SCOTTISH GAEDENS IN GEKEEAL 



finer maples. The red flowering horse-chestnut, 

 ^Esculus carnea, a hybrid between the common 

 horse-chestnut and the American jiEsculus pavia, is 

 far too seldom seen in Scottish pleasure grounds, 

 though commonly planted in the neighbourhood of 

 London. It is, however, perfectly at home in the 

 north, and although it is generally considered to 

 be of less lofty growth than the common sort, my 

 experience with it leads me to believe that there 

 is not much diflerence between the two kinds in 

 that respect. If there is no more splendid spectacle 

 in British woodland scenery than a well-grown 

 horse-chestnut in full bloom, the red-flowered variety 

 is no whit inferior, and the beauty of each is 

 mutually enhanced by contrast. 



One word about another tree too seldom seen, 

 matchless as it is in certain qualities of foliage 

 and outline to wit the evergreen oak. Its effect 

 in a garden is well shown in Miss Wilson's view 

 at Castle Kennedy (Plate X.). Changeless in its 

 kindly neutral tint, save when the wind tosses the 

 boughs to make them show the silvery undersides 

 of the leaves, or for a brief period in early summer 

 when the flowers and young growth spread a tawny 

 tint over the grey, the holm oak never fails to 

 attract admiration when it is well-grown. But it is 

 not always grown to its best. Planted singly or at 

 wide intervals, it is apt to assume the form of a 

 huge bush ; but submit it to the early discipline of 

 close planting a dozen or so in a group six feet 



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