68 JOURNAL OP THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of lawns and gardens proper, the difficulty of making observations 

 is intensified, as other considerations come in for due attention. 

 In addition to the lawn itself, there is the fringe about the lawn, 

 which is, perhaps, the most permanently attractive feature of the 

 ordinary suburban garden. Here, it seems to me, for sweep and 

 curve, a border fairly closely planted mainly with Conifers 

 (though I must make room for an Aucuba, with, say, a Silver 

 Birch here and there) nothing could be made prettier. I regret 

 I am not able in this brief paper to suggest varieties by name, 

 yet I cannot refrain from mentioning such indispensable plants 

 as Junijjeriis chimnsis, Betinospora squarrosa, Thuyopsis 

 dolahrata, Cupressus Lawsoniana stricta and variegated forms, 

 Betinospora filifera, Betinospora obtusa, with the Eed Cedar, the 

 Irish Yew, the Chinese Yew, and the Golden Yew. But having 

 once permitted myself and committed myself to names, how 

 shall I stop ? 



These should be so arranged as to give that charm of variety 

 in form and colour which can be so well secured by this means. 

 The deep glaucous green of some of the Cupressus, notably, say, 

 stricta or, better, Aliimii, the deep heavy green of the Yews, 

 the fluffy prettiness of Betinospora squarrosa, relieved with the 

 rich golden glory of foliage for which some of the better 

 variegated forms of the Cupressus and the Yews are conspicuous — 

 these, with a background of the taller Cypresses and with here 

 and there a straight-stemmed plant of Finns exoelsa and Fiiius 

 Cemhra kept within bounds, leave little to be desired in the way 

 of effective decoration in the form of a dense screen and shelter, 

 which is a thing of beauty and a joy for ever. In the early 

 spring and in the late autumn there is an indescribable freshness 

 and brightness about a border of Conifers of this character which 

 jnust be seen to be realised, for it cannot be described. 



Terraces and garden-beds may come in for consideration 

 here also, and I have always thought that there is ample room 

 for the freer introduction of Conifers for the purely ornamental 

 portion of the garden. We have scarcely gone any distance in 

 this direction, but wonderful effects are within reach, and these 

 would add real effectiveness to the brilliant beds and borders hot 

 with Geraniums and Petunias and Verbenas, and glowing with 

 the gold so profuse in the Lady-purses — the flowers of the gay 

 Calceolaria. It would be quite possible to invent a relief to this 



