426 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ December 1, 1370. 



park of the Marquis of Anglesey, at Beaudesert, in Staffordshire, 

 in 1869. It oontained upwards of 900 cubic feet of timber, 

 mostly, if not all, sound. Thi3 tree was growing in the open 

 park on ground far from what the farmer would call good, 

 yet it had attained the size above-stated. Very fine Oak 

 trees were also in great numbers a few years ago, and I believe 

 are still, in the park of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington 

 in North Cheshire. These, though not perhaps so old as some 

 of the others I have mentioned, were excellent specimens of 

 timber trees, and instead of being sparingly scattered about 

 were almost too thick, portions of the park having the character 

 of a forest. Knole Park, in Kent, is more remarkable for its 

 Beeches than its Oaks, although both are well represented, 

 and most other parks contain fine specimens of this noble 

 tree. I remember some years ago measuring one in a hedge- 

 row in Buckinghamshire upwards of 25 feet iu girth, and having 

 a fine, healthy, spreading top. 



One of the most remarkable Oak trees in Eugland, if it be 

 still alive, and it was so twenty years ago, is the Glendale Oak 

 in Welbeck Park, Notts. This noble tree was described by 

 Erolyn in 1662 and measured by him, and its circumference 

 at that time was as under : — 



At 1 foot from the pround 33 feet I inch in diameter. 



At 2 feet from the ground 28 „ 5 „ 



At 5 feet from the ground 25 „ 7 ,, 



In 1724 this *ree was hollowed out into an arch to allow a 

 carriage to pass through it, and it became the common object 

 of a drive for tourists and others to go through it. I expect, 

 however, if it be still alive, that it will be taken proper care of. 

 An engraving of it made some twenty-five years ago repre- 

 sented its top as very small compared with its trunk, and in 

 all probability it may have ceased to put forth leaves, but I 

 have not heard of its death. Other large trees are also said to 

 adorn this park. The Great Porter is said to contain about 

 1300 feet of solid timber in its trunk and branches, the trunk 

 alone containing 1100 feet. The girth of this tree at 4 feet 

 from the ground is 27 feet 8 inches. The Little Porter, I 

 apprehend, is smaller than its neighbour ; but we are told 

 there are other remarkably large trees in that noble paik. 



Beech trees of similar age to the Oiks are not uncommon, 

 but seldom so large. I am told the Burnham Beeches, in 

 Buckinghamshire, present a venerable appearance, but I have 

 never had the opportunity of seeing them. Fine old trees are to 

 be seen in the park of Sir Percival Dyke, Bart., of Lullingstone, 

 in Kent, trees considerably more thin 20 feet in circumference, 

 I believe one as much as 25 feet. Lirge old trees are also met 

 with in several parks in Herts, where Oiks are not so plentiful, 

 the Beech being batter adapted for the dry chalky soils common 

 in those parts. Knole and Ea9twell Parks, in Kent, are also 

 remarkable for their Beeches, Botne avenues in the first-named 

 park being very fine, but they have not yet assumed that 

 autiquated appearance which the artist delights in, yet their 

 large size promises that when that day shall arrive, there 

 wi'l be something magnificent to look upon. 



Elms seem less enduring trees, arriving at quite a3 large a 

 size as either of the others above named, but decay seems to 

 set in at the root as soon as in the stem, and they blow down. 

 Elms seem to take possession of the best of soil, and drive 

 other trees from it, usurping, or nearly so, the whole to them- 

 selves, as shrubs or undergrowth seem to have a greater diffi- 

 culty to maintain an existence under an Elm tree than any- 

 where else. Their roots also extend a long distance, and send 

 suckers up every season in great numbers, to be cut down with 

 the scythe if the field is a meadow, but the tree attains a great 

 size. A timber dealer in this county once told me he cut down 

 in Eost Mailing Park, Kent, a tree that measured upwards of 

 1000 cubic feet, and was telerably sound. It was, I believe, 

 applied to some purpose in the Boyal Navy. There are also 

 nome very large Elms in the park at Baiham Oourt, not far 

 distant from the park just alluded to, that aie said to contain 

 several hundred cubic feet of timber ; and one in the grounds 

 here, Linton Park, must contain upwards of 400 cubic feet, 

 und many others are nearly as large. Nevertheless, the Elm is 

 not a long-lived tree ; rapid in its growth, and handsome in 

 outline, especially in autumn, when its bright yellow foliage 

 contrasts so well with the dark-coloured bark of its rugged limbs 

 hnl branches, it is, however, a treacherous tree, large limbs drop- 

 ping off on calm fine days without any warning. Still it must 

 be regarded as one of the most important of our native trees. 



Ash trefs are, in general, more disposed to run upwards 

 than spread, and trees with very stout trunks are not numerous ; 

 but we find now and then one of the latter clas3. In the 



fine park of Sir Edmund Filmer, Bart., East Sutton, Kent, are 

 several fine broad-topped trees, the circumference of the bole 

 of one that I measured being upwards of 22 feet, but it speedily 

 broke into branches, and the number of cubio feet it contained 

 would not equal that of some Elms. ABh trees are prone to 

 decay, but as an ornamental object the merits of the Ash have 

 been unjustly decried, for when allowed fair play the outline of 

 old specimens is very graceful, while the compound foliage and 

 singular but handsome fruit would have more admirers, could 

 the fact of its extreme commonness be forgotten. 



Thorns, although not competing with the trees above named 

 for size, nor utility as timber, are invariably favourites, and 

 impart a feature of no mean importance to many parks con- 

 taining good examples of other trees. A large broad-headed 

 White Thorn in full bloom is not easily matched by anything 

 we have, and I could point to several places where suoh trees 

 form a most important item in the landscape. They are 

 usually met with in the greatest luxuriance in dry stony 

 places, where the subsoil is accessible to their roots for a con- 

 siderable depth, — J. Bobson. 



(To be continued.) 



IS ARALIA SIEBOLDI HARDY 

 When this plant was first introduced into the country it 

 was said to be quite hardy, but I am doubtful if it is so, for 

 I have seen it injured by frost after having been grown for a 

 few weeks as a cool greenhouse plant. This I know is not a fair 

 way of proving its hardiness, but since I have been in this county 

 I have heard more than one gardener say that it is not safe to 

 trust it out of doors all winter without ample protection. 

 I, and many others no doubt, would be glad to have more 

 definite information upon this point, and if from correspondents 

 living northwards so much the better. It wiil not only make 

 a material difference in the value of the plant, but it would 

 considerably increase its sphere of usefulness, should it prove 

 hardy, for who would then be without the plant for the winter 

 decoration of their gardens? Already its noble appearance, 

 arising principally from its luxuriant growth and its large 

 shining dark green foliage, which clothes the plant to the ground, 

 have rendered it popular with most of those who have grown it 

 for out-door summer decoration. It is a noble and most 

 suitable object for planting in large vases, and possesses an 

 advantage over many plants used for that purpose, as it stands 

 the wind remarkably well. For sub-tropical gardens it is a 

 very effective plant, and only requires to be more known to be 

 appreciated. 



So far I have only spoken of this beautiful plant when grown 

 for its foliage alone, but its bloom is worth consideration. I 

 do not think it is the least attraction the plant possesses, for 

 even a plant from 2 to 3 feet high will throw up a pyramidal 

 spike of flowers from 1 to 2 feet long, and as much in diameter 

 at its base. The whole of the stem and bloom is almost a pure 

 white, forming a very effective contrast to the dark green foliage. 

 The plant produces fruit very freely, but I do not know what their 

 colour is when they are ripe, nor how long they remain on the 

 plant, as I am describing a couple of plants that are in flower 

 at this place, and which are only now setting their fruit. These 

 plants are planted out in the conservatory, so it is evident that 

 my predecessor did not think them hardy enough to grow and 

 flower outdoors as permanent specimens. I should not advise 

 such a course to be taken unless the plant Bhould flower early 

 enough to get clear of winter weather, for assuredly the bloom 

 would be destroyed, and the grower would lose a treat well 

 worth the trouble of taking extra pains to secure. When I 

 came here, three months ago, the plants were forming their 

 flower buds ; they soon afterwards threw up a spike and opened 

 flowers, and have now been in bloom for some weeks. I have 

 before this grown the plant in pots, and have found them do 

 well in a rich loam, rather heavy but turfy, and with Band added. 

 At this place the plants are growing in a mixture of light gritty 

 loam, leaf mould, and rotten manure, and I think the foliage 

 is darker in consequence. — Thos. Becobb, Hatfield Park. 



GROUND LEVELLING AND PRACTICAL 

 GARDEN PLOTTING.— No. 7. 



DRAWING PLANS. 



Fig. 29 is formed in a different manner from any of the 

 former illustrations, so far as it is not based on any geometri- 

 cal figure, such as a square, triangle, &c. It is the first iu- 



