104 SEASIDE PLANTING 



Among the best things to use for such a purpose are Pinus Pinaster 

 and the Scotch pine. These two species, but especially the former (the 

 Scotch pine is often discoloured by sea spray), bear the brunt of the 

 south-west gales in the famous pine plantations on the Bournemouth 

 cliffs. P. Thunbergii is also to be recommended, but is scarcer. In 

 the milder counties Cupressus macrocarpa, Pinus radiata (insignis\ P. 

 muricafa, and P. halepensis are excellent. But in the colder parts of 

 the coast no pine is so valuable as the Austrian pine. Among other 

 evergreen trees, Quercus Ilex may be recommended ; although very slow- 

 growing, it makes a dense growth and a perfect screen. Although only 

 a small tree, Euonymus japonicus must be mentioned. On the south 

 coast it thrives admirably on high cliffs with nothing between it and the 

 sea. Abies Pinsapo has been recommended for chalk cliffs, but it needs 

 shelter at first. / 



Of all the above, most reliance may be placed on Pinus Pinaster in 

 the south and on the Austrian pine in the north. 



Turning to deciduous trees, the choice is greater. I know nothing 

 more useful in forming the outer " rampart " than the common sycamore. 

 Often sadly battered, it still holds its own. The "wych elm' : is very 

 useful, as are also two willows : (Salix alba and S. Capred) Populus 

 deltoidea and the white poplar (P. alba}. Among the numerous species of 

 Pyrus, the wild pear (P. communis), the mountain ash (P. Aucuparid), and, 

 in chalk especially, the whitebeam (P. Arid) are the best for the present 

 purpose. For mixing with other things in the plantation there are the 

 hornbeam, the hawthorn, and the ash. Where the ground is damp the 

 common alder may be used. 



It is not to be expected that any of these will make shapely specimens. 

 On the contrary, they wi)l be usually stunted and gnarled and lop-sided ; 

 but if they provide a living and permanent shield, inside which other and 

 choicer trees will thrive, they fulfil their purpose. 



Shrubs. Close to the sea, as in cliff or shore gardens, the space is 

 too narrow to admit of any attempt being made to establish a shelter belt 

 of vegetation. In such places reliance must be entirely placed on such 

 shrubs or small trees as will thrive fully exposed. That there are a 

 considerable number is evident to any one who studies the vegetation on 

 the slopes between the " front " and the shore of many seaside towns. 



Among evergreens mention has already been made of Euonymus 

 japonicuS) sometimes a small tree, usually a shrub. The grey-leaved 

 Atriplex Halimus and other species are quite maritime shrubs. Olearia 

 Haastii is not so much used as it might be, nor are the numerous forms 

 cf Aucuba japonica, Berberis stenophylla, B. Darwinii, Pinus montana, 

 common juniper, Baccharis patagonica, and Bupleurum fruticosum. Of 

 hollies, the broad, thick-leaved varieties are the best, and amongst the 



