HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



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CHAPTER XXIII. 



HARDY ORNAMENTAL TREES AND SHRUBS. 



Hardy Trees and Shrubs— Hardy Conifers— Sea- 

 side and Town Trees and Shrubs— Sea-side 

 Planting— Trees for Chalk Soils— Trees for 

 Towns. 



1. Hardy Trees and Shrubs. 



The increase in the number of cultivated 

 trees and shrubs during the last fifty years is 

 most noteworthy. Probably over three thousand 

 species and botanical varieties of hardy trees and 

 shrubs are now in cultivation. They are chiefly 

 natives of North America, Northern Asia, and 

 various parts of Europe; only a small propor- 

 tion coming from the Southern Hemisphere. 

 There is now at the gardener's command a 

 wealth of material which, alike in quantity, 

 beauty, and variety, far surpasses that of any 

 previous period. In the selection here made 

 the aim has been to include only the most 

 beautiful and distinctive of those that can be 

 cultivated out-of-doors in these islands. The 

 term " hardy " as given to any particular plant 

 applies with varying force according to the 

 latitude or locality in which it is grown. As 

 a general rule the number of species which can 

 be grown in the United Kingdom without 

 injury by frost increases as we proceed from 

 north to south and from east to west. There 

 are, however, many exceptions. In the west 

 of Scotland, for instance, there are localities 

 more favourable to the cultivation of exotic 

 trees and shrubs than the midland counties of 

 England are. Situations near the sea are as a 

 rule favourable to tender plants, compared with 

 places beyond its ameliorating influence. Thus, 

 such towns as Scarborough and Cromer on the 

 east coast are warmer in winter than inland 

 towns of the same latitude. Cornwall, being 

 affected on both sides by the sea, is about 10 

 degrees warmer in winter than the London 

 district; so that many plants are grown out-of- 

 doors there which at Kew require the protection 

 of a greenhouse. 



In the following pages many species are 

 mentioned that will only bear the winters of 

 the south and south-western counties of Eng- 

 land and Ireland. Plants from New Zealand 

 and South America belong, with some excep- 

 tions, to this category, and the same may be 

 said of those that have been introduced from 

 the southern portions of Japan and China. In 

 each case this fact is noted. Where no allusion 



is made to the matter they may be considered 

 as hardy in all but the most inclement parts of 

 the kingdom. In connection with this question 

 of hardiness it may be worth while to remind 

 those who are desirous of making fresh addi- 

 tions to their collections of shrubs, that the 

 capability of withstanding severe winters in 

 the case of many species increases as they 

 become older. Whilst young plants under 

 three years old will be killed off' wholesale, 

 others that have reached the adult stage will 

 pass through the same degree of cold quite un- 

 affected. In making trials of doubtful species, 

 therefore, healthy strong specimens should, if 

 possible, be secured, or in the case of young 

 plants protection afforded for a few winters. 



Before planting new gardens it is advisable 

 to ascertain what trees and shrubs thrive best 

 in the neighbourhood, or where similar condi- 

 tions as to soil, moisture, exposure, and altitude 

 obtain. Many species that fail through starting 

 too early in spring when grown in warm, humid 

 situations, will succeed in exposed or elevated 

 positions, where the wood becomes better 

 ripened and a later start is made. In many 

 places the subject of shelter or nurse trees will 

 have to be considered, especially where there is 

 exposure to the north and east. With many 

 shrubs, more particularly tender evergreens, 

 the fierce, biting winds from those quarters do 

 infinitely more damage than merely low tem- 

 peratures, provided the air is still. The hardiest 

 evergreens are best for purposes of shelter, and 

 such trees as the Holly, Austrian Pine, and 

 Spruce may be associated with Larch, or where 

 an immediate effect is desired, with the quick- 

 growing Poplars. Numerous other deciduous 

 trees may be used, such as the Hornbeam, 

 Sycamore, Beech, and Lime. Such evergreen 

 trees as the Yew or Holm Oak are of great 

 value as screens, but they are slow-growing. 

 In chalky districts many Conifers succeed; on 

 the other hand, Ehododendrons, Heaths, and 

 other Ericaceae as a rule refuse to grow in soil 

 permeated by lime; in such districts specially- 

 prepared soil has to be provided. The majority 

 of hardy trees and shrubs thrive best in deep, 

 moist soil, but some are much better adapted 

 to poor, light soils than others. Some of the 

 Cytisuses and Genistas, for example, make large 

 { bushes and flower with greater freedom in poor 

 soil than when more liberal treatment is afforded. 

 For planting near water the following may be 

 mentioned : — Willows, Alders, Poplars, the bald 

 Cypress, Bamboos, Catalpas, Diervillas, Phila- 

 delphus, Lilacs, Sea-Buckthorn, &c. 



