718 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 
p. 1550.) Miller, in 1752, says, “In warmer countries, this tree will grow 
to a large size; so that in some parts of Italy there are large woods of them ; 
but we cannot hope to have them grow to so large stems in England; for, 
should these trees be pruned up, in order to form them into stems, the frost 
would then become much more hurtful to them than in the manner they 
usually grow, with their branches close to the ground: however, if these 
trees are planted pretty close together, in large thickets, and permitted to 
grow rude, they will defend each other from the frost, and they will grow to 
a considerable height; an instance of which is now in that noble plantation of 
evergreen trees made by His Grace the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey, 
where there is a considerable hill entirely covered with laurels; and in the 
other parts of the same plantations there are a great number of these inter- 
mixed with the other evergreen trees, where they are already grown to a 
considerable size, and make a noble appearance.” (Dict., 6th edit., art. Pa- 
dus.) Bradley mentions that the common laurel was grafted on the cherry, and 
on the plum, in Mr. Whitmill’s garden at Hoxton; and this practice is fre- 
quent among the Parisian gardeners ; but the plants, especially when grafted 
standard high, never live more than a year or two. It is a remarkable fact, 
that the three shrubs, or trees, which constitute the principal evergreens of 
the London gardens, and which are to be found in every garden, large or 
small, without exception, viz. the holly, the common laurel, and the Portu- 
gal laurel, are found to be rather delicate in the neighbourhood of Paris; and 
hence the suburban gardens of that city are totally destitute of broad-leaved 
evergreens, and have a naked and cold appearance in the winter season, which 
is particularly and strikingly unpleasant to eyes accustomed to the clothed 
and cheerful aspect of our English gardens at that season. The same ob- 
servations will apply to the gardens in Germany, Holland, and Belgium; in 
which latter country, though holly hedges have been formed in some places, 
yet, in severe winters, they are liable, in common with laurels and all our other 
broad-leaved evergreens, to be killed down to the ground. (Les Agrémens de 
la Campagne, &c., p.205.) 
Properties and Uses. In Britain, the common laurel is considered one of the 
most ornamental of our evergreen shrubs; and it is also used for covering 
walls, and for hedges, to afford shelter ; for which last purpose it is extensively 
used in the market-gardens about Isleworth. Evelyn mentions a fine hedge, 
planted alternately with the variegated and the common laurel, and trained 
so as to have a chequered appearance, white and green; which, according to 
the taste of his time, was reckoned to have a splendid effect, though the 
variegation of this shrub is very irregular, not constant, and attended, in 
general, by mutilated leaves. He also says it may be trained so as to resem- 
ble the most beautiful headed orange tree in shape and verdure, and prognos- 
ticates that, in time, it may emulate some of our lofty timber trees, and be 
proper for walks and avenues. Cook, also, says that it is “a glorious tree 
for standards ;”’ but we need only refer to what Miller says on the subject (see 
above), to show that these two authors were mistaken. The most general 
use of the common laurel, at present, is as an undergrowth in ornamental 
woods; and for this purpose it is employed, on an extensive scale, at Clare- 
mont, at Bagshot Park, at Stourhead, at Wardour Castle, at Woburn Abbey, 
and at a number of other places. At Claremont, the laurels are mixed with 
holly and box trees, which are allowed to grow up as standards, while the 
laurels are kept low. The effect of this, more especially in the winter season, 
is delightful, particularly on the sunny sides of the wooded banks. It is 
easy, while walking through these woods, to mistake midwinter for early 
spring. In the woods at Stourhead, the laurel undergrowths are unmixed with 
any other tree or shrub, except large beech trees; and the effect of a mass 
of shining evergreens beneath these lofty beeches, though powerful, is ye 
extremely monotonous. At Wardour Castle, the laurels grow among a mix 
assemblage of trees and shrubs: they are cut down periodically ; and they are 
found to make excellent fuel and fence-wood. Laurel leaves have a bitter 


