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JOCENAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ April 1, 1875. 



this Cypress. It is graceful in appearance and varied in habit ; 

 a close dense evergreen growth prevails in all whether the habit 

 be upright or spreading, the former rising erect like a pointed 

 pillar, while the other sweeps the ground with its semi-pendant 

 arching growth. At no time is it so beautiful as in spring, 

 when aglow with the deep ecarlet of its flowers, which are dew- 

 drop-like, suEpended by the matchless green of its graceful 

 branchlets. Especially is this the case with specimens which 

 have been transplanted, the removal one year converting its 

 spray into clusters of red the year following. 



This leads me to point out its claims as a subject for spring 

 floral display, if not in the parterres at least in such positions 

 where something is required to take off that flat monotony and 

 stiff formality which characterise present attempts at floral 

 effect. As a tub plant it has merits which are overlooked ; 

 whilst for large vases, which in the winter months often go 

 empty for want of fitting plants, there is none in all the class 

 of hardy plants that for fitness can compare with a low spread- 

 ing bush of Cupressus Lawsoniana. Its roots do not suffer in 

 the least from frost. I know one in a tub about 18 inches 

 square and 12 inches deep upon a portico of north aspect which 

 has stood the winds, drought, and cold of the past four years 

 without attention of any kind, and it is now as hale and 

 beautiful as when placed there, a position that would have 

 brought grief to a majority of plants. For vases it may be 

 made to assume a spreading habit by taking out the growths 

 which have a tendency upwards, and selecting those which are 

 decidedly spreading and pendulous, the form known as gracilis 

 being very suitable. For tubs any of the varieties are suitable, 

 and grown in pots for decorative purposes in halls, corridors, 

 &a., it reminds one of a tree-like Fern, having the grace and 

 elegance of those plants without their liability to injury from 

 the draughts of such positions. 



It is, however, to its merits as an ornamental evergreen tree 

 or shrub that I wish to direct attention, and may be allowed 

 to say that its introduction to this country dates no further 

 than 18o5, its discoverer being Mr. William Murray, who 

 named it in compUment of the spirited firm who purchased the 

 results of his researches amid the vegetation of the Sierra 

 Nevada. Mr. Andrew Murray states, " it was found on the 

 banks of a stream in a mountain valley, growing to the height 

 of about 100 feet. The foliage is most graceful, and the 

 branches hang down at the tip like an ostrich feather, while 

 the top shoot droops like that of a Deodar." 



This handsome tree is now plentiful, and its fitness for 

 general decorative purposes in pleasure grounds is apparent in 

 many ways, and in none more than as an avenue tree along 

 the sides of drives and approaches to mausoleums, whilst for 

 churchyards or cemeteries it stands pre-eminent. Its hues 

 are more evergreen than that of the Deodar, and it stands wind 

 better, though the Cupressus Lawsoniana assumes in very 

 bleak positions more of the character of a bush — low and 

 spreading — than a towering tree, yet its aspect is of that grace 

 and elegance which befits its association with monuments, and 

 exhibits an unmistakeable sympathy with the feelings of the 

 spectator. As a lawn tree and in the foreground of shrubberies 

 it stands out in contrast and relief with the trees and shrubs 

 of broader foUage, and contributes an air of lightness to other- 

 wise heavy groups. 



As a screen it has no equal in ornamental grounds. Its 

 growth is dense, and is not so liable to spUt or divide as that 

 of Arbor- Vitfo. It also bears cutting well, and grows quickly, 

 and may be kept of any height or width. Though there are 

 many varieties the plants vary very much in character, both 

 from seed and cuttings. Its diversity of habit is due also to 

 situation. In warm and sheltered places the growth is erect 

 and tree-like, the disposition is to tower upward rather than 

 spread outward, and yet there is no disposition to sparseness of 

 branch and spray at the base. Do not, however, misunder- 

 stand me, for I do not intend to convey an idea that it is 

 tender ; it succeeds in positions that the Deodar does not, and 

 yet the best growths are made where slight and distant shelter 

 is afforded. In exposed positions it becomes more of the 

 character of a bush than tree, its upward tendency being 

 checked by the winds, and this causes its vertical growth to be 

 slow, and side growth to take place more than in a sheltered 

 situation. It does well in any soil, growing more quickly in 

 light loam than those which are heavy and wet, and delights 

 in a moist station, yet freed of stagnant water in the subsoil. 



There are many varieties. Erecta, which grows up a close 

 and compact pyramid, and of this there are two sub- varieties — 

 viz., lutea with yellowish young growths ; and glauca, which, as 



its name implies, has the habit of the species with glancone 



foliage ; gracilis, slender, and a more drooping habit; nana, a 

 pigmy of the species with very compact growth, and useful for 

 beds in winter ; stricta, growing into a fine pyramid, not nearly 

 so bush-Uke as erecta ; argentea, with white variegation, another 

 argentea with very pale foliage, almost silvery ; and variegata 

 aurea, with gold variegation. In fact there is a great variety 

 of forms, which, however, are not apparent at a distance, and 

 we have one which I do not see in lists, a perfect balloon shape, 

 and not more than 3 feet in height, and yet not compact in 

 growth so far as relates to nana or compacta, but having more 

 the habit of gracilis. — G. Abbey. 



NOTES BELATIVE TO THE POTATO. 



I FCLLv agree with Mr. Luckhnrst that in investigating the 

 Potato blight we must not take the experience of one year as 

 a basis on which to rest our deductions. In this remote por- 

 tion of the country artificial manures have not yet come into 

 general use. We have many farmers of the old-fashioned 

 class who are content to work on in the lines laid down for 

 them by their fathers. These old stagers continue to use 

 farmyard manure for their Potato crops, and farmyard manure 

 alone, and not too much of that even. They invariably grow 

 the soundest crops, and I can assure Mr. Luckhurst that what 

 they take up are slightly larger than ordinary marbles. 



No man of common sense could be so bigoted as to say that 

 the seasons exercise no influence upon the blight. Where the 

 predisposing agents are already in existence, a wet or dry 

 autumn will cause a greater or lesser blight ; but what we all 

 want to find out is the primary cause of the blight. If Mr. 

 Luckhurst's theory of atmospheric cause is correct, then why 

 does he not attempt to show that our climate underwent a 

 change in 1845, and that that change has existed to the pre- 

 sent time ? On this hypothesis only can I reconcile that 

 theory. 



I have not seen the pamphlet he alludes to in his last com- 

 munication, nor any other treating on the view of over-culti- 

 vation. My deductions are based upon experience in observa- 

 tion of the nature of the esculent in question. 



Going back to the year 184(j, I knew a field in which the 

 two extremes of manuring were in operation. The richly- 

 manured half had scarcely a sound Potato in it, whilst the 

 other half, which had been manured with almost dry, Ught, 

 farmyard litter, were fairly good. Year by year I have been 

 more and more convinced that in our great anxiety to produce 

 heavier crops we have been working on a suicidal policy, and 

 have killed the goose with the golden eggs. A naturally hardy 

 robust constitution has been fed upon confectionery, pastry, 

 and condiments until its constitution has given way under the 

 strain. Virgin soil may act as a corrective to the invaUd, but 

 one year's treatment will not wholly eradicate ills the growth 

 of many, especially when that soil is mixed with the destroying 

 element. That the evil is wide-spread and universal is evident 

 from the fact that offers of large money rewards fail to produce 

 disease-proof seed. 



As I said in my first communication, my belief is that in 

 order to effect a cure it will require combined and long-con- 

 tinued effort. To be effectual it must be combined, and a 

 matter which is now troubling our meadows in this division of 

 the country affords me an illustration of the sort of co-opera- 

 tion required. Since the introduction of railways into the 

 Lake country of England our meadows have year by year be- 

 come more and more infested with the Ox-eye Daisy. Some 

 time ago a writer in the Ayricidtural Gazette called attention 

 to this matter, and said that as the plant was only of three 

 years' growth, and as sheep were particularly fond of it, united 

 action of sheep-pasturing on the part of farmers would soon 

 eradicate the pest. Some acted on the advice, others did not ;. 

 the seed was carried from the neglected meadows to those of 

 others who were trying to rid themselves of it, and the latter 

 found their efforts futile, and for lack of this co-operation a 

 large proportion of our hay crop is only fit for bedding pur- 

 poses. For lack of this same co-operation a large proportion 

 of our Potato crop goes to feed our swine, or is utterly wasted. 



If agriculturists wait for some specific which will suddenly 

 restore to us sound crops of Potatoes, I am afraid they will be 

 doomed to wait in vain. God helps those who help themselves, 

 and I am confident in the belief that we have the remedy 

 within our hands. 



Let us take care that our high-pressure system of farming 

 does not lead us into the same fix with other necessities of 



