454 



Recollections of a Tour made in May, 1839, 



named kinds, which are finally to remain, are mixed with other sorts to shelter 

 them ; but these shelter plants are few, and what is of more consequence, 

 from being chiefly of one kind in one place, they do not even now drown, so 

 to speak, the effect of the plants which are finally to remain. The shelter 

 plants are chiefly Ontario poplar, a species of poplar that has creeping roots ; 

 and which, like all trees having creeping roots, may be safely transplanted 

 even when of a considerable size. Hence these nurse plants, as they are 

 thinned out, are sold by Mr. Marnock to persons in the neighbourhood 

 making plantations, or laying out small places. The nurse plants employed in 

 botanic gardens hitherto, and more especially in the Chiswick Garden, have 

 been a mixture of various kinds (see p. 350.), which distract the eye, and 

 puzzle it to find out the specimen plants which are ultimately to remain ; but 

 when the nurses are all of one species, though a general sameness is produced 

 as well as in the other case, yet, when examined in detail, this sameness is of a 

 more simple kind, and one which affords greater facilities for discovering the 

 specimen plants. As a general principle, therefore, where nurse plants are to 

 be introduced into a scientific or ornamental plantation, one kind ought always 

 to prevail in one place. The Ontario poplar seems very judiciously chosen as 

 a nurse plant for a scientific garden, because it comes early into leaf, and does 

 not grow faster than the average of trees : the black Italian poplar grows much 

 too fast, as does the larch ; but the mountain ash, the wild sorb, the common 

 sycamore, the lime, and similar trees, are quite suitable. The greater part of 

 the specimen trees in the Sheffield Garden are planted in masses which will 

 finally be open groves ; but all the more hardy and vigorous-growing sorts, 

 and many of the shrubs, stand singly on the lawn. The masses are dug ; and 

 the direction of the margins indicating the termination of one and the 

 commencement of another genus is such, that at the termination of each genus 



Salix. 



5etula. 



^4'lnus. 



an angle (as in^g. 121.) is formed in the outline of the mass. This angle 

 always prepares the observer for a change of genus. 



The herbaceous arrangement is placed by itself in beds ; and there is a re- 

 serve ground, and pits and frames for preparing plants for being turned out 

 into the flower-beds and borders. There is a part of the garden devoted to 

 rustic work and rockwork, which is well managed, and forms a fine contrast to 

 the open scenery and scientific part. An attempt has been made to combine 

 a zoological garden, but, as might have been expected, it has not succeeded. 

 In fact, the filth, stench, roaring, howling, and other annoyances incident to 

 carnivorous animals, are altogether inconsistent with the repose which is es- 

 sential to a botanic garden, and to the enjoyment of garden scenery of every 

 kind. The range of hot-houses in the Sheffield Garden is judiciously placed, 

 and very handsome; and the separate divisions are well stocked with plants, 

 thriving as well as could be desired. Among these we observed the largest 

 plant of Clianthus puniceus which we have anywhere seen (perhaps 7 ft. high, 

 and as much in diameter), and which was covered with an amazing quan- 

 tity of bloom. Near it is a plant of Sutherland^ frutescens var. obcordata, 

 noticed in Mr. Marnock's Magazine, vol. iv. p. 41., which is 5 ft. high, with 

 fine bright scarlet flowers. A fine plant of Cytisus 7?hododaphne has been 

 constantly in bloom, summer and winter, for three years without intermission, 



