THE PINETUM. 321 



i 



places; or (2) for artistic effect, such as the formation of an out- 

 of-doors winter garden, &c., when the arrangement would be that 

 which is most pleasing to the eye, or according to the taste of the 

 planter. 



The planting of Pineta originated in the beginning of the present 

 century. One, the first formed in this country, was that of the Messrs, 

 Loddiges, at Hackney, which was begun in 1816, but which has now 

 long since disappeared and the ground occupied by it built upon. 

 During the twenty-five years immediately following, many others were 

 formed partly through the exertions of Mr. Loudon, who was an earnest 

 advocate for them, and partly by the examples afforded by the Duke 

 of Devonshire, at Chatsworth ; the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn ; 

 Lady Rolle, at Bicton ; Lord Grenville, at Dropmore ; the Earl of 

 Harrington, at Elvaston ; W. E. Baker, Esq., at Bayfordbury ; T. 

 Gambier Parry, Esq., at Highnam Court, and others. Of late years 

 the practice has fallen into disuse, which is much to be regretted, 

 not only because numerous introductions of new and beautiful kinds 

 have added greatly to the resources at command, so that both 

 variety and effect can be increased in a corresponding degree, but also 

 the knowledge and experience of Coniferous plants in Great Britain is 

 so much enlarged that the mistakes and errors which but too frequently 

 occurred in the older plantations, may now with certainty be avoided. 



Fine collections of Conifer*, including most of the recent introduc- 

 tions, have, however, been formed by noblemen and gentlemen in 

 different parts of the country, among which we may mention that 

 of Earl Ducie, at Tortworth Court ; Viscount Holmesdale, at Linton 

 Park; W. Parker Hamond, Esq., at Pampesford Hall, Cambridge; the 

 Earl of Courtown, at Courtown, county "Wicklow, Ireland ; J. M. 

 Livesey, Esq., at Stourton Hall, Horncastle ; Charles Lucas, Esq., at 

 Warnham Court, Horsham, &c, &c. 



It will be useful to recapitulate in this place, some obvious general 

 principles that should be kept in view when planting Coniferse for 

 ornamental purposes, and which are alike applicable to the formation 

 of a Pinetum, a smaller collection, or the selection of a spot for a single 

 specimen. 



Many of the Fir and Pine tribe grow naturally and attain their finest 

 developement on the slopes of mountains where the soil is generally, 

 very shallow, and beneath which is the solid rock. Although the rain- 

 fall in such places is usually very heavy, no water can settle or 

 stagnate in loose soil on steep hillsides. It is essential, therefore, that 

 the ground in which it is proposed to plant the trees belonging to 

 this- tribe, should be thoroughly drained, so that water cannot stag- 

 nate at the roots. If the subsoil does not permit the free escape of 

 water, artificial drainage should be resorted to. And, generally, all 



