556 



Journal of horticulture and cottage gardener. 



[ December 28, 1876. 



is heightened when associated with the lighter foliage of the 

 popular variegated Maples. Of the Japanese Maples Acer 

 polymorphum — the varieties A. p. dissectum, A. p. palmati- 

 fidum, A. p. roseum marginatum, A. p. atropurpnrenm, and 

 A. p. sanguineum are all notioeable for their rich red and 

 crimson tints or their chastely divided Fern-like foliage. 

 Fears have been entertained lest the Maples should not prove 

 hardy ; but they are certainly hardy in the exposure of Coombe, 

 for I noticed one shrub-like tree particularly which must have 

 endured the severity of many winters. Differing greatly from 

 the Maples are the Japanese Evergreen Oaks, which are also 

 totally distinct from others of the genus to which they belong. 

 Quercus bambusfefolium is exceedingly distinct ; its foliage is 

 3 or i inches long and less than an inch broad and of a cheer- 

 ful light green colour, rendering it conspicuous at a distance. 

 It is perfectly hardy, and is worthy of a place on lawns and in 

 shrubberies. Widely dissimilar is Q. Burgerii in three varie- 

 ties, with large smooth glossy foliage resembling that of Mag- 

 nolias or Aucubas rather than of Oaks, and is very imposing. 

 We find here also an evergreen Plum, Prunus ilicifolius, a 

 novelty which is being watched with interest. We next pause 

 at a low dense-growing Bhrub with small foliage — Osmanthus 

 myrtifolius. The leaves are acutely cordate and pointed, 

 1J inch in length and half an inch broad, dark green and 

 glossy and very ornamental. We next come to another new 

 shrub of taller growth — Azara microphylla, which was in- 

 troduced by Messrs. Veitch from Valdivia. There is no doubt 

 of this shrub being quite hardy ; it is also a free grower and 

 graceful. Its leaves resemble somewhat those of the Coto- 

 neaater microphylla, and the sprays bear small orange-red 

 berries. The shrub is of upright habit with 6lender drooping 

 branches, and is worthy of a place in seleot collections. Yet 

 another new fruit-bearing shrub, Hymenanthera crassifolia, 

 is conspicuous in the nursery. It also has some resemblance 

 to the Cotoneaster, being of dwarf habit, having small foliage, 

 and is laden with berries, but they are white — yes, white, and 

 pearly as those of the Mistletoe and of the same size. For 

 mountain sides and rockwork this muBt be regarded as a very 

 seleot shrub where it can be viewed frcm below, and its 

 numerous and curious berries can be seen to advantage. A 

 flowering shrub of great promise, Olearia Haastii, is also being 

 established in large numbers. It was introduced from New 

 Zealand, and is quite hardy. It is most attractive and is 

 exceedingly fioriferous, every shoot bearing a bold terminal 

 head of white fragrant flowers. For the front rows of shrub- 

 beries, or even for pots for early spring flowering, thiB is a 

 decided acquisition. Grevillea rosmarinifolia is also most 

 elegant. Its narrow foliage is very chaste, and the sprays 

 are laden with small rosy scarlet flowers for six months of 

 the year. 



Intermixed with the evergreens and flowering shrubs are 

 many choice Conifers. Effective is Young's Golden Juniper, 

 a bright columnar shrub of great merit. Juniperus pyramid- 

 alis stricta is also exceedingly chaste, the foliage being of a 

 silvery hue, and very dense and attractive. It is worthy of 

 being grown in pots for select purposes of decoration. J. dru- 

 pacea is also distinct and handsome from its larger twiglets of 

 a glancouB hue. J. argentea and many others of the family 

 are aUo represented by many handsome speoimens. Cupres- 

 bub Lawsoni variegata, whioh originated here, and C. Law- 

 sonii gracilis glauca are constant in their variegation and 

 must not be lost eight of, neither must the close green variety 

 C. L. erecta viridiB. The Umbrella Pine, Sciadopytis verticil- 

 lata, is represented by many healthy specimens ; this Conifer 

 is so distinct and handsome that it must find its way into all 

 gardens sooner or later, and the sooner the better. There are 

 Piceas also, two of which not bo generally grown as they deserve 

 to be, P. bracteata and P. polita, the former conspicuous from 

 its bold dark green leaflets, and the latter from its handsome 

 habit Eomewhat resembling yet perfectly distinct from P. pin- 

 sapo, in being of a bright grass-green colour. Picea or Abies 

 polita is a Japanese Conifer of great merit and should be 

 planted where trees of this nature are valued. Abies Veitchii 

 and A. tsuga Hamburgana are also Japanese introductions, 

 and give promise of being distinct and valuable additions to 

 this ornamental genus. There are also Cryptomerias and Re- 

 tinosporas in this rich border, and the shrubs, &c, are relieved 

 with many fine clumps of the stately and beautiful Grass 

 Eulalia japonica. This is elegant and handsome, the stems 

 growing 5 feet high, and furnished with gracefully arching 

 leaves 2 to 3 feet long and an inoh broad, every leaf being 

 boldly and dearly striped with whi*;e on a bright green ground. 



This plant is perfectly hardy, and may be planted with confi- 

 dence in any garden or shrubbery. 



But we must look further down the valley, and here we come 

 upon larger numbers of Bmaller plants of many of the choice 

 subjects above named, and many more which are reluctantly 

 passed silently by. Here are beds of all the best of the Reti- 

 nosporas which produce a fine effect from the different hues of 

 their foliage. Few plants than these are more valuable for 

 winter decoration in vases on terraces, or in beds. The 

 accompanying figure of Retinospora obtusa gracilis aurea gives 

 a characteristic representation of this family, and speaks for 

 itself of their slender elegance. Still richer in its golden 

 hue, but of somewhat more rigid habit, is R. obtusa aurea. 

 So golden is this variety that groups of it may be seen a mile 

 distant — even a specimen growing in a quarter of Golden 

 Hollies was conspicuous. In its young state the plant is of 

 rather loose habit, but it improves as it attains size, and is one 

 of richest in colour of all ConiferB. No gardens where Conifers 

 are grown should be without this cheerful plant. R. plumosa 

 and plumosa aurea ; R. filicoides, truly fern-like and feathery, 

 R. filifera, R. ericoides, R. leptoclada, R. lycopodioides, and 

 R. squarrosa, the latter having a distinct steel-like tint, were 

 the most striking amongst these elegant miniature Conifers. 

 These in their small state and in conjunction with singularly 

 dwarf plants of the variegated EuonymuseB (which are here 

 largely grown), such as E. japonicus aureo-variegata, E. aureo- 

 marginatus, E. latifolius albo-marginatus, E. radicans varie- 

 gatus, and also Cryptomeria elegans if planted closely in choice 

 flower beds near to the windows of mansions, dividing the 

 colours with green- foliaged evergreens, would render these beds 

 beautiful throughout the winter months. Plants for this pur- 

 pose need only to be a few inches in height, and beds thus 

 planted (as seen here) resemble at a distance a garden of 

 flowers. 



We pass on through acres of Hollies in all the select varie- 

 gated forms, producing a rich effect. They are in plants from 

 a few inches high to perfect specimens — standards, pyramids, 

 and globes. Why are not these handsome glossy shrubs ex- 

 tensively planted? Too often only a very few are seen in 

 gardens, and these so distantly sprinkled that their effect is 

 lost, whereas if planted in groups and clumps they ceuld not 

 fail to add greatly to the beauty of lawns and shrubberies. 

 This is " Holly time," and the value of these evergreens is 

 seen in thousands of churches, homes, and gardens ; but not 

 many finer collections can be seen than in the home of the 

 Holly at Coombe Wood. We are now in the centre amongst 

 the Azaleas and Rhododendrons. These are alike numerous 

 and varied. Azalea pontioa and A. mollis are grown by thou- 

 sands in all the best varieties ; and Rhododendrons are yet 

 more numerous, and are remarkable for their health and pro- 

 spective profusion ef flowers. The soil growB them sturdily, 

 not over-luxuriantly ; and the smallest of dwarf plants and 

 handsome standards are alike furnished with buds almost on 

 every spray. 



Such is a general outline of this enjoyable nursery, or rather 

 a portion of it, for there are other separate divisions. For 

 instance, the stooling ground, where shrubs are increased by 

 layers ; Magnolias — M. conspicua, M. purpurea, the beautiful 

 M. Lenne, and others being here noticeable. There are en- 

 closures for seedlings, where Azaleas and Rhododendrons are 

 covering the ground thick as grass. There are enclosures for 

 cuttings of deciduouB trees, others for Ivy (a rich and varied 

 collection), in which Helix arborea elegantissima — unrivalled 

 for winter bedding — cannot be overlooked. There are beds of 

 Liliuma and Spirseas, a remarkable collection of Clematises, 

 and thousands of AmpelopBis Veitchii in pots to meet the 

 constant, demand. There are also Roses — an avenue perma- 

 nently planted, besides the disposable stock ; also a large and 

 well-arranged block of glass structures, in which Conifers in 

 countless thousands are propagated, and Roses in pots are in 

 surprising number. It is here too where the prize Hyacinths 

 are grown with whioh the firm has won so many honours. 

 The bulbs are now potted, and are placed in the open nursery 

 in their cocoa-nut fibre covering ; by-and-by they will be placed 

 in the houses to perfect their noble spikes — such spikes which 

 when once seen can never be forgotten. Coombe is a fine 

 nursery and well managed, a oredit alike to its owners and 

 their skilful and courteous manager, Mr. Dartnall. The 

 nursery is a little over a mile distant from Norbiton station. 

 It can be reaohed also from the stations of Putney, Kingston, 

 Surbiton, and Maldon. 



Potney Vale.— This nursery is midway between Coombe 



