July 25, 1872. ] 



JOUENAL OF HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDEXEE. 



77 



three to sis guineas ; besides which there were about two 

 hundred plants of Dendrobium taurinum, and a large number 

 of Saccolabiums and Disas. 



HINTS ON THE FORMATION and ARRANGEMENT 

 OF SHRUBBERIES, &c. 



(Read at the Horticultural Congress at Birmingham.) 



It may possibly be admitted that the principal objects in 

 ■view in forming belts and clumps of evergreen shrubs or dwarf 

 trees in the immediate vicinity of country mansions and villa 

 residences, are those of separating certain portions of the 

 grounds from others, to conceal objectionable objects if any such 

 exist, and to afford shelter and seclusion to walks, drives, lawns, 

 flower gardens, &c. ; and by the skilful disposal of such belts 

 and clumps the limited extent of ground can not unfrequently be 

 apparently increased, and a pleasing diversity given to surfaces 

 which would otherwise be flat and uninteresting. This paper, 

 however, will net be so much an attempt to show how this 

 can be dona as to offer a few suggestions as to the selection of 

 material required to form such belts, &c.,when their outline 

 and extent have been indicated by the designer. It must be 

 apparent to anyone who may have given attention to this sub- 

 ject, that the very important operations of arranging and plant- 

 ing shrubberies are too frequently performed in a somewhat 

 Easty and inconsiderate manner ; not only without due regard 

 to the effect likely to be produced, but also as to the dimen- 

 sions which the varieties of plants employed are likely to 

 attain ; and in too many instances examples may be found in 

 plantations of trees and shrubs, where ornamental and valuable 

 specimens are growing in such close proximity to each other, 

 that all are more or less seriously suffering from the contact; 

 and the natural reluctance to remove or to destroy either one or 

 other of the overcrowded specimens, tends to delay, which ulti- 

 mately proves fatal to the beauty and graceful outline of all. 



It is quite true that by the aid of some of the many excellent 

 transplanting machines which have of late years been intro- 

 duced, the re-arrangement of trees and shrubs of even large 

 dimensions can, without great difficulty or risk, be effected. 

 But this re-arrangement, it must be observed, can only be accom- 

 plished by a considerable amount of labour and expense, the 

 necessity for which might in many instances be obviated by the 

 exercise of a reasonable amount of forethought in the first 

 instance. The portion of ground intended for shrubberies 

 ought always in the first place to be efficiently drained, if this 

 be found necessary, and should likewise be trenched or deeply 

 dug; and should the soil be of inferior quality, it ought to be 

 enriched by the addition of suitable soils or manure. Very light 

 or sandy soils might be benefited by a liberal application of well- 

 pulverised clay, while heavy soils would be equally improved 

 hy the addition of lime, sand, or ashes ; and the planting of the 

 shrubs and trees ought to be performed as early as possible 

 during the autumn. 



The plants intended to ultimately form the plantation ought 

 to be selected and arranged with the greatest possible care, 

 taking into consideration the size, habit, and general appear- 

 ance which each individual plant will present when approaching 

 or when arrived at a fully developed condition ; and these ought 

 to be carefully planted at distances seldom less than 15 or 18 feet 

 from each other, and even these distances ought to be consider- 

 ably increased when Conifers or other trees of large growth are 

 introduced. 



The spaces between those plants which, it may be said, are in- 

 tended to be grown into specimens of their respective varieties, 

 and to ultimately form the clump or belt, as the case may be, 

 can now be filled up as closely as may be desired, by the more 

 common varieties of shrubs, with a view to produce an imme- 

 diate effect, using such sorts as the common Laurel, common 

 Holly, Evergreen Privet, &c. These can be gradually removed 

 without remorse as the more valuable kinds are found to require 

 the additional space. 



It sometimes happens that aged forest or park trees, which 

 it may be desirable to retain, come within the space to be 

 enclosed as shrubbery, and when this is the case it is unadvis- 

 able to plant valuable specimens of shrubs or trees very near to 

 them, as, if this be done, there is little probability of their suc- 

 ceeding well. But the ground in the vicinity of such trees is 

 better planted thickly with such shrubs as the common Laurel, 

 Holly, Box, or any other shrubs known to succeed under the 

 drip and shade of large trees. 



Coniferous trees attaining large dimensions and of an orna- 

 mental character, are perhaps better adapted to the purpose of 

 forming single specimens upon the lawn ; but when shrubberies 

 of considerable depth and extent are being formed, they can be 

 nsed with great advantage in the more central parts, or at con- 

 siderable distances from the walks or drives, while the various 

 ornamental shrubs of dwarf and compact habit can be selected 

 for the more marginal positions. 



Many of the numerous varieties of deciduous flowering shrubs 



are exceedingly beautiful, and are well worthy of extensive cul- 

 tivation, but they ought to be used but sparingly (if at all) in 

 plantations intended to act as screens or blinds. I should even 

 Be inclined to go so far as to recommend their total exclusion 

 from such plantations, which ought to be composed entirely of 

 evergreens, of which there exists an infinite variety to select 

 from. 



Evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs harmonise suffi- 

 ciently well with each other during the summer months, but 

 such is not the case in winter, and it is during the winter 

 months that the warmth and shelter of belts and clumps of 

 evergreens are most required and appreciated, and on that 

 account I would strongly recommend the grouping of deciduous 

 flowering shrubs by themselves. 



I should likewise be inclined to recommend the exclusion of 

 the Ehododendron, the Kalmia, and other American plants, 

 from the shrubbery borders, as they very rarely succeed well 

 when mixed with other shrubs, unless in localities where the 

 natural soil happens to be suitable to this class of plants ; and 

 even when this is the case, such plants succeed better and are 

 vastly more effective when grouped by themselves. 



As has already been said, in forming belts of considerable 

 depth, or large clumps, of evergreen trees and shrubs, many of 

 the large-growing varieties of the family of Conifers? may be 

 used with great advantage, more particularly in the central 

 parts ; and for this purpose mention may be made of such 

 plants as the Wellingtonia gigantea, the Deodar Cedar, and the 

 Cedar of Lebanon ; the Libocedrus sinensis ; Abies Douglasii, 

 Morinda, orientalis, and many others, including the Piceas, or 

 Silver Fir tribe, aU of which are exceedingly ornamental, and 

 most of them of rapid growth. The same may be said of the 

 genus Pinus, many of which, such as the Pinus austriaca, on 

 account of its rapid development and density of habit, are exceed- 

 ingly valuable wherever shelter and seclusion are desirable. 



Altogether, the family of Coniferse furnishes of itself an in- 

 finite variety of dwarf-growing trees and shrubs of suitable 

 character, and to which can be added the various kinds of com- 

 mon evergreens, such as Laurels, Hollies of various sorts, 

 Phillyreas, Alatemus, Arbutus, Laurustinus, Aucubas, Buxus, 

 Mahonias or Berberries, Cotoneasters, and many others ; while, 

 as regards the numerous deciduous flowering shrubs, many of 

 them are so exceedingly beautiful that I would in their case 

 strongly recommend a system of grouping in suitable situa- 

 tions. 



The advantages of this method may, I think, be readily con- 

 ceived, if we contrast the pleasure and satisfaction likely to be 

 experienced from looking upon a flowering group of Spiraeas, 

 Weigelas, or Deutzias, with that of •'beholding single or indi- 

 vidual plants here and there in the mixed shrubbery, possibly 

 suffering from the pressure of other species, or at best taking 

 part in a struggle for existence, affording little real pleasure to 

 the beholder. The genus Crataegus may be mentioned as ca- 

 pable of forming a noble, varied, and interesting group of plants 

 in any suitable situation in the pleasure grounds, as would also 

 the Syringa or Lilacs of various kinds, the Viburnum Opulus 

 or Guelder Eose, and many other species of deciduous flower- 

 ing shrubs ; and as a deciduous tree of rare beauty, the Acer 

 Negundo variegatum will, doubtless, be found to be of great 

 service in producing striking effects either as single specimens 

 or in suitable groups, with the advantage of a dark or sombre 

 background. 



The various species of Ehododendron and other American 

 plants have already been recommended as suitable plants for 

 the purpose of forming clumps or groups in the pleasure 

 grounds ; indeed, a garden establishment can hardly be con- 

 sidered as complete without a selection of these beautiful plants, 

 although it may be necessary to state, en passant, that there are 

 some unfortunate locahties on the chalk formation, where it is 

 found to be quite impossible to cultivate them successfully, even 

 in prepared or peat soil. But in all localities where they are 

 found to succeed, scarcely anything can be conceived more 

 beautiful than beds or groups of these lovely plants when in 

 full flower, and even the foliage of the evergreen species renders 

 them ornamental at all seasons of the year. 



It may also be said with truth that there are few objects more 

 beautiful and interesting during the spring or early summer 

 months than our common cultivated fruit trees ; and there 

 really does not appear to be any good reason why the fruit 

 garden should not constitute a necessary portion of the policy 

 or pleasure grounds of every country mansion'. What can be 

 more beautiful than the Apple, the Pear, the Plum, and the 

 Cherry tree in full flower ? And they are, in fact, exceedingly 

 interesting objects at all seasons. But it rarely happens that 

 they are placed in a position where their beauty can be appre- 

 ciated and enjoyed. They are too frequently to be found^n the 

 vegetable garden, where they are entirely out of place, unless it 

 be in the form of espaliers or cordons, or they may possibly be 

 found in a somewhat neglected and out-of-the-way locality, 

 known as the orchard. 



But as an advance or an impi'ovement upon this state of 



