924 



Gardening for Amateurs 



the name is rarely used, for the Common 

 Oaks have been divided into two groups, 

 one being called Q. pedunculata and the 

 other Q. sessiliflora. In the former case the 

 distinguishing features are the stalked fruits 

 and almost, if not quite, stalkless leaves, 

 and in the latter instance the stalkless fruits 

 and long-stalked leaves. Q. pedunculata is 

 best suited for rich land at a low elevation, 

 whilst the other tree often occupies higher 

 land where the soil is of poorer quality. 

 There are numerous varieties of both, but 

 none more distinct than the pyramidal forms 

 of pedunculata. The variety fastigiata and 

 its various forms have a similar habit to 

 the Lombardy Poplar. The best of the 

 variegated-leaved kinds are mentioned in 

 another chapter. 



Amongst the numerous kinds of Oaks the 

 following half-dozen will be found useful for 

 decorative planting. All must be given deep, 

 loamy soil. Cerris, the Turkey Oak, a large- 

 growing tree, easily distinguished from the 

 common Oaks by reason of its finely-lobed 

 leaves and mossy acorn cups ; coccinea, a 

 handsome, North American Oak, with glossy 

 dark-green leaves, which colour brilliantly 

 in autumn, the variety Knap Hill Scarlet 

 is specially worthy of note ; conferta, a 

 Southern European kind, with large regularly - 

 lobed leaves ; Mirbeckii, a handsome large- 

 leaved tree from Spain, Portugal and North 

 Africa, which retains its leaves throughout 

 the greater part of winter ; rubra, the large- 

 leaved Red Oak of North America ; and the 

 North American velutina, remarkable for 

 its few-lobed leaves being sometimes 1 foot 

 in length and 8 inches wide. The Ever- 

 green Oaks are referred to in the chapter on 

 " Evergreens." 



Salix alba var. caerulea (Blue Wil- 

 low) is one of the most important of fast- 

 growing trees, for its wood is used for the 

 best quality cricket bats. Its branches are 

 more upright and the head narrower than 

 is the case with other forms of Salix alba. 

 S. fragilis, the Crack Willow, is a good tree 

 to plant on wet ground, whilst babylonica, 



the Weeping Willow, is one of the most 

 effective kinds to plant near the waterside. 



Tilia vulgaris (Common Lime) is a 

 native of Europe, and is grown largely in 

 this country. It has one great disadvantage, 

 namely, the leaves often begin to turn 

 yellow and fall in August or early Sep- 

 tember. Superior to it in every way are the 

 Crimean Lime, T. petiolaris, and the 

 Caucasian Lime, T. dasystyla. Of vigor- 

 ous habit and stately outline, both trees 

 bear glossy deep green leaves, which keep 

 cleaner than those of the common kind and 

 retain their colour until October. Both are 

 excellent for isolated lawn or park trees or 

 for avenue planting. Other good Limes are 

 americana, argentea, cordata and mique- 

 liana. 



Ulmus campestris (Elm) is one of the 

 common Elms of our hedge-rows. Forming 

 a particularly handsome tree, it is much 

 planted for avenues and isolated specimens. 

 It has a fault which is shared by other Elms, 

 that is, the heavy branches of mature trees 

 sometimes fall, even on calm days, without 

 the slightest warning. For this reason Elms 

 ought not to be planted near houses or other 

 buildings. Other useful Elms are glabra 

 (the Wych Elm), major montana (the Scotch 

 Elm) and pedunculata. There are numer- 

 ous varieties of some of the species, the most 

 popular perhaps being those with pendulous 

 branches ; the best for general planting is 

 Ulmus montana pendula. Of the coloured- 

 leaved kinds antarctica aurea Louis van 

 Houtte and montana aurea are the best 

 golden - leaved forms, whilst good silver 

 variegated varieties are found in variegata 

 and latifolia variegata ; variegata nova has 

 slender growths and small leaves and is 

 useful for places where space is limited. A 

 distinct group of Elms is formed by those 

 which are of fastigiate or pyramidal outline. 

 The most familiar is the Cornish Elm, 

 U. glabra var. Cornubiensis ; then there is 

 the Jersey Elm, campestris sarniensis, the 

 Hertfordshire Elm, campestris Wheatleyi, 

 and the Exeter Elm, montana fastigiata. 



