November 30, 1876. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



461 



but if the tuber3 are planted at any other depth than 1J inch 

 they do not seem to succeed ; and hence I have aboard notched 

 to that depth, and make the row3 with it, eo as to keep the 

 crowns at the required depth. Then, again, they must not be 

 left too long, especially in wet weather, after they have bloomed 

 before the roots are taken up, for they very soon begin to start; 

 and if they do, that is certain death to the tubers : hence it 

 is best to put a covering over the bed to keep it from rain. 

 I this year adopted the plan of placing the awning which I 

 use for my two best Gladiolus beds over them ; this not only 

 kept them from rain when in bloom, but made the taking-up 

 a much easier and pleasanter process. 



I have little to say as to choice of soils. My own collection 

 numbers 320 varieties, but, as in most florists' flowers, there 

 are many so nearly alike that only the eye of a connoisseur 

 can detect the difference. But should anyone be moved to 

 undertake their culture they could not do better than place 

 themselves in the hands of Mr. Tyso, tell him the limits to 

 ■which they will go, and I will vouch for it thc-y will not be 

 dissatisfied with his method of treating them ; and I should 

 be glad to find that I have induced anyone to undertake 

 the culture of a flower which is associated with my earliest 

 garden love, and of the intrinsic merits of which I think so 

 highly.— D., Deal. 



DECIDUOUS TKEES AND SHEUBS.— No. 4. 



Larch (Larix europsea) is perhaps the most generally useful 

 of timber trees, and is bIbo ornamental ; but, as generally 

 planted closely with other trees, the beauty of the Larch is 

 not apparent. There is no objection to grouping the trees in 

 masses, planting Scotch Firs, Austrian and Corsican Pines 

 on the higher ground, and the Larch and Spruce separating 

 the masses ; and where commanding positions do not exist for 

 the Pines, much may be done by grouping the subjects rather 

 than disposing the trees equally over the whole surface. By 

 one mode W9 obtain distinctness of view with variety, and with 

 the other indistinctness — monotony. Similar remarks apply 

 to a mixed hardwood plantation of Oak, Aeh, Elm, Sycamore, 

 &3. If taste "be essential in every industry, in none is it of 

 more importance than arboriculture. 



In ornamental planting Larch has been singularly neglected. 

 Only in a few instances are perfect specimens to be seen, 

 yet what finer object can be in spring than a Larch 90 or 

 more feet in height towering upward in graceful conical form, 

 its branches starting at right angles from the stem, then 

 gradually curving downward, anon near the extremity curving 

 upward, from which emanate the graceful drooping spray 

 clothed with soft green leaves and studded with its many 

 incipient crimson cones ? In autumn its foliage assumes a 

 yellow, often an amber, tint, and is effective in association 

 with th3 "frosted" foliage of Piceas and the darker hues of 

 Pinuses. Plant Larch ; it is the best of nurses for other trees, 

 and is adapted for ornamental purposes. There aro ample 

 materials for a group, for besides the common Larch are the 

 Bed American (L. americana, syn. microcarpa) ; the singular 

 Sikkim (L. Grimthiana) ; the buBhy Dahurian (L. dahurica) ; 

 and the Golden (Pseudo-Larix), the foliage of which in spring 

 is light green, changing in autumn to a beautiful golden- 

 yellow. 



The Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distichum), is a very 

 handsome pyramidal tree, with foliage of exquisite loveliness 

 from its fineness and autumn tints. This tree does not suc- 

 ceed in an exposed situation, preferring a free open soil and 

 moist, but free from stagnant water. T. sinense is very 

 elegant, its shoots having a feathery appearance, drooping in 

 a graceful manner. 



Deciduous trees with umbrageous heads are best as standards 

 with clear stems of not less than C feet, nor exceeding 10 feet, 

 and having finely-formed heads. Trees of this description 

 tell well in parks either in groups or singly. Some of the 

 most desirable are Maples, particularly the Norway Maple 

 (Acer platanoides), which is of rapid growth, and has fine 

 bold foliage. 50 feet. The Scarlet Maple (A. rubrum) having 

 finely tinted leaves in spring and richer tints in autumn, 

 40 feet ; it is a little less free in growth than the former. The 

 North American ally, Virginian Bed Maple (A. virginicum 

 rubrum), though of less growth is more handsome (20 to 

 30 feet), and appears to need moderate shelter. Sycamore 

 (A. pseudo-plantanuf) is good in a bleak situation, being of 

 rapid growth and making a handsome head of bold foliage, 

 and endures the sea breezes well. 50 feet. Its variegated form 



is not so free in growth, and yet grows fairly in an exposed 

 situation. It is very fine, its foliage contrasting well with 

 the Purple-leaved Sycamore (A. paeudo-platanus purpureom). 

 Both 40 feet. They will Eueeeed in almost any soil, and make 

 a fine group. 



Hoese Chestnut. — Grand for avenues and noble for parks. 

 In an exposed situation the trees do not do well, not even the 

 common (iEsculus Hippccastanum), otherwise thc-y are very 

 free in growth and beautiful, alike from their flowers and 

 foliage. 40 fe6t. A double whit3 and double red (30 feet) 

 do not grow so strongly as the species, and of leBeer growth 

 still is the scarlet (iEoulus rubictmda). 20 feet. These, with 

 the variegated (jEsculus Hippocastanum foliis variegatis) form 

 a very effeotive mass. In any soil freed of water they thrive, 

 but flourish best in medium-textured loam overlying gravel. 



Limes do not succeed in high exposed situations, growing 

 very slowly; but the better forms of the species (Tiliaeuropa?a) 

 — viz., red-twigged (T. europasa sanguinea), and yellow-twigged 

 (T. europosa aurea) must supersede the common kind. 60 feet. 

 Limes are fine subjects for avenues and park scenery. The- 

 red-twigged variety is the best. 



Elii. — Desirable alike for avenues and paik scenery, and 

 one of the very few trees that thrive amid the smoke of towns, 

 adapting itself also to a variety of soils. English Elm (Ulmus 

 oampettiif) does fairly in a high and exposed situation ; 

 Wyeh Elm (U. montana) has dense foliage and a fine tufted 

 appearance. Of the English varieties the upright growth of 

 the Exeter Elm (U. campestris fastigiata, syn. etricta), and 

 the Purple-leaved (U. campestris purpurea) are very fine, and 

 associated with the variegated Elm form a Eplendid group. 

 All 80 feet, except the Purple-leaved and variegated, which 

 are 40 feet. 



Ash. — The tints of the Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) in autumn 

 contrast favourably with the deeper tints of Oaks. The Ash 

 is not in favour with planters, and less so with agriculturists. 

 Nevertheless, it is one of the most valuable of timber trees, 

 and from an ornamental point of view is not undesirable, 

 though its late leafage and early fall of the foliage tell against 

 it. 80 feet. F. aucubrafolia, with finely variegated leaves, is 

 effective. 30 to 40 feet. And the Walnut-leaved (F. jaglandi- 

 folia) of North America is worthy a place. 40 feet. The ABhes 

 do not thrive in high exposed situations, but require a good soil 

 and a moist situation. Ornus europasus, or Flowering Asb, 

 is a fine free-flowering tree, desirable for ornamental planting 

 to a limited extent. 30 to 40 feet. 



Beech. — Noblest of landscape trees, succeeding in a bleak 

 high exposure. It prospers near the coast, and on dry sandy 

 or chalky soils, or moorland, water not being etagnant. The 

 delicate tint of th6 tender leaves of the common Beech (Fagus 

 sjlvatica) light up the landscape in early summer, and afford 

 a good contrast with the Purple-leaved Beech (F. Bylvatica 

 purpurea), the latter being particularly fine for scenic effect. 

 There are varieties of both the common and Purple Beech with 

 upright branches and twigs, and others of a more or less pen- 

 dulous character. The latter form is much the best, being of 

 a deeper purple in the leaves. Common Beech attains to a 

 height of 70 fe6t, and the Purple to 40 to 60 feet. The Crested 

 or Curled-leaved Beech (F. sylvatica cristata) is curious, being 

 dwarf and dense in growth, 15 feet; Fern-leaved (F. sylvatica 

 asplenifolia) grows but slowly, attaining to about 30 feet; and 

 the Cut-leaved (F. sylvatica incisa) is pretty. 15 feet. These 

 form an effective group. 



Oak requires deep and good soil. The English Oak (Quercus 

 pedunculata) i3 a noble tree for parks. 60 feet. It and the 

 Turkey Oak (Q. cerris), 50 feet, in association with the Varie- 

 gated Turkey (Q. csrris variegata), 30 feet, and Scarlet Oak 

 (Q. coccinea), 50 feet, the leaves of which die off coppery 

 scarlet, produce a fine effect. Marsh Oak (Q. palustris) does 

 well on moist ground, having for an Oak a light, even elegant 

 appearance. Its leaves in autumn pass through various tints, 

 dying off oraDge-red. Tho Golden Oak (Q. pedunculata Con- 

 cordia) has bold foliage of a golden hue, and is effective in 

 contrast with the dark, glossy, green foliage of Q. pannonica. 



Acacia. — This is much neglected, for being of quick growth, 

 having a very elegant appearance, and being a fine-flowering 

 tree is much more desirable for avenues than denser-foliaged 

 trees. Acacias succeed fairly in the environs of towns, and suc- 

 ceed in most soils. The light green of the foliage is maintained 

 throughout the summer. Basson's Acacia (Bobinia Bessoni- 

 ana) is very noble and quick-growing; Decaisne's (B. pseudo- 

 acacia Decaisneana) is also a vigorous grower with rose-coloured 

 flowers; the common Acacia (R. pseudo-acacia) is not so much 



