320 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 20, 1882. 
trebled, my limited stock of a few hundreds, and am every year 
adding new ones. I may perhaps at some future time repeat those 
observations; but would ask your correspondent to state more defi¬ 
nitely the nature of his soil, situation, and, if he has no objection, 
the locality, when he plants or transplants, his system of doing so, 
the depth, exposure, and his system of maturation. Some of us may 
be able to then assist him with suggestions ?—W. J. M., Clonmel. 
OUR SHRUBBERY. 
In many establishments the shrubbery borders’are of great im¬ 
portance, and looked upon by some employers as one of the prin¬ 
cipal features of gardens. Unfortunately in many gardens this 
department is greatly neglected, especially as regards the choice 
of plants. In nine cases out of ten there is a deficiency of flower¬ 
ing shrubs and trees, and what I wish now is to draw attention to 
a few that render our borders gay in the spring months. These, 
if planted judiciously amongst the commoner plants, would greatly 
relieve the monotony of ordinary borders. Informing new shrub¬ 
beries a good selection of plants is indispensable, and if due con¬ 
sideration be given to the selection the shrubberies should be 
bright for several months in the year. The undermentioned are 
all beautifully in flower during April. 
Amongst the most prominent are the Berberries, and B. Darwinii 
is now about its best. This is a first-rate plant for borders or in 
small groups alone ; the branches appear to be weighed down 
with the quantity of flowers they have this year produced. The 
flowers are bright in colour, produced in clusters on the previous 
year’s growth. When sufficient space is allowed for it to develope, 
bushes 5 or 6 feet high and 8 feet through can be obtained, and 
when seen covered with their pendulous orange-coloured blossoms 
they are very attractive. B. stenopbylla, a garden hybrid, some¬ 
what resembles B. Darwinii, the last-named being one of the 
parents, but is a fortnight or more later in flowering ; it, however, 
is a useful variety, and deserves a place in any border. Mahonia 
(Berberis) fascicularis is a useful shrub, and is now handsome, 
the bright canary-yellow flowers being produced in clusters at the 
tips of the shoots. This is a plant suitable for planting in or near 
the front of a border. M. rotundifolia is nearly related to the 
latter, but has smooth leaves, and M. Murrayana is a good com¬ 
panion to the latter, but has large spiny leaves; the flowers are 
similar in size and colour. These make a grand display and look 
well at a distance. 
Spirasa prunifolia and S. prunifolia flore-pleno are amongst the 
earliest of the genus. These are valuable acquisitions on account 
of their pure white flowers produced the whole length of the pre¬ 
vious year’s growth. They look remarkably well with evergreen 
shrubs or planted singly as specimens. 
Pyruses are fine now. P. Mains and P. Walus floribunda are 
very pretty, the rose-coloured flowers being abundant. Following 
a little later is P. baccata, the individual flowers of which measure 
1^ inch across, are light rosy pink, and deliciously scented. The 
latter may be grown as bushe* or standards. When grown as 
standards they appear well planted towards the middle of the 
border ; they are also fine as single specimens. Pyrus japonica is 
well known. There are some varieties whiL-- tar surpass the type. 
P. japonica var. Maulei is a little gem, and deserves to be planted 
extensively; is very free-flowering, and extremely dwarf. P. japo¬ 
nica var. princeps is very rich in colour, but not nearly so free- 
flowering as the former ; and P. japonica var. nivalis is a valuable 
variety, with large white wax-like flowers. 
Prunus triloba succeeds well trained against a wall: it does 
equally well planted out as a bush. Those on the wall will, of 
course, flower first ; the flowers are double and soft pink. This 
plant is too little known. It is also useful for forcing. It is sur¬ 
prising how grand two or three of the common Cherries are just 
now, being covered with flowers. We have some in the borders 
here backed up with higher trees, and the effect is splendid whilst 
they are in flower. Amygdalus persica rosea is valuable for plant¬ 
ing amongst larger trees and shrubs ; the flowers are dark rose, 
and should certainly find a place. We must not pass the For- 
sythias, which have been in flower for some two or three weeks 
past. F. viridissima and F. Fortunei are both worth planting ; 
they are also useful for forcing. 
I am under the impression that the Bibes are not employed so 
much as they deserve for borders. E. sanguineum and its varieties 
are the most showy. R. sanguineum var. atrorubens has bright 
crimson flowers, and is very free-flowering. E. sanguineum var. 
atro-sanguineum has larger flowers but not so deep in colour ; the 
leaves are also larger than the last-named variety. R. sanguineum 
var. albida bears flowers of a pinkish white colour, and is worth 
growing. R. Gordonianum has flowers of a reddish yellow tint. 
The above are the best of the sanguineum section, and the follow¬ 
ing are three good yellow forms:—R. palmatum I consider the 
best, R. aureum, and R. aureum var. praecox, the latter of which 
bears the largest flowers, and, to add more to its value, is very 
fragrant. 
Magnolia conspicua is seldom seen. Why this should be is not 
easy to imagine. It has been grand for the last two or three weeks, 
and will last as much longer. The flowers are pure white, of good 
size and substance, and deliciously scented. The free-flowering 
habit of this plant, together with the usefulness of the flowers, are 
qualities sufficient to recommend it to anyone. Good formed bushes 
are not to be despised as specimens in the open. M. Yulan and 
its varieties should also be included. The flowers of M. Yulan 
differ considerably from the former in colour, being marked with 
purple ; in shape and size it closely approaches M. conspicua. 
Cytisus albus makes a good border plant ; the long sprays of pure 
white flowers contrast favourably with the surrounding dark green 
foliage. I lately saw some large bushes of the common Furze, also 
the double-flowered variety, planted amongst Laurels, Aucubas, kc., 
and the effect was very imposing. Amelanchier canadensis is 
always appreciated when in flower, and now its beautiful white 
flowers are very conspicuous ; this also appears well grown as 
single specimens. The above are only a few of the many neglected 
plants that should be more extensively cultivated. I have only 
mentioned those that are, and have been, in flower for some time 
past. A little later in the season I will note a lew more as they 
come into flower.—W. K. 
EARLY PEAS. 
My experience may possibly be of a little use to someone, for 
it is said, “In the multitude of councillors there is wisdom,” 
although it is also said, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” In 
December, 1S80, I sowed in a field Kentish Invicta and Suttons’ 
Early Champion. Both podded w r ell, and I commenced picking 
on the 3rd of the following June, which was very early for a 
field crop. Last November I sowed Ringleader, and a few 
rows near them of Kentish Invicta and Day’s Early Sunrise a 
fortnight later. To-day (17th April) Kentish Invicta are in bud, 
and will be in flower in three more days. Day’s Early Sunrise 
may be two days later, but the main piece of Ringleader will not 
flower for more than a week. My object being to obtain Peas for 
early market I shall discard Ringleader this year, and decide be¬ 
tween Early Sunrise and Kentish Invicta when I pick them. 
I am growing William I. for seed this year, for I obtained the 
seed too late to plant for an early crop.—H. S. E. 
QUEEN WASPS. 
I regret that “ C. T. H.” (page 285) cannot understand my 
letter on page 2G0. It seems plain enough. The passage quoted 
can imply nothing else than that the fewer wasps in spring the 
more in autumn, as well as the converse. As there is never a year 
with no spring wasps, though none may be seen, there will be no 
numerous swarms to be accounted for in such years. The correct¬ 
ness of my statement is simply a matter of observation. As to 
my differing from Mr. Wood in opinion, what of that ? He pro¬ 
bably assumed the fact without having his attention specially 
called to its incorrectness. 
Can any of your correspondents help me to an article in some 
scientific journal or in the proceedings of some society touching 
on this subject ? The result stated, as far as my memory serves 
me, was somewhat as follows :—That in a year with abundance of 
spiing wasps the writer had dissected two hundred, and found 
that they were all unimpregnated. Now I believe impregnation 
takes place in the autumn, and if so all these would necessarily 
be barren. Can the explanation be this—that females which have 
missed their chance in the autumn are the only individuals which 
made their appearance early in spring, while the breeding females 
remain dormant longer ? If so, an autumn unfavourable to im¬ 
pregnation would be followed by a great show of queens and vice 
versa. The article in question appeared, I should say, from 
twenty-five to thirty years ago, but I cannot say where. 
Perhaps some correspondent who has time and instruments 
would repeat the examination.— Duckwing. 
La Grosse Sccree Strawberry.— This is a far better variety for 
market purposes forced than Yicomtesse Hericart de Thury. The 
fruits being so much larger realise nearly double the price, and 
although it does not produce so many or so much in weight it pays 
better in the end. It is about four days earlier in ripening when 
both kinds are started at the same time. As regards quality La 
Grosse Sucree is inferior to the Yicomtesse both in texture and 
flavour, but for market purposes this is of no consequence, and where 
