174 



JOURNAL OP HOETICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. t Febraary 28, im. 



THE AEBOEETUM— DECIDUOUS TEEES. 



(Continued from page 133.) 

 a:scuLUS (the hokse-chestntjt). 



The Horse-chestnut is a tree of the largest size, and ranks 



among the most beautiful of all onr deciduous trees, both for 



its magnificent foliage and remartable flowers. It is the 



best-known of exotic trees, and 



has been more extensively planted 



than any other of a purely orna- 

 mental character. So frequently 



is it met with, that the fact of its 



not being a native would not be 



suspected by others than those 



who have made plants a study, 



and subject of inquiry. The 



Horse-chestnut, and its kindred 



tribe, the Pavias, are best adapted 



to light soils, upon which they 



will thrive, although they may be 



sterile ; in tenacious clays they 



are always stunted and unhealthy. 

 -EsCFtrS HIPPOCASTAJNTJM is the 



common Horse-chestnut, and is 

 too well known to need description. 

 Several varieties of it have been 

 raised in different nurseries, and 

 distributed under various names. 

 In some instances the distinction 

 hardly appears sufficient to war- 

 rant the assumption of the dif- 

 ference ascribed to them. The 

 following may be regarded as 

 being the beat. 



£. TTubicunda differs from M. 

 hippocastanum by its leaves being 

 fuller and more uneven on the 

 surface, and of a deeper green. 

 The tree is also smaller, and of 

 less vigorous growth, the flowers 

 have more red than any of the 

 species, and planted as a single 

 specimen on a lawn, or in a park, 

 this tree is without doubt the 

 most ornamental of the family. 

 .5). rubicunda is sold in some nur- 

 series by the name of -E. coccinea, 

 rosea, and camea. 



.S. OHioENsis is found wild on 

 the banks of the Ohio, in North 

 America. It differs from the com- 

 mon kind in having larger and 

 more undulating leaves, and its 

 firuit is said to be about half the 

 size of that of £. hippocastanum. 

 Loudon was of opinion that it is 

 nothing more than a variety of 

 the common species, and far in- 

 ferior to it in point of beauty. 

 By another authority it is stated 

 that it has never flowered in Eng- 

 land, bat this is not correct, since 

 one of those in the Eoyal Hor- 

 ticultural Society's G^en at 

 ChiBwick, is recorded to have 

 bloomed in 1835, and very pro- 

 bably since. 



£. GLABRA, another North Ame- 

 rican species, of which little is 

 known, is described as a low tree 

 with leaflets of a pale green, very 

 smooth. " The whole plant is com- 

 paratively glabrous, and even the 

 fruit partakes of that quality." 

 It would thus seem to be a dis- 

 tinct variety, but it must be con- 

 fessed that more information is necessary to bc^ablo to 

 describe it accurately. 

 £. PALLIDA is a native of the foreste of Kentucky, in 



I'aTla flara. 



North America, and resembles the preceding. "It is of 

 somewhat more robust growth, and its leaves are not quite 

 so smooth." The proximity of its native home to that of 

 -£. ohioensis, and iE. glabra, would 

 suggest a doubt of its being a 

 distinct species. 



A cut-leaved variety of the 

 Horse-chestnut is sold under the 

 name of £. ladniata, and others 

 bearing the names of iB. nigra, 

 -E. prcecox, and ^. torbiosa, have 

 been mentioned. The faoUity with 

 which plants may be raised from 

 seed has, undoubtedly, produced 

 variations, and in so handsome a 

 genus as the JSsculus, such can- 

 not be unacceptable, and if really 

 good and distinct, would be appre- 

 ciated, if arboriculture can be re- 

 stored to its proper rank and share 

 of attention. 



PAVIA. 



The Pavias are so closely allied 

 to ^scuhis, that it seems best 

 to describe them with the latter, 

 although it is a departure from 

 the alphabetical order originally 

 intended to be followed. The 

 Pavias differ only from .Ssculus 

 in their converging petals and 

 spineless fr-uit .; they are also much 

 smaller in size. It has been com- 

 plained that the Pavias are short- 

 lived, but if they are raised fr-om 

 seed, instead of being grafted 

 upon the Horse-chestnut, which is 

 very ft-equently done, it will be 

 found that they not only endure 

 for a longer period, but attain a 

 stronger and finer habit. It is 

 true that the propagation by seed 

 would render them liable to vary 

 slightly, but that defect, if any, 

 would be more than counter- 

 balanced by an improved plant. 

 All the species known in England 

 are from North America, where 

 they are called Buck's Eye Chest- 

 nuts ; but in the colder parts of 

 India two species have been dis- 

 covered, called Pavia indica, and 

 P. punduana, which may be found 

 capable of existing in our climate, 

 and may add some new feature to 

 the genus. 



Loudon remarks on the .ffisculus 

 and Pavia, " That nurserymen who 

 propagate varieties of these and 

 other select-flowering trees, ought 

 always to keep specimen plants 

 in their own grounds, from which 

 to take scions for the propagation 

 of varieties remarkable for some 

 peculiar or distinctive feature. 

 Such varieties should not be raised 

 from seed ; because, though there 

 can be no doubt but that the 

 progeny would bear a general 

 resemblance to the parent, yet 

 the particular feature for which 

 tho variety was cultivated might 

 be wanting. Early and late va- 

 rieties of all showy-flowered trees are very desirable, be- 

 cause they prolong tho season of blooming. Early-leafing 

 varieties of trees, and trees which retain their leaves late 



