550 Genei'al Notices. 



solar heat ; this course should be followed till the latter end of October, 

 when the ripening process will be accomplished, at least so far as is prac- 

 ticable under the atmospheric conditions of this country, considering the 

 small amount of solar heat we have in the autumn months, when the tem- 

 perature may be gradually lowered ; merely keep it at the amount required 

 to repel the attacks of frost. The above treatment is applicable to all ex- 

 cept autumn or winter flowering plants, which, of course, require a larger 

 amount of water. — {North British Agriculturist, 1849, p. 331.) 



On Forming Evergreen Gardens. — As the present is the most favorable 

 time for planting evergreen trees and shrubs, permit me to direct the atten- 

 tion of your readers to this interesting tribe of plants, and to the great effect 

 they are capable of producing in garden scenery, whether in the natural or 

 geometric styles. Suited as they preeminently are to embellish and har- 

 monize with every style of architecture, they may easily be adapted to ev- 

 ery variety of situation. Considering the great number of evergreen trees 

 and shrubs now procurable in British nurseries, presenting but few difficul- 

 ties in cultivation, and the charming interest they afford for seven or eight 

 months in the year, I hope their intrinsic merits will provide for them that 

 share of patronage they so greatly deserve. In the palmy days of the fine 

 old Dutch and French styles of gardening, evergreens were extensively 

 used and prized, as forming a prominent feature in producing effect. The 

 green slopes, long terrace-walks, and architectural boundary lines of these 

 grand out-gardens, would have looked bald and meagre had they not been 

 accompanied by the yew, holly, and box in this country, and the bay in It- 

 aly. And, notwithstanding that sometimes fickle personage, called "Taste," 

 caused many of the fine geometrical gardens in this country to be destroyed, 

 and replaced by a style equally as monotonous, and, in many cases, much 

 more vague and undefined, T consider that an attempt to restore this highly- 

 embellished style of gardening, (denuded, certainly, of the lions, griffins, 

 and other nondescripts which would excite no wonder at the present time,) 

 would be attended with the happiest results, and prove a source of enjoy- 

 ment to those who admire form, beauty, and proportion in gardening, as 

 well as architectural display. The only nobleman or gentleman who has 

 carried out this style of gardening to any extent, (that I am aware of,) is 

 the Earl of Harrington, at Elvaston Castle, in Derbyshire. Not having 

 seen this place myself, I can only repeat that I am told it more resembles 

 the wondrous ideal gardens of eastern romance, some retreat in "Temen's 

 blissful clime," than the garden of an English country residence ; and I 

 hope, when finished, its liberal proprietor will grant permission to the pub- 

 lic to inspect what is considered by competent judges, the highest efforts of 

 artistic gardening in this country. Evergreens, to produce a proper effect, 

 should be planted in considerable masses, and by no means mixed with de- 

 ciduous plants. Sufficient variety for the most extensive designs are to be 

 procured, embracing every intermediate variety of form and outline, from 

 the picturesque grandeur of the cedar and araucaria, to the humble savin. 

 Of flowering evergreens, what among shrubs of any kind can equal in gor- 

 geous coloring a bank of scarlet rhododendrons? No less beautiful is the 



