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JOUENAL OP HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ December 14 1876. 



Acacias in their weeping form are very picturesque trees. 

 Eobinia Peeudo-acacia pendula, however, requires shelter. 

 The most graceful of weeping trees is Gleditschia Bugoti pen- 

 dula (Weeping Acacia), but it also requires a sheltered situa- 

 tion. Weeping Beech (Fagus sylvatica pendula) forms a 

 pendulous pyramid, having a fine effect, and does well in light 

 and chalky soils. 



The Bose-flowered Chinese Weeping Cherry (Cerasus chi- 

 nensis pendula), and the weeping form of Bird Cherry (C. Pa- 

 dua pendula), may be mentioned along with the Weeping Bose- 

 flowering Thorn (Cratiegus rosea pendula), and Weeping La- 

 burnum (Cytisus Laburnum pendula), as fine-flowering trees of 

 moderate growth ; also the Weeping Variegated Thorn (Cra- 

 taegus oxycantha pendula variegata). I have already on page 

 462 mentioned the weeping forms of Willow and Birch, to 

 which may be added as suitable for moist ground the Weeping 

 ABpen (Populus tremula pendula). 



Few weeping trees are more conspicuous by their flowers in 

 summer and berries in autumn than a well-formed head of 

 Weeping Mountain Ash (Pyrus aucnparia pendula). The 

 Weeping Lime (Tilia europasa pendula) is noble in its every 

 aspect, but it does not succeed in an exposed situation, which 

 applies generally to weeping trees, but to this in particular. 

 The Weeping Oak (Quercus pendunculata pendula) and the 

 Weeping Walnut (Juglans regia pendula), are fine pendulous 

 trees of large growth, both requiring good soil. 



In Elms we have some noble pendulous trees, the palm 

 being borne off by the Camperdown Elm (Ulmus montana 

 pendula var.), and the fine silver-edged foliage of Ulmus eam- 

 pestris pendula elegantissima may be noted as very beautiful ; 

 but this with the Ulmus campestris viminalis variegata is not 

 very free in growth, appearing to require sheltered situations. 



There is a Nut with pendulous shoots — namely, Corylus avel- 

 lana pendula, very pretty, and a Weeping Almond (Amygdalns 

 communis pendula). A pendulous Horse Chestnut (.JEscnlus or 

 Pavia pendula) shall close my notes on weeping trees, which I 

 will dismiss with the observation that their rounded heads 

 are desirable for affording variety and breaking and softening 

 lines that would otherwise be abrupt and hard. 



Trees named as suitable for standards are equally desirable 

 as dwarfs in ornamental grounds where they have no hin- 

 drances to their branches reaching to the ground. I have 

 omitted some trees which I now wish to note — namely, Acer 

 Negundo variegata, the most beautiful of all variegated trees, 

 having its Ash-like leaves effectively variegated with white. 

 It is effective in the foreground of dark-foliaged trees, and 

 very useful in flower gardens. Unfortunately it does not suc- 

 ceed in a cold exposed situation, and does best in light soils, 

 though I have seen it very fine in moist soils and sheltered 

 situations. 15 to 20 feet. 



Catalpas are seldom seen. C. syringaafolia is a very fine- 

 flowering tree, having white and yellow flowers in July or 

 August ; its variety aurea having yellowish leaves and flowers. 

 Bunge's Catalpa is the finest of the genus ; it (C. Bungei) 

 forming an umbrella-shaped or half-globular head of massive 

 bright green foliage ; it is very suitable for display upon grass. 

 15 to 20 feet. 



Ailanthus glandulosa can only be mentioned as being a 

 handsome tree where it succeeds, but it does not do so in a 

 cold situation ; yet in a fairly sheltered place and in well- 

 drained soil flourishes admirably. 20 feet. 



Euonymus europasus (Spindle Tree) is very hardy, but only 

 handsome from the bright colour of its fruit ; the white- 

 fruited variety (E. europasus fructu-albo) being very orna- 

 mental. The opening capsules are suitable for bouquets. 

 10 to 15 feet. 



Sophora japonica in its finest form— namely, pendula, is 

 very beautiful, flowering in August onward. In other than 

 sheltered situations it does not succeed well, being out by 

 frost, but grows freely again from the ripened wood. In well- 

 drained soil it is most likely to do well. 12 feet. 



Shbtjbs. — For certainty of withstanding winds whether from 

 sea or land nothiDg can excel the common Elder (Sambucus 

 nigra), and it luxuriates in smoky town gardens. It is too 

 common for gardens, and even shrubberies, but it may be 

 useful for purposes of shelter. The Scarlet-berried (S. race- 

 mosa) is from its clusters of red berries very ornamental in 

 late summer; and the Variegated Silver-striped (S. nigra varie- 

 gata), and Gold-edged (S. nigra aurea), with the Cut-leaved 

 (S. nigra lacinata) are worth a place in shrubberies. 8 to 12 feet. 

 Snowberry (Symphoricarpus raoemosa) is noticeable from 

 its twiggy spreading growth and very beautiful white berries in 



autumn, and will grow almost anywhere, even under tre«s. 

 S. montana has small leaves, and does well on high ground in 

 peaty soil. The Variegated (S. glomerata variegata) is per- 

 haps a little more select, but because some plants grow freely 

 anywhere and anyhow they are in small request, 4 to 6 feet. 



Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is very ornamental 

 in wood, haviDg a fine silvery aspect ; its yellow flowers are not 

 remarkable, but its clusters of amber berries are very orna- 

 mental in late summer and autumn ; to secure these it is 

 necessary to plant male and female tree3. It succeeds well in 

 sandy soils or others on the coast, where it grows much taller 

 than inland. In high and exposed situations it does not attain 

 more than a few feet in height, but in "fevourable situations 

 10 to 12 feet. 



Dogwood, after the leaves have fallen, has from its rich 

 red twigs a very striking effect, especially in wet ground and 

 in association with water. The Bed (Cornus sanguinea) is 

 very fine, of which there is a deeper-coloured variety — atro- 

 sanguinea. The Siberian Scarlet (C. siberica) is even finer. 

 The Dogwoods seen in their leafless state across water are 

 simply grand; but it is masses that tell, and not dabs of 

 colour by isolation frittered into nothingness. I have before 

 mentioned the very beautiful Variegated Dogwood (C. mascula 

 variegata) as being as beautiful in foliage as the others are in 

 the colour of their bark. The trees do well in any soil, but 

 like it strong and moist. 8 to 10 feet. 



The Purple Filbert (Corylus avellana purpurea or atro- 

 purpurea) has leaves as dark and rich as the Purple Beech, 

 and is very effective ; the Cut-leaved Filbert (C. lacinata) is 

 also attractive. They do well in high or low situations when 

 free from stagnant water in the soil. Tamarisk is very valuable 

 for coast-planting, but inland it is of doubtful hardiness. The 

 French (Tamarix galliea) is more tender than the German 

 (T. germaniea). They have a neat feathery appearance. 6 to 

 S feet. — G. Abbey. 



A MINIATURE ORCHARD. 



" I have a piece of ground 150 yards long and 40 yards wide 

 — a kind of valley, sloping from the centre to the sides. My 

 house is in the centre of the valley. The ground is good and 

 well drained, and I desire to occupy it with miniature fruit 

 trees which will look well and yield fruit, principally for market 

 purposes. I should like an equal number of Apples, Pears, and 

 Plums. I am advised to plant the trees 6 feet apart in the 

 following fifty varieties, which are recommended as being the 

 cream of a good catalogue. My view is that fifty varieties are 

 too many, and I should be glad to have such advice as could be 

 rendered through the Journal, and which would also probably 

 be useful to other amateurs." 



The following, from one who has had experience in fruit- 

 growing, is in reply to the above letter. 



Had you sent a copy of Mr. H 's letter to half a dozen 



of your correspondents you would have received as many 

 different replies, and probably not two of them would have been 

 alike. This proves that there is yet much to be learned on the 

 question of useful fruits, and that discussion on the merits and 

 peculiarities of different varieties is still needed. But although 

 all the replies would almost certainly have differed from each 

 other in the choice of sorts, yet I think all would have agreed, 

 when considering the object in view (an orchard to " look 

 well" and produce fruit principally "for market"), that 

 " fifty varieties are too many." 



For myself I should reduce the number considerably, even to 

 the extent of excluding forty of them, retaining only ten. 

 Others might not advise the exclusion of so many, or, if they 

 did, might not retain the ten of my choice. My view is that 

 first of all if the trees on the sloping sides of the valley are to 

 " look well " from the residence they must be planted in rows, 

 each being of one variety. I presume that a walk will lead 

 down the centre of the fruit garden or " miniature orchard," 

 and in that ease I should plant the front rows on both sides of 

 the walk with the same variety, choosing Cox's Orange Pippin. 

 Apple. This is a cornpaot-growing free-bearing variety, and 

 the rows would not oDly "look well," but the fruit would sell 

 well in the market. The next two rows — that is, one on each 

 side and at the back of the Apples — I would also have the 

 same, choosing Bivers' Early Prolific Plum, the trees of which 

 would also "look well," and the fruit would sell well. The 

 third rows on either side I would again have Apples — one row 

 of Lord Snffifld imd one row of Dumelow's Seedling, whioh I 

 consider as being about the best of early and late culinary 



