Trees and shrubs in garden and woodland. 



375 



must be in vigorous health. A position sheltered from north and east winds is important, 

 also a deep rich soil ; but given these two conditions, their cultivation is very simple. It is 

 chiefly a matter of abundant water and manure. The mistake is frequently made of 

 removing these plants in autumn and winter ; the proper time is May or later. Another 

 error is that of planting the different sorts promiscuously. Each plant or each species 

 should stand well apart. This not only allows of free and graceful development, hut 

 prevents the hopeless confusion that is the result of the underground stems running into 

 each other. To those who are unacquainted with these plants, the following selection 

 of a dozen species may be of use, as representing the best and hardiest in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London: Arundinaria nitida, A. Simoni, A. japonica (Metake), A. Fortunei and 

 A. auricoma (both dwarf and variegated), Phyllostachys Henonis, P. Boryana, P. viridi- 

 glaucesens, P. nigra, P. mitis, P. Kumasaca, and Bambusa palmata. 



Although a few Conifers are deciduous, such as the Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo), 

 Taxodium distichum, the Golden Larch (Pseudolarix), and the true Larches, the great bulk 

 of this family is evergreen. It comprises, indeed, the only hardy evergreens which, in 



A BEECH WALK IN BLENHEIM BARK, OXFORDSHIRE. 



stature and bulk, rival the large deciduous trees of cool temperate latitudes. Except to? 

 the Common Juniper, the Scotch Pine, and the Yew, the whole of the Conifers are 

 exotic. The extreme popularity of Conifers, which was at its height about fifty years ago, 

 undoubtedly led to the enriching of the gardens and park's of this country with what are 

 now in many instances magnificent specimens. To realise how much, one has only to 

 mention such places as Dropmore, Murthly Castle, and Ochtertyre. But Conifer planting 

 was overdone, and in many gardens the light, graceful, flower-bearing deciduous vegetation 

 natural to our climate was replaced by heavy masses of Pines, Firs, and Spruces from 



