637 



EVERGREENS. 



EVERGREENS. 



633 



instance alluded to the weather was very favourable for a considerable 

 period after the operation was performed. 



Autumn and spring are much better seasons fur work of this kind ; 

 the plants are not so liable to suffer from the intense heat of the sun, 

 and are more likely to be benefited by dews and frequent rains. 



But, according to the most experienced cultivators, the winter 

 months (that is, from October to February) are decidedly the best 

 time for transplanting Evergreens. Mr. McNab, who is one of the 

 greatest authorities upon this subject, says " I have planted Ever- 

 greens at all seasons of the year with nearly equal success, except 

 from the middle of June to the middle of August, and even during 

 this period I have planted some ; but unless the weather is very dull 

 and moist, it is difficult to prevent the plants suffering considerably, 

 and in many cases it is years before they recover. Although, however, 

 I have planted Evergreens ten months out of the twelve with little 

 difference of success, yet one season has a preference over the others 

 with me, and when there is the power of choice I would recommend 

 late in autumn, winter, or early in spring ; that is, any time from the 

 middle of October till the middle of February ; and in general the 

 beginning of this period is the best ; that is, from the middle of 

 October till the middle of December; always providing that the 

 weather and the ground are favourable ; that is, supposing there is 

 no frost, no drying wind, nor much sunshine, and that the ground is 

 not too much saturated with wet, either from continued rain or from 

 the nature of the soil. One of the principal things to be attended to 

 in planting Evergreens is to fix on a dull day for winter planting, and 

 a moist day for spring and autumn planting." 



It is of great importance to keep a number of the more tender 

 sorts of Evergreens in pots, in order to send them to a distance if 

 required ; and if they are to be transplanted at home their roots are 

 not eo liable to be injured as when they are dug from the ground. 

 The more tender species of the following genera should be treated in 

 this way: Arbuttu, Caprttnu, Daphne, Erica, Junipcrus, Lanrtts, 

 Maynolin, Phyllirea, Piiiat, Qucrcw*, Rkammtt, Thnja, &c. 



In lifting Evergreens particular care should be taken of the young 

 rootlets, a upon their preservation the success of the operation in a 

 great measure depends ; especially if the specimens have arrived at 

 any unusual size. Small Evergreens are planted like other things ; 

 but the following precautions should be observed in all cases where 

 individuals of any great size are the subject of the operation. 



When the plant has been lowered into the hole dug for its reception, 

 the soil must be thrown in loosely around it (not trod in), and a basin 

 made to hold a quantity of water, which must be filled several times 

 until the whole IB completely saturated ; this will convey the particles 

 of soil down to the roots of the plant, and render it much more firm 

 than any other method. By this treatment we have seen plantations 

 of Evergreens formed without a single failure, which, when finished, 

 appeared to have been growing for many years. 



It matters little what size the plants have attained, if they can only 

 be lifted without injuring the small fibres of the roots ; they have 

 been moved from 10 to 20 feet high, and otherwise large in proportion, 

 with complete success. Should however the roots be unavoidably 

 injured in transplanting, the branches must be closely pruned and 

 shortened in proportion ; so that when they begin to draw upon the 

 roots for support they may not require more nourishment than the 

 Utter can supply. 



Considering the great importance of Evergreens in a climate like 

 that of Great Britain, where they flourish in such unrivalled beauty, 

 and form no much natural protection to bleak exposed situations, they 

 cannot be too extensively planted. The following lists will furnish 

 information as to the principal kinds found in the nurseries and 

 gardens of Great Britain : 



I. Evergreens whose beauty depends exclusively upon their foliage. 

 TUBES. 



Aim*. All the species, where the soil is light enough to suit them, 

 particularly A. Dovsflarii,A.exccUa,\he Norway Spruce, A. Deodara, 

 the Cedar of India, A. Cedrui, the Cedar of Lebanon, and A. Larix, 

 the common Larch, together with A. balgamea, the Balm of Gilead, 

 A. picta, the Silver-Fir, and A. Wcbbiana, the Silver-Fir of the 

 Himalaya Mountains. [ABIES.] The Cedar of Lebanon will grow 

 well in a swamp. 



A twncaria imbricata, the glory of the mountains south of Chili; it 

 will hardly succeed north of the midland counties. [ARAUCARIA.] 



C'wminyhamiet lanceolata, (he Chinese Fir ; very handsome, but only 

 raited to the south of England. [CVBmmuUiJ 



Onprennti temperrireni, the Common Cypress, and C. horiiontaJis, the 

 Spreading Cypress, are quite hardy : and the latter, if to be procured, 

 fortm a tree much more ornamental than the other with its formal 

 shape. But the nurserymen almost always sell a slight variety of 

 C. tcmperrirtnt for it. fCuPRESSUB,] 



Onpreutu Lutitanirn, the Cedar of Goft, is a beautiful tree, but only 

 mite the climate of southern counties. 



'/iiifnllmn, Common Holly. The nurseries contain endless 

 varieties of it, both green and variegated. The latter are not to be 

 compared with the others for beautiful effect. [ILEX.] 



Jvmiptrut. The /. ettcclta forms n fine tree) /. Virginiana, the 



Common Virginian Cedar, is less handsome ; but both are quite 

 hardy. [JuniPERUS.] 



Finns. All the species, where the soil is light and sterile enough, with 

 that proportion of decayed unfermented vegetable matter which 

 this genus delights in. The finest, as ornamental plants, are 

 P. pinasta; P. Taurica, P. Pinea, the Stone Pine, P. nigricans, P. 

 halepemis, and P. Pallasiana, which will grow in any soil that is 

 not stiff and swampy in winter. P. tylixstrit, and P. nigricans are 

 the hardiest. [Pixus.] 



Quereut. The Q. Jlex, or Evergreen Oak, of which there are many 

 varieties ; Q. Anstriaca, of which the Liicombe and the Fulham oaks 

 are possibly domesticated forms ; Q. Turneri, Q. Saber, the Cork- 

 Tree, and Q. gramnntia, the Q. Balhta, or Spanish Oak, with sweet 

 acorns, are all fine species equally handsome when young as bushes, 

 and when old as trees. [QUERCUS.] 



Ta.rus baccata, the Common Yew, and T. fastigiala, the Irish Yew. 

 [TAXUS.] 



Thuja occidentalis, the American Arbor Vita?, and T. oriental, the 

 Chinese Arbor Vitas. [THUJA.] 



SHRUBS or BUSHES. 



Arisfotelia Maqui, a Chilian broad-leaved shrub, quite hardy. 

 Abies Clanbrasiliana, a curious dwarf fir, only suited to plant singly 



upon grass. 

 Cunninghamia lanceolata, the Chinese Fir, rarely grows beyond the 



size of a bush. 

 Arbutus Andrachne, the Oriental Strawberry-Tree, and A. hybi-ida. 



[ARBUTUS.] 



Aucuba Japonica, a Japanese spotted-leaf bush. [AucUBA.] 

 Btaut sempervirem, the Box-Tree, will succeed in light soil, especially 



if sandy and sterile ; it prefers'chalky downs, and will not thrive in 



stiff wet soil. [Boxus.] 

 Junipenu communu, the Common Juniper ; /. Sueeica, the Swedish 



Juniper, much less handsome ; /. Sabina, the Savin Bush, excellent 



for undergrowth, and ornamental as a single bush upon lawns. 

 Lav.r nobilit, the Sweet Bay ; quite hardy, though a native of the 



warm south; ite aromatic leaves employed in confectionary, 



pickles, &c. [LAURUS.] 

 Ligvjtrum ruJyare, the Common Privet ; excellent for hedges and for 



undergrowth, especially the evergreen variety. [LiausTUUM.] 

 PlniUirca. Every variety of this valuable genus should be cultivated : 



P. obliqua and P. latifolia as large species, P. media as a middle- 

 sized one, and P. angustifolia as a graceful bush. 

 Pinus pumilio or Mur/hu, the Alpine Pine-Tree. 

 Rhanmut alatenius, of which there are several varieties, and R. Clutii ; 



hardy bushes, which bear pruning or cutting down to the ground 



remarkably well. [RHAMNUS.] 



TWINERS. 



ffedera, many varieties of the common Ivy ; H. Canarienta, the 

 Irish Ivy ; and H. chrysocarpa, the Golden-Berried Ivy. [HEDERA'] 



II. Evergreens whose flowers have a conspicuous appearance. 

 TBEES. 



Andromeda arborea requires peat; grows 40 feet high in North 



America. 

 Arbutus Unedo, the Common Strawberry-Tree; of this there is a 



beautiful variety with deep red flowers, and another with double 



flowers, much less handsome than either. 

 Acacia affiuit grows without protection near Edinburgh ; A. dealbata, 



A. lophanta, and several other Australian species will flourish 



without protection in the southern counties. [ACACIA.] 

 Eucalyjttiu perfoliata, E. pulrcmlenta, exist in the open air near 



Edinburgh ; they and other species will thrive in the south and 



west of England. [EUCALYPTUS.] 

 Ligmtrum lucidum, the Wax-Tree, a Japanese plant. 

 Magnolia gramlijiora, with many varieties ; they are scarcely hardy 



enough to live in this country away from the shelter of a wall, 



except quite in the south ; unprotected specimens exist however 



near Edinburgh. [MAGNOLIA.] 



SHRUBS or BUSHES. 



Andromeda. The handsomest species are A. Catesba-i, A. angustifolia, 



A.Mariana, which is rather tender, A. pnlverulenta, A. ipeciosa, 



and A.Jtoribunda. They require peat soil. 

 Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi, a trailing plant. [ARCTOSTAPHYLOS.] 

 Ammyrsine Lyoni, a beautiful little American bush, requiring peati 

 fierberis aquifolitim, B. fascicukiris, 11. repent, B, Asiafica, B. anstatat 



[BEHBERIS.] 

 Buplem-um fruticosum stands the sea breeze well upon chalky cliffs* 



[BUPLEUHUM.] 

 Ciitus, all the species. They are quite hardy if planted where wet 



cannot lodge in winter, and exposed to the full sun in summer; 



[ClSTUS.] 



Collctia ipinoea. 



Cotoneaster microphylla and C. rotundifolia, small bushes. [Colo- 



NEA8TJ6H.] 



Cytinu \tcopariut, Common Broom ; there is a double variety, C.cUbtit, 

 the Portugal White Broom. [CTTisus.] 



