TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. I()3 
TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 
By Samuel Heaton, F.R.H.S. 
It is with some diffidence I write of the trees and shrubs in the 
Garden Isle; for I seem to hear many Fellows of the Royal 
Horticultural Society say that they have been through the 
island many times, both on foot and by coach, and have observed 
nothing of special excellence to note. And this is quite true. 
But the trees and shrubs I am about to draw attention to are to 
be found in private gardens and not by the highways and hedges, 
where many of them would undoubtedly luxuriate and lend addi¬ 
tional beauty to the charms of this naturally picturesque island. 
The enterprise displayed by private individuals in beautifying 
their gardens should be a stimulus to all public bodies to beautify 
the island as a whole, and make it more attractive to visitors, 
who are an important factor in the prosperity of the Garden Isle. 
The monotony of the streets and buildings might be relieved by 
trees and shrubs planted in suitable positions and convenient 
places; the public halls might be made more attractive and 
inviting if clothed with window-boxes; and the open spaces 
could be made more picturesque and interesting if relieved with 
shrubs in boxes or tubs, as may be seen in Manchester and other 
places. But, alas ! the public authorities seem to take no interest 
in the arboricultural charms of the island. 
The generally undulating surface of the Isle of Wight un¬ 
doubtedly affords exceptional convenience and opportunity for 
the cultivation of rare trees and shrubs of a so-called Half-hardy 
nature. 
The length of the island, east to west, is about twenty-two 
miles ; the width, north to south, about thirteen miles ; and the 
circumference about sixty miles. The average rainfall is about 
28 inches per annum, and the mean temperature about 50° F. 
In addition to the ordinary forest trees or “ hard-woods,” and 
the Coniferse, the Euonymus, Tamarisk, Laurustinus, Bays, 
Fuchsias, Veronicas, and Hydrangeas are to be seen well repre¬ 
sented in all parts of the island ; whilst here and there in 
some of the best-kept gardens, and those most favourably 
situated, may be seen plants of Eucalyptus, Phillyrea latifolia, 
