October 18, 1884. ] JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



307 



evergreens in pots ready to put in on the removal of the 

 plants in autumn, is therefore done away with. There is no 

 difficulty either in growing them in pots, or removing them 

 twice annually — first in October, and a second time in the 

 latter part of May. It is the same with deciduous shrubs, 

 they will move as well in October to their winter quarters, 

 and in spring after blooming, if care be taken to preserve a 

 ball. There is some difficulty, it is true, at the commence- 

 ment, but the shrubs take amazingly well to the system 

 after having been removed twice annually for a year or two. 

 Shrubs of all kinds are now cheap, and can be had by the 

 dozen, hundred, or thousand, of a suitable size ; and those 

 who intend doing something this winter towards improving 

 the bare appearance of their gardens should set about it at 

 once, and select a sufficiency of shrubs of various heights 

 and shapes, distinct in foliage, both as regards colour and 

 habit. The tallest should not exceed 3 or 4 feet in height j 

 and three sizes or heights should be secured — viz., from 3 to 

 4 feet, from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches, and from 1 foot to 1 foot 

 6 inches ; likewise different forms — i.e., pyramids and bushes, 

 both feathered to the ground, and standards, also such as 

 are naturally of low or prostrate growth. 



The following list may serve as a beginning : — 



Holly (Ilex), of many kinds, is admirable for the purpose, 

 and though considered difficult of removal, no shrubs move 

 more safely. They may be had of all sizes up to 3 feet, and 

 of pyramidal and busli forms. By removing them so fre- 

 quently they arrive at an early maturity, and produce berries 

 when very small, and such plants are quite charming for 

 the ornamentation of beds in winter. Besides, removing 

 them twice annually renders the amount of cutting to keep 

 them in shape a question of little import, it being only 

 necessary to stop all growths at the fourth leaf, but only 

 those that grow a-head of their neighbours. 



Ilex aquifolium flavum, deep green foliage ; aureo-margi- 

 natum (gold-edged) ; senescente-marginatum (spineless gold) ; 

 spino-marginatum (prickly gold) ; croceo-marginatum (gold- 

 edged, but deep) ,- medio-pictum (gold-blotched) ; croceo- 

 fuscum (chimney sweep) ; argenteo marginatum (silver-edged) ; 

 and its varieties senescens (spineless silver) ; spinescens 

 (prickly silver) ; latum (broad-leaved silver) ; and medio- 

 argenteum (silver-blotched). Then we have the small dense- 

 leaved hedgehogs, ferox (green-leaved) ; gold variegated 

 (Jerox aureum) ; and silver hedgehog (ferox argenteum) ; the 

 lovely Handsworthi, and its variegated variety ; comuta, 

 Tarago, Shepherdi, maderensis, and its variety atrovirens ; and 

 last in my list, but not in merit, the beautiful Weeping 

 Holly {Ilex aquifolium- pendulum), which is quite charming 

 on a four-feet stem, and so I think will be its variegated 

 variety. 



Then we have Aucuba japonica, and A. lati-maculata, which 

 move as freely as Cabbages, and with far more certainty, 

 giving material for a couple of beds of the loveliest kind, the 

 bold, dense, and handsome gold foliage, though green at a 

 distance, yet forming a suitable contrast to that of a deeper 

 hue ; and when we have the female Aucuba at a price 

 within the reach of all, with its fine berries to set off its 

 handsome foliage to better advantage, we may count on 

 having three of the best shrubs for winter decoration in the 

 Aucuba. 



Common Laurel affords charming, bold, light green foliage, 

 and when moved frequently it will transplant as safely in 

 the last week in May as in the beginning of October, and 

 as we want to move it at both these times, it is just the sort 

 of plant. Its cousin, the Portugal Laurel, is rather more shy, 

 but we must have it as dwarf bushes to form a centre for a 

 large bed, and we will edge it with Vinca minor fol. aureo- 

 variegatis. "We must have our standard Bay trees, too ; but 

 as Bay trees are not over-hardy, we will have the Portugal 

 Laurel instead ; and having them on four-feet stems, all that 

 is wanting to make people believe that they are Orange trees 

 out of doors in winter, is that the green of the foliage is 

 too deep by half. These placed in the spots usually as- 

 signed to Roses by the sides of walks, are far superior to 

 the queen of flowers from October to June. They are very 

 handsome. 



Finely contrasting with these are standard Yews, which 

 move like Docks. They will bear comparison with anything 

 that a sunnier clime can send against them, even if left over 

 summer, and dwarf plants of Taxus baccata are not amiss 



for a distinguished position. The Weeping Tew (T. Dovas- 

 toni) is never seen to such advantage as when on a stem 4 feet 

 or more high ; and when we get its variegated offspring 

 (aureo-variegata) on a stem suitable for a standard, we shall 

 be in a way to show admirers things as they ought to be. 

 Taxus adpressa or brevifolia, when once of a suitable size will 

 last for nearly a generation without any cutting or clipping, 

 and not become too large. We must also have the Irish Yew 

 (Taxus hibernica), which always keeps mounting up, and 

 never grows to one side, and its silver and gold variegated 

 varieties. 



Of Junipers, Juniperus Bedfordiana, glauca, recurva, sue- 

 cica, and thurifera, are not amiss, and moving well, and 

 having fine foliage we must have them. Nor must we over- 

 look Sabina (Savin), its variety tamariscifolia, and its sub- 

 variety variegata, for any of them make nice beds, and will 

 answer for edgings ; but a better kind for such a pur- 

 pose is prostrata; while X stricta is the most ornamental 

 of all. 



Thuja aurea, than which nothing can be more beautiful in 

 spring with the golden colour it then assumes, and the 

 American, Chinese, and Siberian Arbor VitKS hold their 

 own in any company with which they are associated. The 

 best form of the Chinese Arbor Vita? (Thuja orientalis), is 

 compacta, nothing more than a close-growing variety of the 

 species. T. Hookeriana, much resembling T. aurea, but more 

 glaucous in appearance, is fine. T. occidentalis (American 

 Arbor Vitse), is one of the best, as it bears clipping well, and 

 makes one of the most beautiful edgings and hedges known. 

 The variegated forms of T. plicata and T. orientalis, both the 

 silver and gold, are lovely for edgings to any of the species. 

 T. Wareana is very fine, and by far the best of the Siberian 

 Arbor Vitaes. 



Of Cupressus, the most beautiful of all is Lawsoniana, form- 

 ing a bed of the loveliest description ; but beautiful as it is, 

 it is as nothing when placed beside its variety, aureo-varie- 

 gata, which is most attractively variegated with gold. 

 C. Lambertiana or macrocarpa is just passable ; and the same 

 may be said of McNabiana and Goveniana. 0. cashmeriana is 

 a very graceful species, but I fear too tender for general 

 adoption. 



Chammcyparis sphceroidea variegata has handsome foliage, 

 beautifully variegated green and gold. Chamcecyparis thuri- 

 fera is handsome in a young state, and when kept low by 

 frequent removal, but declines in beauty I think as a 

 specimen. 



Cryptomeria japonica nana and its variety viridis, offer a 

 fitting contrast to foliage of a deeper green, and they have 

 the rare property of retaining their bright olive green through 

 the winter, which the species seldom does. 



Some of the Pinuses are also useful, the very dwarf and 

 close-habited Abies clanbrasiliana being admirable for edgings 

 to large groups of deeper-hued foliage. P. cembra is very 

 hardy and makes a good bed or a line in a ribbon-border. 

 Picea Nordmanniana is the best of all the Silver Firs, and a 

 specimen of this in the centre of a bed with a band of Arabis 

 caucasica variegata, or A. lucida variegata of some, is beauti- 

 ful beyond description. The dense habit of the Pine, and 

 the foliage, dark green above, and of a beautiful glaucous 

 hue beneath, make the golden Arabis appear to much ad- 

 vantage. The Arabis, by the way, is one of the best golden 

 edging plants we have, and I was glad to see Mr. Thomson's 

 notice of it in the Number for October 4th. P. nobilis is 

 also fine, and few exceed it in beauty as a single specimen. 

 Small plants of Abies canadensis (Hemlock Spruce), and of 

 A. taxifolia (Californian Hemlock Spruce), a more ornamental 

 variety than the preceding, which it much resembles, are 

 useful. The majority of the Pinus family may be employed 

 with good effect, but they move very indifferently, and as 

 growing them in pots ruins them for after-planting to attain 

 large dimensions, and as they are impatient of cutting, it is 

 advisable to grow them in pots, and treat them in every 

 way as dwarf plants, specially for decorative purposes in the 

 flower garden. 



Thujopsis dolabrata and its beautiful variegated form, 

 are amongst the finest of recently introduced plants, and 

 whilst they are growing to a size suitable for planting, it is 

 worthy of consideration whether these and many others of 

 a similar kind might not be advantageously employed for 

 enlivening the dreary flower garden in winter. Nurserymen 



