January 31, 1865. ] 



JOUKNAL OP HOETICTJLTUEE AND COTTAGE aARDENER. 



own garden. Major Trevor Clarke sent a small plant of 

 Chrysanthemum Prince Albert in good bloom for this late 

 period of the season. Except the remains of the previous 

 weeks' shows this was the only plant of any kind exhibited. 



A NOVEL FEAT IN GEAPE-GEOWING-. 



rKOPOsiTiON. — Given in January an eye of a Grapo Vine ; 

 to propagate from it, and cultivate a plant capable of bear- 

 ing three or four well-shaped bunches of Grapes averaging 

 three-quarters of a pound, berries well swelled, nicely 

 coloured, and richly liavoured, for the decoration of the 

 Christmas dinner-table the same year. 



I saw this beautifully accomplished at Coombe Abbey in 

 1863. Perhaps Mr. Miller will kindly enlighten us by stating 

 his mode of operation. — P. M. 



THE AEBOKETUM— DECIDUOUS TEEES. 

 In a recent ISTumber, at page 23, Mr. Eobson has touched 

 upon a subject which must yield to none in importance in 

 whatever point of view we regard it. In the article, " Arbo- 

 retum versus Pinetum," the fact that arboriculture either has 

 been and is neglected, or is at the present time confined to 

 only a branch of it is fully brought out, and in calling public 

 attention to it, Mr. Robsou has rendered another service to 

 the cause of horticulture. 



Not presuming to sufficient knowledge and experience to 

 act as " counsel for plaintiff," I am content, if it is per- 

 mitted to me, to appear as a witness in the plaintiff's in- 

 terest. 



It is long since I had in mind to direct attention to the 

 circumstance, that while California, British Columbia, Japan, 

 and other distant regions were found to be rich in the most 

 beautiful and attractive, and probably many of the most 

 useful of the Coniferous tribe, not a single addition worth 

 mentioning had been brought thence to our deciduous trees ; 

 not that those countries produced none, for there appears 

 -no evidence to that effect, or those countries would be excep- 

 tions to the general rule, that t'ne finest and most valuable 

 deciduous trees which are found in the north temperate zone 

 of both hemispheres. But it is far more probable that the 

 collectors whose labours have extended to these distant 

 parts have altogether neglected the deciduous trees, and 

 that, too, under the influence of causes which have long 

 existed — viz., the planting and formation of arboretums in 

 which indigenous and exotic deciduous trees have the pro- 

 minence due to their value, beauty, and numerical propor- 

 tion has been for many years in abeyance or out of public 

 favour. Thus many specimens of exotic species already in- 

 troduced and existing in England are so seldom seen, or are 

 so few in number, that their beauty and utility are not ap- 

 preciated ; and, therefore, not being sought after, no thought 

 is taken of them, or to add to their number by propagation 

 or farther introductions. It is time that such a state of 

 things should cease, for it does, as Mr. Eobson says, litth 

 honour to our discernment ; and now that the subject has 

 been fairly broached, a discussion of it may not be without 

 good results. 



What ordinary pen can adequately express the glory of 

 the forest trees, or describe their beauty, their majesty, nay, 

 their grandeur? They are the men of the ve^fetable creation, 

 and as such claim all the honour due to majesty and strength. 

 Nor is it altogether necessary to descant too much in praise 

 of things simply as they seem in the columns of a Journal, 

 where the main object is rather a sober discussion of useful 

 truths, and to elicit facts of utility whether they be to afford 

 innocent pleasm-e or to contribute to an economic purpose. 

 In either case trees stand out prominently for notice. Their 

 size, form, diversity of foliage, and in many cases the beauti- 

 ful flowers with which they are in one or other season of the 

 year adorned, are all points affording the highest gratifi- 

 cation, and must strike the most careless observer even ; 

 while the solid comforts we derive from their fruit, timber, 

 bark, gum, resin, and other products are too obvious to 

 require enumeration. Such being among the conspicuous 

 characteristics of trees, ought we to rest satisfied with what 

 ,we possess ? And while the remotest regions gf the earth 



are searched to add new charms to our greenhouses, con- 

 servatories, and flower gardens, can no addition be made to 

 our parks and woodlands ? 



These inquiries have been only partially responded to — 

 that is, we have received numerous additions to our hardy 

 trees, but all of similar character. At the same time these 

 additions bear striking evidence of the enterprise and courage 

 that has been the means of enriching our land with them, 

 for there is no region in the north or south temperate zones, 

 or mountain district in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, 

 that has not supplied fresh varieties of the Coniferee, as the 

 numerous Pineturas amply testify. 



Though striving to awaken interest and immediate action 

 in the work we have before us — -and in this we I solicit per- 

 mission to include all true, zealous, and enlightened friends 

 of horticulture — let us not depreciate the stately symmetrical 

 Conifer; let us give it all the consideration it deserves; let 

 us fully acknov.'ledge its ornamental qualities, and avail our- 

 selves of its utility ; but let it not monopolise our whole 

 thought in its relation to arboriculture ; let it have its share, 

 and full share ; for how could we dispense with the least jot of 

 marvellous beauty that is brought to our view in the lovely 

 forms we now possess, reminding ns of distant scenery (but 

 faintly, perhaps), which few, very few of us can ever hope to 

 see, and still more of the wondrous works of Him who made 

 all things ? But for the argument, or rather hypothesis in- 

 .duced in the article above referred to. If the most distant 

 countries of t)ie world can famish so many additions to the 

 pinetum, are there not deciduous trees there in a similar 

 proportion as in other countries, and equally varied in 

 character, and which can give increased variety to our 

 own species, and add new charms to our woodland scenery ? 

 Let us hope that the noble enterprise that has accomplished 

 the one may achieve the other, and that speedily. 



It is but too true that the introduction of fresh kinds of 

 deciduous trees has been grievously overlooked. It is rather 

 commonplace to ask how a park would look with all Conifers, 

 or even with a majority of them. It is too well known how 

 monotonous is the sight of a Fir or Pine plantation, and that 

 no comparison can be made between such and a natural 

 wood. Nor is it difficult to find a reason why exotic deci- 

 duous trees have not been more extensively planted of late 

 years. Nurserymen will not be at the pains to propagate 

 what they cannot sell ; proprietors cannot plant what 

 cannot be obtained ; but we are taug'nt by one of the 

 simplest rules of political economy that if the demand is 

 increased the supply will follow. A knowledge of the exist- 

 ence of useful and ornamental deciduous trees must be 

 made known, and a sense of their value entertained, then 

 we may hope to see the desired object attained. The great 

 work of Loudon remains upon the shelves year after year, 

 unconsulted and unthought of, and it must therefore become 

 one of the duties of gardening periodicals to spread abroad 

 this knowledge. 



It is not my purpose to investigate minutely the causes 

 that have led to the neglect of the more extensive planting 

 of deciduous trees. Ignorance on the part of botanists and 

 those who pursue botany as an intellectual amusement is 

 certainly not one of them. Before briefly stating the 

 arrangement of detail with which I propose to follow up 

 this article, I cannot forbear quoting the beautiful lines of 

 the poet. 



"1^0 tree in all the ^rove but has its charms, 

 Though each its hue peculiar ; paler some. 

 And of a wannish grey ; the Willow such, 

 And Poplar, tli;it with silvei' lines his leaf; 

 And Ash, f,ir ^t!etcni^g his uotbrnf^eous arm. 

 Ot deeper ^reen the Eim, and deeper htill. 

 Lord of the wood?, the U>n'i surviving Oa^. 

 Some glossy leav'd, and shining in the sun 

 Tiie Maple, and ihe Beech ut" oily nuts 

 Pruiific, and the Lime at dewy eve. 

 Diffusing odours; nor uunotic'd pass 

 The Sycauiore, capricious in attire. 

 Now green, now tawnj', and, erb autumn yet 

 Hath chang'd the wojds, in scarlet hoaours bright." 



No farther argument need be adduced in favour of the 

 restoration of aboriculture to its legitimate rank, and a. 

 healthy and vigorous existence. There is, or was, an arbori- 

 cultural committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 

 "What are they doing ? What have they done ? 



The particulars with which it is proposed to follow this 

 article will comprise an account of many of the exotic deoi- 



