634 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



^December 1, 1888. 



above mentioned Barleys may be crossed with facility, 

 indiscriminately. (2), The hybrids thus obtained 

 are very perfectly self-fertile ; those produced from 

 H. vulgare (fern.) and H. distichum (m.), and those 

 from H. vulgare (fern.) and H. Zeocriton (m.) even 

 cleistogamous. (3), The hybrids of the first genera- 

 tion partake in general of a middle shape between the 

 parents. An exception to this rule was made by 

 those of H. nudum (fem.) and H. trifurcatum (in.), 

 a great part of which proved to belong to the not ex- 

 pected common intermediate form betweenH. vulgare 

 and H. distichum. A few specimens belonged to the 

 expected cornutum form. (4), The seedlings from 

 hybrids obtained by self fertilisation are very various. 

 Some new varieties were also secured. It was re- 

 markable that the third generation of a cross be- 

 tween H. vulgare (fem.) and H. Zeocriton (m.) pro- 

 duced H. hexastichum. (5), In the present summer, 

 a cross effected in 1884 between H. distichum (fem.) 

 and H. trifurcatum (m.) produced a form almost 

 completely without awns. Abridged J mm " Nature," 

 August 2. 



The Herbaceous Border. 



At p. 510, your correspondent, Mr. J. Horsefield, 

 has given instructions respecting the above, and as 

 his remarks are intended " for the benefit of those 

 who are taking up the cultivation ot these plants for 

 the first time," it may be as well if a good repre- 

 sentative list of first-clasa plants be given at the 

 start, so as to encourage the growing of these plants, 

 and make each newly-formed collection sufficiently 

 attractive, that all who become acquainted with it 

 may feel disposed to attempt something of a similar 

 kind. Though it was not to be expected that Mr. 

 Horsefield could, in his article, include all the good 

 things to be found now among hardy perennials, yet 

 it appears quite necessary that only good things 

 should be named, and not those which, from a de- 

 corative standpoint, are valueless. If we would have 

 the culture of hardy plants extended, even as 

 far as their merits deserve, we must encourage 

 new beginners, and not include any weedy subject 

 which may hereafter prove disappointing. Some of 

 those mentioned in the list referred to are only fit 

 for a botanical garden— for example, the Veratrums ; 

 others, as the Tussilagos, should only be found in 

 out-of-the-way corners ; for no plant could be more 

 out of place than Tussilago fragrans would be 

 in the front, especially in company with Hepaticas 

 and Gentiana verna— the. last-named quite unfitted 

 for the beginner, and often very troublesome to the 

 experienced ; others, again, are misplaced, such as 

 Aquilegia ccerulea and Aster dumosus; these two 

 rarely attain 1 foot in height, and yet they are given 

 as companions plants fully 3 feet high— for example, 

 Anemone japonica (which is very often 3£ feet), 

 Aquilegia chrysantha, Asphodelus luteus, and so 

 forth, all of which are calculated to disappoint a 

 beginner. And really there is an endless number 

 of first-rate showy border plants not mentioned at 

 all. Take the front row nearest the edge : here you 

 may have Snowdrops, Winter Aconite, Christmas 

 Rose, Polyanthus, bedding Violas, Phloxes amcena, 

 Nelsoni, frondosa, setacea, Vivid, The Bride, and 

 others; Saxifraga Wallacei, Cheiranthus alpinus, 

 Gentiana acaulis, Pink Mrs. Sinkins, Iberis cori- 

 folia, Iris nudicaulis and I. pumila vars., Campanulas 

 turbinata, carpatica, and alba ; while, if greater 

 effect were needed in spring, Chionodoxa, Erythro- 

 nium, Triteleia uniflora, Crocus in variety, Anemone 

 fulgens, and such like, may be added, all these being 

 not more than 9 inches high on an average. The 

 next row, if rows are the order of planting, should con- 

 tain Lychnis fulgens and Haageana, Iceland Poppies, 

 Aquilegia ccerulea, Anemone sylvestris, Aster dumo- 

 sus, Trumpet Daffodils, such as princeps, Horsfieldi, 

 spurius, rugilobus, Henry Irving, Golden Spur, and 

 so forth ; Orobus vernus, Helleborus orientale vars., 

 H. niger maximus, Geum coccineum pi., Iris Vic- 

 torine, Arnebia echioides, Onosma taurica, and the 

 like. Behind these should appear Senecio pulcher, 



Aster bessarabica, A. longifolius formosus,Trollius iu 

 variety, Iris germanica, and allied sections, a dozen 

 good assorted kinds of about 2 feet high ; a few 

 clumps also of Spanish and English Iris, the double 

 crimson form of Paionia tenuifolia, Helenium pumi- 

 lum, Rudbeckia Newmanii, Anthericums in variety, 

 Hemerocallis Thunbergi, double white llocket, 

 Lychnis viscaria Sore-plena, perennial Cornflowers, 

 Potentillas, a dozen good Carnations in variety, and 

 many more. Another batch of increased height are 

 single and double Pyrethrums, Coreopsis lanceolata, 

 Peonies in variety, Gaillardias, Irises L'Innocence, 

 Madame Chereau, Hortense, pallida, Walneri, and 

 Imogene ; Lilium dahuricum in variety, L. tigrinum 

 and its forms (these will attain 7 feet high and even 

 more when established and well suited), Hemero- 

 callis flava, Stenactis speciosa, Helenium autumnale, 

 Leucanthemum maximum, some good and distinct 

 herbaceous Phloxes, Lychnis vespertina, L. chalce- 

 donica, Doronicums, Oenothera Youngi, Rudbeckia 

 purpurea, and others. Another row may be planted 

 with Galega officinalis and alba, Pyrethrum uligi- 

 nosum, Iris sibirica, single and double Sunflowers, 

 Aster ericoides, Anemone japonica alba, Spiraea 

 venusta, S. Ulmaria plena, Dictamnus fraxinella, 

 Tritoma uvaria, Iris Kaempferi, Lilium can- 

 didum and speciosum forms, and Delphiniums. 

 While if plants of statelier growth were needed 

 the want may be supplied with Hollyhocks, 

 the taller Delphiniums, Bocconia cordata, Iris 

 ochroleuca, Lilium pardalinum (a peat lover), Tri- 

 toma nobilis, Aster novre-angliai, and the variety 

 rubra, and the like ; always allowing a greater space 

 for the taller subjects to develope themselves. Boc- 

 conia cordata and Pyrethrum uliginosum make good 

 isolated specimens, as do Gynerium and Tritoma. 



In the foregoing we have a good assortment, as 

 varied in colour as in height, and in the seasons in 

 which they flower ; and, best of all, all may be grown 

 successfully by any one in fairly well enriched soil. 

 Those who desire to get the full beauty of Tussilago 

 fragrans should plant it in some out-of-the-way 

 corner; give it a few soakings of liquid manure 

 during the season, and annually in October pot up, 

 say, six of the flowering crowns in a large 32-pot ; 

 water well, and place in a frame and shade for a few 

 days ; they make excellent pot-plants for conser- 

 vatory or cool greenhouses, and, despite their dingi- 

 ness of colour, the flowers impart a delicious perfume, 

 which renders them worthy of the appropriate name 

 of winter Heliotrope ; thus treated this variety is 

 far too good to be cast aside as worthless. E. 

 Jenkins. 



SPRINGWOOD, DARTFORD. 



[See Supplementary Sheet.] 

 Springwood, Dartford, in Kent, is the residence 

 of T. Honychurch, Esq. ; the gardens, which are of 

 small dimensions, are kept in excellent conditions of 

 neatness and order by Mr. H. Davis, the gardener, 

 who is carrying out several improvements. The 

 gardens are utilitarian to a degree, flowers suitable 

 for cutting and decorative purposes receiving much 

 attention, and consist of Dahlias (singles especially), 

 Tuberoses, Marie Louise and Neapolitan Violets, 

 which are favourites ; Pelargoniums, Primulas, 

 Fuchsias, &c, with which also the conservatory 

 attached to the house was furnished when we visited 

 it. One feature in the conservatory is the very fine 

 plants of Passion-flowers, which are trained over the 

 roof, the hybrid Van Volxemi being particularly 

 noticeable, flowering freely, and giving life and 

 brightness to the whole. 



Immediately outside this structure, and in an 

 angle formed by it and the residence, is a fine 

 vigorous specimen of Magnolia grandiflora, about 

 25 feet high, growing freely, and bearing a number 

 of flowers in its proper season. The beds about the 

 lawn are furnished chiefly with sub-tropical plants 

 and a few small Conifers, the lawn itself extending 

 for about 100 yards in length, and at one side of it 

 towards the far end is a collection of Roses. 

 After reaching the end of the lawn we emerge on 



" The Wood," of which the illustration (see Supple- 

 ment) is a representation, the view being taken at its 

 limit. The wood consists of young trees of varied 

 nature, as Birch, Lime, Elm, Beech, &c, with an 

 undergrowth of Ivy and Brambles, which are allowed 

 to grow freely. The walks are edged with a slight 

 rockwork, in which are planted bulbs of Snowdrops 

 and Daffodils, and throughout the rest of the ground 

 the wild Scilla nutans, which forms a conspicuous 

 object in the surrounding country, is to be seen 

 cropping up in abundance. The walks are carpeted 

 with moss, and the whole makes a quiet, cool, and 

 pleasant retreat during the summer months. 



The garden is a good type of a modern suburban 

 residence, of which many examples may be seen 

 around the outlying districts of London and other 

 large towns. 



Forestry. 



Hedgerow and Eield Timber. — There are very 

 few timber trees common to this country, whether 

 native or introduced, which do not occasionally occur 

 in our hedgerows, Speaking broadly, however, three 

 species have the monopoly, viz., the Oak, Elm, and 

 Ash. Of these, the Elm is by far the most common. 

 This, no doubt, arises from the fact that the Elm 

 propagates itself so freely from suckers, whereas the 

 others are produced from seedlings only. Though 

 but comparatively little is said of this class of timber 

 in forestry publications, it is a subject which deserves 

 attention, as from hedgerow and field trees a large 

 proportion of the supply of home-grown timber is 

 drawn, especially in this part of England. The few 

 writers who touch upon the matter at all, as a 

 rule, Bpeak in a condemnatory sense. One cannot 

 deny that there are certain well-founded objections 

 to growing timber in these positions, but when the 

 question is looked into fairly and dispassionately, it 

 will be seen that a little judgment is all that is 

 necessary to put the whole thing on a satisfactory 

 footing. The greatest opponent of the cultivation of 

 the hedgerow and field tree is, without doubt, the 

 arable farmer, and in view of the many difficulties 

 this gentleman has of late years had to contend with, 

 his objections are entitled to consideration. Any- 

 thing which can be done to remove any drawback to 

 the successful growth of crops every reasonable land- 

 owner is ready to do. 



Removal or Lopping. — Overhanging trees, either in 

 the cultivated fields themselves or in the hedgerows 

 between the fields, certainly do not tend to increase 

 the productiveness of the land they overshadow, and 

 where the surrounding conditions admit of it their 

 numbers should be kept within such bounds as will 

 be just sufficient to relieve the dreariness of a tree- 

 less landscape. In thus, however, meeting his wishes 

 the occupier should be very clearly made to under- 

 stand that under no pretence whatever, would he be 

 allowed to interfere with what timber remained, 

 either in lopping, or in that very favourite amuse- 

 ment of driving nails into the boles of standing trees 

 in lieu of posts. This extremely interesting and time- 

 honoured abuse would chiefly occur where the side 

 of the cultivated field was next to pasture land, or by 

 the side of a publie or private roadway. This 

 assumes wider dimensions where trees grow between 

 pasture fields, and the fences have to be kept intact. 

 Bad, however, as this is, the lopping part is by 

 far the more serious, as the ruin of thousands of 

 trees, both as regards their ornamental and market- 

 able value, is being annually accomplished through 

 this pernicious practice being allowed to go on 

 unchecked. There are, of course cases where there 

 is no alternative but to lop off overhanging limbs — 

 for instance, by the side of highways. This, if done 

 carefully and neatly, and if the limb be removed as 

 nearly as possible to the body of the tree, will only 

 result in a single sound knot, and the operation will 

 not need to be repeated. It is the senseless habit 

 of continual lopping which is so lamentable, and 

 which has so much to do with the relatively small 

 prices obtainable for what would otherwise be good 

 lots of hedgerow timber. 



Pastures and Meadows. — I must now say a word with 

 regard to pastures and meadows, as here the condi- 

 tions are so different, and it is chiefly upon the 

 fences which surround land of this nature, that we 



