62 



Garden and Forest. 



[Number 312. 



the more slender are the chances of securing worthy nov- 

 elties ; (2) that there is the most use for novelties among 

 plants which are propagated by seeds, or by normally de- 

 veloped parts, because these plants quickly run out by varia- 

 tion ; (3) that valuable novelties appear less frequently 

 in old regions than in new, because of the greater competi- 

 tion of established varieties there; and (4) that the merit of 

 a novelty lies in its adaptability to some particular use or 

 demand. A good novelty need not surpass all old varie- 

 ties in any particular, or any old variety in all particulars. 

 What it does need is to be fit for some entirely new condi- 

 tion or use, as, for example, a currant or gooseberry, which 

 would be sweet and tender enough for dessert fruit, might 

 be a useful novelty even if, in other respects, it were inferior 

 to all existing varieties. It is prudent, therefore, to be cau- 

 tious about adopting novelties among the old standard 

 fruits in old horticultural regions, and to be suspicious of 

 all those which are recommended indiscriminately as hav- 

 ing every good quality, or for all regions. 



Where the Work of the Landscape-gardener 

 should begin. 



THE great majority of cases in which the invention of 

 the landscape-architect is called upon are those where 

 the land about a dwelling-house is to be adorned with 

 regard to convenience and economy of space. The scheme 

 must not only be a thing of beauty in itself, but must be 

 devised to set off the appearance of the building from with- 

 out and to display its own best effects from within the 

 walls. The character of the arrangement changes with its 

 distance from the house, the central object on whose posi- 

 tion depend all lines of road and walk, all forms of planta- 

 tion and lines of vista, both in length and direction. Yet 

 there are few instances where the idea is broached of con- 

 sulting the artist, who is responsible for the regulation of 

 all this, as to the position of the central object, which 

 must of necessity control the whole design. Both owner 

 and architect are usually ignorant of, or indifferent to, its 

 importance, and consult convenience or prospect (some- 

 times), or often, probably in the absence of definite reasons, 

 are guided by caprice merely. To the architect especially 

 this question of location is of extreme importance, as his 

 work requires the accessories of site and surroundings for 

 its perfect expression. It is no discredit to him that he is 

 usually unable to decide this important matter, depending 

 as it does on many considerations entirely apart from his 

 ordinary lines of study. But it seems unaccountable, that 

 being able to point to many buildings whose impressive- 

 ness is vastly enhanced by their situation, he should so sel- 

 dom think of calling on the help of his fellow-artist of the 

 landscape to show him where his work may receive its due 

 advantage from its surroundings. 



Still more rarely is the foresight of the landscape-artist 

 allowed to have any influence on the placing of the rooms, 

 that part of their attractiveness which depends on pictures 

 seen from the windows, when not left to chance, being pro- 

 vided for by those who, whatever may be their apprecia- 

 tion of existing beauties, are quite unable to foresee possible 

 ones. Yet every dwelling owes much of its charm to what 

 is seen from within. 



A primary factor in the placing of a country house is 

 prospect, or the scenes within and without the grounds 

 that are visible from the windows. A building set with 

 due attention hereto will almost inevitably stand high, 

 thus ensuring good drainage and fresh air. Aspect, though 

 very important, depends in great measure on arrangement 

 of the rooms. Points of vantage for the house are few on 

 most grounds, while facility of access to it can generally 

 be contrived in many ways ; drives can have their length 

 concealed, or even made a source of interest, by their 

 courses and their relation to the planting. 



Where the surface is not very uneven, the combined inex- 

 perience of owner and architect commonly results in setting 

 the house in the middle of the grounds. This position is, 



as a rule, the most disadvantageous that could be selected 

 for extent and variety of lawn-surface and propriety of lines 

 of approach ; all vistas of importance within the boundary 

 are obstructed, and the building itself becomes always too 

 obtrusive an object, out of whose presence it is difficult to 

 get. All these causes unite to detract from the apparent 

 extent of the place. Such impediments to unity of design 

 decrease inversely with the size of the place, but, though 

 most apparent on a small one, are never inconsiderable, as 

 the character of the work and the effects produced will vary 

 with the number of acres. But considerations like these 

 seldom affect the decision of the architect or his employer. 

 The former ignores his best ally, who, when choice of a 

 suitable spot is difficult, can supply definite reasons for 

 his conclusions. If his advice were sought in time, 

 his task would often be easier and the satisfaction of 

 the owner greater ; but it generally happens that when the 

 structure is built and immovable, the architect of the land- 

 scape is called in to adjust his ideas to the mistakes of his 

 predecessors, and to stake his own reputation and that of 

 his art on a composition whose salient features have been 

 already ordered by people indifferent to or unconscious of 



their significance. 1T , _ 



Pittsburgh, Pa. H. A. Caparn. 



Exotic Trees and Shrubs for Florida Gardens.- — II. 



CLETHRA ARBOREA, an exquisite Ericaceous plant, 

 grows well on high Pine-land, but, unfortunately, it is 

 frequently cut back by severe frosts. In a half-shady, sheltered 

 spot, however, it is perfectly hardy. The leaves are shining 

 green, and the fragrant white flowers appear in racemes at 

 the top of the branches. It attains a height of ten to fifteen 

 feet, is of straggling growth, and has the appearance of a 

 small tree. C. quadrangulata, raised from seed, grows 

 also well in the sandy soil, but is still more tender than the 

 preceding. 



Daphne Indica, a native of China, is one of the most 

 beautiful of shrubs, highly prized as a greenhouse-plant 

 in northern countries. In Florida it is easily grown if planted 

 in a shady spot. In the autumn of 1889 I sent down 

 a small plant, which was planted out under the shelter of a 

 shed which is open on all sides, and over which dense 

 masses of Passiflora ccerulea clamber. The soil is the com- 

 mon white sand and a little muck. Although the plant was 

 rarely fertilized and watered, it is now about four feet high 

 and blooms profusely in winter. Sessile clusters of white 

 or rosy white and fragrant flowers appear on the ends of 

 the branches and last for a considerable time. D. Cneorum, 

 which was planted out in a like position, was an entire 

 failure. 



Duranta Plumieri, a native of the West Indies and South 

 America, grows vigorously in almost all parts of Florida, 

 being generally known by the name of Golden Dewdrop. 

 The pretty blue flowers, which appear in great abundance 

 in slender racemes toward the end of the branches, are fol- 

 lowed by clusters of golden berries, hanging in graceful 

 profusion six months of the year. The evergreen leaves 

 are oblong-lanceolate, and the branches are spinose. 

 The compact growth, evergreen foliage, pretty blue flow- 

 ers and golden berries combine to make this Duranta a very 

 fine ornamental shrub. It grows in the poorest soil ; 

 and, having escaped from the gardens, is now found wild in 

 some parts of Florida. 



Escallonia rubra and E. floribunda made a feeble growth 

 in the first year, and died in the second, while E. macrantha 

 grows well under a shed. I feel quite certain that most 

 Escallonias will grow well in Florida if planted in rich soil 

 and in a half-shady position. Most species are growing 

 wild in Chili in rather dry situations. 



Euphorbia pulcherrima, generally known as the Poin- 

 settia, is a notable feature in all the gardens of the Gulf 

 region. IM 3^ plants grow to a height of eight to ten feet, 

 but are cut down by several degrees of frost almost every 

 year, and sprout from the roots in spring. In November 

 they begin to bloom. The bright vermilion bracts of the 



