62 
CONSERVATIVE WALL AT CHATSWORTH. 
autumn, in order that the soil may get well washed to the roots, before the leaves 
cover the trees in spring ; but in other situations there is scarcely a hazard at any 
season. 
Another recommendation to the plant is its ability to exist and flourish in 
almost any kind of soil and situation. In gravelly places, where the generality of 
other plants can hardly derive a sufficiency of nourishment to maintain a healthy 
growth, and a very large number will not even live, it will thrive and spread 
vigorously ; and it exhibits little repugnance to the most adhesive clay. A bushy 
and somewhat shady spot is most consonant with its habits, but it is not difficult 
to manage in exposed sunny places ; indeed, few plants are more accommodating. 
Where the walks through shrubberies and plantations are diversified with 
natural banks, artificial slopes, or rocky places, this Hypericum will be found an 
exceedingly appropriate ornament. It should, however, be planted in extended 
patches, and not scattered here and there in small isolated groups. It is 
frequently a difficult matter to find plants otherwise suitable that will exist on 
steep, gravelly banks, where it is impossible to fix any large quantity of soil so 
long as they remain naked. For such places this shrub is admirably suited, and 
when the bank is once covered, should the plants not grow with a satisfactory 
vigour, a small quantity of soil or decaying leaves may be thrown in amongst 
them from time to time. This will prove of great assistance, and the number of 
stems will prevent it from falling or being w T ashed to the bottom, as would 
invariably occur with a steep naked bank. But any aid of this kind will be 
almost rendered unnecessary when they are overhung with trees, by the falling 
leaves becoming entangled with their shoots, and settling down and rotting about 
their roots, and eventually acting as a manure. 
Besides these situations, it will be found an excellent plant for covering open 
spaces amongst rockwork extending into a plantation, or similar places running 
down to the margin of an artificial lake. In such places, amongst rocks (but no 
doubt planted), we have seen it in considerable quantities in the vicinity of some 
of our northern lakes, where its large yellow blossoms have a gay appearance. 
CONSERVATIVE WALL AT CHATSWORTH. 
The following list, which is furnished at the request of a subscriber, enumerates 
some of the more conspicuous plants which are found to succeed well on the Con- 
servative Wall at Chatsworth. There are many others of less import, which it is 
not considered necessary to insert in this list ; it being offered more for those w T ho 
may wish to possess a select than an extensive collection of such plants. Again 
there are others, which, although they grow well in this situation, and flower in great 
perfection during the summer and autumn months, are too fugitive to be admitted 
