewhat afraid this promiiing tree is not so 

 certain of future success as its friends would like. As it has 

 been much planted of late years, and oft-times as a memorial 

 tree, it would be well to inquire whether the condition of the 

 largest specimens, or of those which ought to be the largest, is 

 such as to warrant its being so generally adopted by those who 

 plant for the next century or the one after that, as well as by 

 those who do so simply for immediate effect. I am far from 

 despairing of it yet, but I have heard more to its disadvantage 

 lately than is at all agreeable. — J. Robson. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 

 We have received from Mr. Wray, of Ramsgate, a bnnch 

 of Muscat Haiibuegh Geape, from a Vine grafted on the 

 Syrian. The berries are the largest we have ever seen of 

 that variety, and this increase in size is evidently due to 

 the stock. The bunch is well set and large. The Muscat 

 flavour is not well marked, though traceable, indicating that 

 the stoik also influences the flavour; but as the berries 

 were not quite ripe, it is probable that this may yet be de- 

 veloped, 



The Knight of Kerry informs us that his gardener has 



grown a Bekchwood Melon of 12 lbs. weight, and asks if that 

 "exceeds tie usual scale." It does so most assuredly, as we 

 never heard of one weighing anything like so much. We 

 bhould be glad to be informed of any unusual weights, such as 

 this. 



WORK FOR THE WEEK. 



KITCHEX GAEDES. 



Desteoy weeds, for if they are now permitted to seed, great 

 labour will be required to keep them down in the autumn. 

 Transplant the last spring Bivccoti, and the Grange's, Snow's, 

 and Walcheren, sown in July for lifting to be packed in beds 

 for the winter. Umsscls Sprouts, Savoys, and Curled Kate may 

 still be planted, and every spare piece of ground filled with 

 them. Caulifloiccr and Walcheren Broccoli may now be sown 

 for the spring crop. A few more Dtvarf Kidney Beans may be 

 tried for the last supply. Peas, the Marrow kinds should 

 be topped as soon as they reach the height of their stakes. 

 Sow Chervil, American Cress, and Parsley in a sheltered situa- 

 tion. Sow Early Horn Carrol, to remain in the ground for 

 winter use. Cut herbs, if not already done, and keep the hoe 

 moving amongst ail growing crops. High cultivation amongst 

 all green crops will amply repay any extra labour it may re- 

 quire. Hoeing or forking amongst growing crops, provided the 

 roots ate not injured, is highly beneficial, and will prove a sort 

 of fallow for successive crops. 



FKUIT GAEDEN. 



Apples and Pears should be gathered as they ripen. Early 

 fruit, more particularly, is the better c-f being gathered a few 

 days before it ripens on the trees, as in the latter ease it usually 

 turns mealy directly. Protect the finer kinds of fruit from 

 wasps. Peaches and Nectarines should likewise be gathered a 

 day or so before they are quite ripe. 



FLOWEK GARDEN. 



The beauty of bedding plants is in most localities but of 

 comparatiyely short duration, even in the best of seasons, and 



