174 



THE FLORIST AND FOMOLOGIST. 



Danesbury, Welwyn, had a few Raspberries ; and several extra prizes wero awarded to 

 Grapes, Pine Apples, Vanilla fruit, Nuts, &c. 



A continuation of the Report shall be given in the December Number, that shall embrace 

 the vegetables, and seedling flowers, and new plants that were brought before the Floral- 

 Committee. Quo. 



EFFECT OF CLIMATE UPON TREES. 



It may be interesting, and perhaps useful, to the young gardener, to learn the effect of 

 climate upon trees, especially such species or varieties which, though perfectly hardy in 

 England, yet for want of a hot, dry climat^ like ours, fail to ripen their wood or flower 

 freely. The using over-too-rich a soil, or any cause that will give over-luxuriant or late 

 growth should, in a climate such as England, be avoided, as the great object of the gardener 

 should be to obtain an early moderate growth, having the wood well matured during the 

 latter part of the summer and fall. It will be observed, from the few examples I give, that 

 Chinese and Japanese trees succeed well with us, much, better than in England, from the 

 similarity of our climates, both having hot burning summers and intense cold winters. 



Acacia julibrissin. — My first acquaintance with this plant was trained against wall3 in 

 the gardens of England, where its beautiful foliage had at all times made it a favourite. 

 It was there a slow, delicate grower. Shortly after my arrival in this city some years since, 

 on a hot J uly day, in company with an excellent botanist, I was passing a public square in this 

 city, and, observing in a garden a beautiful tree covered with bloom, I stood to admire it. 

 "What can it be?" I exclaimed to my friend. "Surely it is not Acacia julibrissin!" 

 "Yes," my friend remarked, " that is the tree ! " It was abou.t 20 feet high, a lovely object 

 I remarked, its growth being slow in England. As the wood scarcely ever matures, all the 

 growth is nearly killed back in winter. Two-year seedlings in the quarters of my nursery 

 have made a growth 3 feet long, and ripened to the point — all the effect of a' hot 

 burning sun. 



Hibiscus syriacus. — This shrub is found in every part of the States, north and south, 

 and everywhere beautiful — in this latitude blooming in great beauty in J uly. Like the pre- 

 ceding, it ripens its wood to the point almost as hard as oak : hence its profuse flowering. 



Araucaria imbricata. — Many correspondents to the horticultural press in England have 

 recounted the deaths of this noble tree during a late winter. Some ten or eleven years 

 since many specimens were planted in the parks and squares in this city. For a few years 

 they continued to grow well, until, like you, we got an unusually severe winter (10° below 

 zero), which destroyed all but one. This solitary specimen is growing vigorously, and 

 is very fine. 



Bignonia grandijlora. — Very frequently this is classed in England as a greenhouse 

 climber. Only have its wood well matured, and it will withstand any amount of cold. I 

 have known it stand out in the State of New York, without the slightest protection, where 

 the thermometer was 20° below zero. Plant against a hot wall, in a thin poor soil, and 

 success is certain. 



Catalpa syringcefolia. — I once saw this tree bloom in England. That was at Tredegar 

 Park, near Newport, Monmouthshire. The trees on this occasion were old, stunted, and 

 could mature their little growth. This native tree is of very rapid growth. I have had 

 young plants in the nursery make a season's growth from 5 to 6 feet in length and ripen to 

 the point. Here it blooms about midsummer in great profusion, and is a lovely object. It 

 attains quite a large size, but commences blooming when young. It is a very ornamental 

 and beautiful tree. 



Paiilownia imperialis. — "What a gorgeous object is this in bloom ! I know of no large 

 tree to compare with it. It grows luxuriantly in our hot sun, and in a very few years is a 

 good-sized tree. As the wood is properly matured, it gives bloom when young and freely. 

 The beauty of a tree loaded with myriads of its beautiful blue flowers may be easily 

 imagined. 



Kdlreuteria panicuMa. — A writer in the Gardener's Chronicle, a short time since, noticed 

 the growth of this tree in Paris. At this I am not surprised, as any lover of trees or shrubs 

 must be struck with it in bloom, its long panicles of golden yellow blooms having a superb 

 effect. With us it is liberally planted in our gardens and public parks, where, from its 

 distinct character and freedom of flowering, it is greatly admired. Like the preceding, 

 well matures its wood. 



Forsythia viridissima and suspensa. — These are beautiful objects in this climate, as much 

 at home as any of our native shrubs. I have known them endure 20° below zero, and not a 

 flower-bud injured. Their growth is rapid, especially the latter, maturing their wood well. 

 They are among our earliest blooming shrubs in spring, and lovely objects in a garden, 

 being one sheet of golden yellow bloom. 



