December 29, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



513 



Fig. 2 I shall presume to be groups of this description, a, 

 Sycamore, filled in with common Laurel ; 6, Austrian Pine ; 

 c, Spanish Chestnut, filled in with Berberis Aquifolium ; d, i 

 Larch ; e, Scotch Fir ; /, Lirch ; </, Wyeh Elm, filled in with 

 Evergreen Privet ; h, Austrian Pine; ?', Norway Maple, filled I 

 in with common Laurel ; j, Turkey Oak, filled in with Berberis I 

 Aquifolium ; k, Scotch Fir ; I, Lime, filled in with common 

 Laurel ; m, Corsican Pine ; n, Larch ; o, Walnut, filled in with 

 Evergreen Privet; p, Austrian Pine ; q, English Oak, filled in 

 with Berberis Aquifolium ; r, White Thorn ; s, Lombardy 

 Poplar ; J, Lilac ; u, Rhus Cotinns ; v, Laburnum ; w. Mountain 

 Ash ; x, Rhus typhina ; y, Horse Chestnut ; z, Variegated 

 Sycamore. 



Kg. 2. 

 1, Parple-leaved Sycamore ; 2, Scarlet Maple ; 3, Lncombe 

 Oak ; 4, Purple Beech ; 5, Lime ; 6, Scarlet Oak ; 7, Beech ; 

 8, Scarlet Thorn ; 9, Holly ; 10, Exeter Elm ; 11, Austrian Oak. 



Fig. 3. 



and then, though there may be considerable variation in the 

 subjects and mode of placing them, there is but one result, a 

 sameness in every part of the group or plantation. 



As regards the dotting of trees singly at regular or irregular 

 distances, as may be seen in almost all our parks, I have but 

 little to say. There is something in having a well-wooded 

 park or country to drive through and look at, but would any- 

 one advise planting an open space on Buch a principle — if 

 principle it be — as is presented in almost all our parks? It 

 would be wronJ to say a word against the fine trees to be found 

 in our parks ; but there are numbers possessed of no beauty, 

 and to cut then out would improve the effect of those left, and 

 allow of their broad distinctive features being seen to advantage, 

 betides affording space for other and better sub- 

 jects than those removed. This would destroy 

 to a great extent the monotonous appearance of 

 our park scenery, the new plantations being in 

 masses, with open glades of grass of considerable 

 but variable lengths and breadths. 



In arranging shrubs in groups or shrubbery 

 borders there can be no question that of all the 

 systems the massing is the best. 



Suppose Jig. 3 to represent a shrubbery border, 

 which it is customary to plant in mixed order, 

 then — a, Chinese Arbor-Vitas ; 6, Gold-leaved 

 Holly ; c, Rhododendron catawbiense, vara. ; 

 d, Phillyrea oleoafolia ; e. Azalea poniica, vars. ; 

 /, Guelder Rose ; g, Kalmia glauca ; 7s, Berberis 

 empetrifolia ; i, Syringa or Mock Orange, double- 

 flowered ; j, Green Hollies ; fc, Deulzia gracilis ; 

 1, Aucuba fcemina limbata ; m, Scarlet Thorn ; 

 n, Weigela rocea, with the dotted space its va- 

 riety variegata nana ; o, Berberis Darwinii ; 

 p, Portugal Laurel ; q, Spirroa Thunbergi ; 

 r, Scotch Laburnum, withj Colchian Laurel ; 

 s, Cydonia japonica ; t, Silver Holly ; u, Laums- 

 tinus ; v, Ribes, vars. ; w, Lilaos ; x, Double 

 Gorse ; y, Kalmia; z, Scarlet Rhododendron, 

 and hardy Heaths. 



1 and 8, Kalmia latifolia ; 9 and 10, Rhodo- 

 dendron ; 2 and 7, Yucca reourva ; 3 and 6, An- 

 dromeda floribnnda ; 4, Tree Paeony ; and 5, 

 Rhus glabra laciniata. 

 Small groups on grass in pleasure grounds, it is scarcely ne- 

 cessary to say, should be of one species or of varieties of a 

 species, but for effect those with distinct colours of foliage or 



flowers may be disposed in 

 one part, and others of 

 a different colour in an- 

 other part. 



The preceding examples 

 are not given as the beBt 

 arrangements of tree3 and 

 shrubs that can be made, 

 but the sketches with 

 which I have illustrated 

 these papers, together with 

 the remarks which I have 

 made, may lead to more 

 attention being directed to 

 the subject, and to more 

 imposing gr/>up3 being 

 planted, for I am con- 

 vinced any departure from 

 the present mixed con- 

 fused distribution is an 

 improvement. — G. Abbey. 



I think sufficient examples have been given to show the 

 difference between the present mixed system and the but-little- 

 practised massing one. I may be told that the massing system 

 does not require a great variety of trees, or that I have cut up 

 the groups into a great many fragments. My object has been 

 to exhibit what a great variety the massing system is capable 

 of producing even in one group ; but will anyone tell me it 

 will have that wearying sameneBs of effect as if they were dis- 

 posed at random ? I believe each subject will appear in character, 

 each exhibit a mass of foliage that will make it an object ; but 

 this is not the case when the subjects, however well chosen, are 

 disposed in mixed order, the deciduous mixed with the ever- 

 green, the object being to produce as much variety as possible; 



THE ORIGIN OF SOILS. 



If we dig down through the soil we come sooner or later to 

 the solid rock. In many places the rock reaches the surface, or 

 rises in cliffs, hills, or ridges far above it. The surface, or 

 crust, of our globe, therefore, consists everywhere of a more or 

 less solid mass of rock, overlaid by a covering — generally thin 

 — of loose materials. The upper or outer part of these loose 

 materials forms the soil. 



The geologist has travelled over a great part of the earth's 

 surface, has examined the nature of the rocks which everywhere 

 repose beneath the soil, and has found them to vary in appear- 



