120 
HARDY EVERGREENS. 
planting by the progress which trees will be 
likely to make. We confess, that although we 
might place a Cedar or two where they should 
never be disturbed, we should use them in 
clumps, (for which their future growtli would 
in time unfit them,) if it were only for the 
pleasure of their assistance while they were 
of a moderate size. We have no notion of 
depriving ourselves of the pleasure of a seven 
or fourteen years' acquaintance, merely be- 
cause that acquaintance would in twenty-one 
years require to be got rid of; but no ground 
of any pretensions should be without a Cedar 
or two, where they could be left to perfect 
their growth, whether that took one century 
or three. Its dark green foliage, and fine 
pyramidal growth, fits it for any place while 
it is in size congenial to the place ; and we 
should have no idea of doing without them 
because they outgrow our use. 
THE YEW. 
Mournful as the Yew may look in church- 
yards, it forms an admirable contrast to other 
Evergreens in gardens; we presume to appro- 
priate a few of them to diversify the bright 
foliage of the Hollies, and the lighter green 
of the Pinus tribe. It is especially fine in its 
appearance while young, and perhaps few 
trees equal it in noble effect when mature, 
where it is left to its growth, instead of being 
mangled and tortured, as it is in almost all 
cases. As a shrub it assists the Evergreen 
garden much, and adds one more to the most 
remarkable contrasts of colour to be found 
among the shades of green. This also should 
by rights be bought small or in pots. It is 
impatient of damage to its roots, and is one of 
the kinds of shrub which, to our mind, loses 
its character if much pruned ; although, as we 
see by the mangled remains in churchyards, 
they stand clipping and cutting up to a great 
age, and exhibit no signs of decay on that 
account. For these reasons we must press 
into our service for the winter garden, the 
Yew. The Common Yew, the Irish Yew, and 
the Variegated, are all we should care about ; 
but the common one would do alone. 
ANDROMEDA. 
This is a magnificent tribe of plants, com- 
prising many varieties and species ; but in 
plantations of the nature of shrubberies, we 
should be very choice. First and foremost we 
should select Andromeda Floribunda, as a rich, 
dwarf, and very handsome shrub, rarely met 
with of any size, and for a long time only to 
be found in the nursery of the Regent's Park, 
then in the possession of Mr. Jenkins, and 
after his death his executors, until the ground 
was disposed of to the Royal Botanical So- 
ciety. The late Mr. Jenkins, from some 
strange fancy, never would sell the plant, 
which was introduced from North America, 
and as far as the public knew, was exclusively 
in his hands, but kept for some time propa- 
gating it with considerable success ; and such 
was the value of the shrub, that we saw one 
at Mr. Low's, not eighteen inches high, for 
which he had given six guineas. It was dis- 
tributed a little before the gardens were given 
up; but some of the best specimens in the 
kingdom are now in the possession of the 
Royal Botanical Society. This fine shrub 
grows very bushy, and, as its name implies, is 
a most abundant bloomer; but it always looks 
well from the moment the buds show, and 
continues improving until they fairly open, 
which occupies several months, from before 
Christmas till May. The first plant we ever 
saw was shown at the Horticultural rooms, in 
a pot, and a medal was awarded for it : we 
forget to whom. It is doubtful whether the 
plant can be had now under half-a-guinea, of 
any size adapted for a border or shrubbery 
clump ; for it is not so well grown anywhere, 
nor so well propagated as it used to be by 
Jenkins himself. The bloom comes at the 
end of every sprig, and is branching : when 
perfect, the terminal of every shoot is a 
little tree of white bells ; but the whole plant, 
when bloomed well, is covered ; all the flowers 
standing and spreading out above the foliage. 
It is one of the most charming little shrubs in 
cultivation, and must be placed very forward, 
or it would be lost and smothered. A small 
plant would be many years before it reached 
two feet high. Andromeda Arborea is a 
handsome tree, but would make a shrub, if 
wanted, by stopping the shoots, and forcing it 
to break out at the bottom, or low down the 
sides. This is, in the ordinary way, a noble 
plant, and worthy of a place anywhere. It 
does not bloom so abundantly, nor nearly so, 
nor does it flower at all until it has attained a 
good size. This must not be placed too 
forward, though it does not grow so fast as 
many shrubs and trees. It does not bloom 
till August. Of the hardy kinds there are 
nearly fifty, but beyond the two we have 
mentioned, we would recommend none, with- 
out their being chosen at the nursery. 
PHILLYREA. 
This tribe is only valued for its evergreen 
qualities, forming, as it does, a small-leafed 
variety of foliage as compared with Holly, or 
large as compared with Box. There are 
several kinds ; but if necessary at all, as a 
diversity with others, two or three of the 
sorts are enough, and these should be chosen. 
One of the handsomest of the green sorts, and 
another of the variegated, will perhaps be 
considered sufficient, when we are backed by 
all the Evergreens we have already mentioned. 
Something may also be said on the score of 
