4i2 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB, 



[ November 33, 1376. 



seen as it deserves. E. pyramidalis growa upright, and is 

 highly ornamental. 



Biech. — An attractive tree, thriving well in wet ground, even 

 bogs, and is particularly fine near water. The White Birch 

 (Betula alba) associates well with Pines in wet moorland, and 

 is fine everywhere. The Fern-leaved Weeping Birch (B. alba 

 incisa pendula) is very ornamental. 



Alders are suitable for skirting rivulets, doing well in wet 

 swampy ground, and are appropriate for association with 

 water. The common Alder (Alnus glutinosa), the Cut-leaved 

 (A. glutinosa laeiniata), and Hoary-leaved (A. ineana) are the 

 most desirable. 



Popla.es are subjects of the valleys, preferring open moist 

 soil. Though they do not survive long in town3, their rapid 

 growth renders them de-irable. I have seen the Lombardy 

 Poplar thriving in a smoky atmosphere where the Black Italian 

 (70 feet), Balsam (70 feet), and Ontario (70 feet) had suc- 

 cumbed. Lombardy (Populus dilatata or fastigiata), 70 feet, 

 from its erect spire-like habit is valuable for forming a screen 

 where spreading trees would be objectionable. The Silver- 

 leaved (P. alba nivea), 40 feet, is particularly fine, its clear 

 silvery-coloured foliage having a distinct effect. 



Willows do well on poor wet land, and grow rapidly; but 

 except in their weepiog form their beauty is not striking. In 

 winter, however, the wood of some of them when seen in a 

 mass is ornamental, particularly tli9 scarlet, purple, and yellow- 

 wooded. Salix Solomoni is n hardy form of the Babylonian 

 Willow ; it, Kilmarnock, and the American Weeping Willow 

 are effective on islaids, or otherwise associated with water. 



Spanish Chestnut (Castanea vesca) requires strong soil 

 and a flat country, not succeeding in high ground unless 

 sheltered. For parks it is a noble bold-foliaged tree. 50 feet. 



Plane. — Like the Spanish Chestnut Piane3 do not succeed in 

 high exposed situations, but will thrive in most soils, climate 

 being favourable. The Western Plane (Platanus occidental) 

 is a fine tree of free growth, with ample pleasing green foliage, 

 having a very ornamental appearance, and succeeds in towns 

 bstter than any other tree. 70 feet. The Oriental Plane (P. 

 orientalis) is not nearly so free in growth as the Western Plane, 

 but is nevertheless good in any but exposed situations. 50 feet. 



Walnut. — R:quires good soil. It does not succeed in high and 

 exposed situations, and is not particularly desirable as a land- 

 scape tree. The Cut-leaved Walnut (Jnglans regia laciniata) 

 has very ornamental foliage. 20 feet. 



I have thus noticed some of the most desirable of useful 

 and ornamental trees which are suitable for parks and rural 

 scenery generally, and for association with them are smaller 

 trees mostly ornamental for their flowers or fruit. Some cf 

 the most desirable are Thorns, which succeed admirably in 

 and around large towns. Some have very beautiful flowers 

 filling the air with fragrance, and others have not only fine 

 blossom but highly coloured berries (haws). The finest of all 

 for flowers are Paul's Double Scarlet, Double Pink, and Double 

 White respectively ; Crataegus oxyacantha coceinea plena, C. 

 oxyacantha rosea plena, and C. oxyacantha plena. C. fruetu- 

 flavo has yellow berries ; C. grandiflora, large flowers like a 

 Mespilus ; C. ccccinea, fine large fruit. C. coceinea corallina 

 is even finer. C. glandnloss purpurea has reddish foliage. 

 C. cordata splendens has very bright shining leaves. C- Lee- 

 ana is a fine variety of the Tansy-leaved Thorn (C. tanaceti- 

 folia). The finest of the genus is probably C. stricta, which 

 grows erect, and is therefore valuable as a Ecreen in town 

 gardens, and for decorative effect in churchyards and ceme- 

 teries. All 15 to 20 feet. 



Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier Botryapium) in early spring 

 is very effective from its abundant white flowers, but does not 

 succeed in exposed situations. 15 feet. 



Chebby. — The common Cherry (Cerams avium) is fine in 

 spring from its many fair white blossoms ; but the Double- 

 blossomed (C. avium multiplex) with its large pure white 

 blossoms is much superior. 15 to 20 feet. Few trees are more 

 ornamental in Epring than the Bird Cherry (Carasus Padus). 

 A tree of this with a round head 30 feet through its branches 

 and 20 feet high is no despicable object. The Cornish Bird 

 Chercy (C. Padus rubra), with the Aucuba-leaved variety 

 (C. Padus aueubaefolia), are eff-ctive. They do well in most 

 soils. 20 to 30 feet. 



Almonds like a sandy or well-drained soil. They blossom 

 freely, and are the first to gladden us in spring with their 

 fine rosy flowers. The common Almond (Amygdalus com- 

 munis) or fruit-bearing, and the double-flowered (A. communis 

 flore-pleno) are good. 15 feet. 



Laburnum. — The Scotch Laburnum (Cytisug alpmus) 13 

 much the best, its long racemes of bright jeliow flowers being 

 very effective. 30 feet. Common (Cytisus Laburnum) is 

 smaller in every way. The purple-flowered (C. Laburnum pur- 

 pureus) from its colour, and C. Laburnum autumnahs by its 

 season of flowering, are desirable. 20 feet. Common as La- 

 burnums are, they deserve a place near every dwelling. The 

 trees do well near smoky towns. 



Pteus. — Mountain Ash (Pyrus aucuparia) succeeds in high 

 and exposed situations ; its elegant foliage and bunches of red 

 berries being effective in the autumn. 30 feet. The White 

 Beam (P. Aria) is no despicable object, but is surpassed by its 

 variety P. Aria corymbiflora ; and the wild Service Tree (P. tor- 

 minalis) does well in hilly or mountain districts. 



Apple and Pear trees do little good in smoky town gardens, 

 but I have not seen anything finer in the way of blossom than 

 those are, whilst the fruit of Crabs is very effective in the 

 landscape in autumn. What finer in antumn than the highly 

 coloured, crimson, small shining fruit of the Fairy Apple, or 

 the larger fruit and as highly coloured of the Imperial Crab ? 

 both varieties of the common Crab (Pyrus Mains). The Sibe- 

 rian Crab (P. prunifolia) is truly a lovely object in spring with 

 its pink blossoms, and highly ornamental in autumn when 

 loaded with its small highly coloured fruit. The red-flowering 

 Crab (P. floribunda) yields to no other in its season, which 

 with the Chinese (P. spectabilis) , vars. flore-pleno, Eaido, 

 Imperialis, and rosea flore-pleno have quite a charming effect 

 from the profusion of their beautiful blossoms. The Pears, 

 especially the double-flowered (Pyrus communis flore-pleno), 

 Bollwylleriana, and precox, are fine in spring and ought to 

 have a place in ornamental planting. 



Judas Tbee (Cercis Siliquastrum) is attractive by its purple 

 flowers. There is also a white variety. I regret to add they 

 do not succeed except in sheltered situations. 



Cotoneaster FEiGiDA does well in a. moderately sheltered 

 situation on high ground, and its bright scarlet berrie3 are very 

 handsome in autumn. 20 feet. 



Kolreuteeia paniculata is very ornamental alike by its 

 leaves, mode of growth, and long spikes of yellow flowers. 

 20 feet. Unfortunately it only succeeds in sheltered situations 

 and well-drained soils. 



Tulip Tbee (Liriodendron tnlipifera) is a large tree with 

 dense Plane-like foliage, and yellow and red Magnolia-like 

 flowers in June. It does not attain to large dimensions unless 

 in favourably sheltered situations, where it occasionally attains 

 to a height of 60 feet. 



Magnolia acuminata ha3 a fine effect from its candelabra- 

 like habit, bold open foliage, and yellow and green flowers. 

 It requires moderate shelter, and with that does well in high 

 well-drained ground. I have seen a tree of this some 45 feet 

 in height on the Welsh mountains. M. glanca ia much more 

 dwarf, and does well in wet ground of a peaty character, but 

 requires shelter. 15 to 20 feet. Of M. glauca there is a white- 

 flowered variety — viz., M. glauca Thomsoniana, the flowera 

 being fragrant. It also needa a sheltered situation and peaty 

 soil. 



Salisbubia adiantitolia ia very distinct in foliage and 

 pleasing, but is unfortunately of slow growth, except in well- 

 drained soils in sheltered situations. 20 feet. 



Mulbebby. — This has a distinct appearance, but its period 

 of leafage is short. The White Muloerry (Morus alba) is the 

 freest grower. 30 feet. But the Black (M. nigra) is the most 

 desirable. 20 feet. 



Peunus mybobalana (the Cherry Plum) has large white 

 flowera in early spring, having a very effective appearance. 

 20 feet. The double Sloe (Prunu3 spinosa flore-pleno) ia a 

 mass of white in early spring ; quit9 charming. 10 feet. 



I will close my list with the very distinct and elegant Stag's- 

 horn Sumach (Rhus typhina), very ornamental from its erect 

 dark-coloured flower heads and conspicuous foliage, especially 

 in autumn, when the leaves before dropping change to a very 

 beautiful purplish-red. — G. Abbey. 



DIOSPTEOS KAKI. 

 Xoub correspondent, " G. S., : ' asks some questions about 

 our fruit of Diospyros Rati. A friend who knew the Diospyros 

 in Japan assured me that the fruit was excellent. I was there- 

 fore much disappointed at the unpalatableness of our speci- 

 mens ; I believe that there are many varieties in Japan. If 

 our first cultivated Apple tasted as a dessert fruit had been 

 Yorkshire Greening or Norfolk Beefing we should have 



