£96 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ XoreniJ>er 133). 
beauty—often great beauty—even in a thicket, but if you intend 
having a thicket, plant for it just as carefully as you plant for fine 
specimens, but neither should be the result of an accident. The 
individuality of a grove or thicket are as distinct, and often more 
telling, than that of single specimens, and both are attractive 
features in a garden. Here is a charming picture taken from an 
account of a visit to Herring the artist’s Kentish home. ‘ White 
and red Rosebuds just bursting into bloom, clustered round the 
verandah, and from it the outline of the pleasant woods of 
Penshurst, which 
“ ‘ Heard the sounds of Sydney’s song, 
Perchance of Surrey’s reed,’ : ’ 
was just visible in the drowsy distance. Partridges were feeding 
on the lawn, and scarcely caring to rise on the wing, or run behind 
the purple Beech at your approach ; the deep coo of the wood 
pigeons as they perch on the Scotch and Silver Firs, which towered 
above the thickly interlaced grove of Holly and Laburnum, so 
vocal with its song of spring, was all in harmony with a painter’s 
home.’ How it breathes of the restful seclusion and quiet beauty 
of a home in the country ! All is in harmonious repose, and the 
purple Beech, Firs, Holly, and Laburnum, and clustering Rosebuds 
all appeal to one like old familiar friends. There is an amount of 
character about every one of them that tells in a garden as few 
introductions of later date have done. Breadth of colouring 
O 
always tells, and is far more satisfactory than a motley group that 
is more like a patch taken from a nurseryman’s show borders than 
anything else. I once designed a garden which contained many 
raised banks with bold curves and deep nooks, each of which should 
have had its own peculiar features distinct in themselves, yet in 
harmony with the remainder. But unfortunately the planting was 
placed in the hands of a nurseryman, who simply crammed the 
whole of the borders with choice specimens, with a result of 
singular uniformity, utterly devoid of repose, and which was 
decidedly insipid after one inspection. 
“ In contrast with this mistake take another bank crowned with 
Pinus insignis, which in some parts came right down to the bottom 
of the bank, sweeping thence upwards and along the slopes in 
graceful curves, in which was space for Silver Birches, Liquidamber, 
Scarlet Horse Chestnut, some of the best Maples, Scarlet Oak, 
Mountain Ash, Snowy Mespilus, and Acacia. Some curves con¬ 
tained two or three of these lovely deciduous gems, while others 
had only one of them. The effect was indeed most pleasing, and 
the scene grows in beauty year by year, so much so that I hope to 
repeat it elsewhere. One only regrets that Pinus insignis cannot 
be planted more generally, for where it does answer it is a veritable 
queen among Pinuses. 
“A much bolder effect upon a hillside was obtained by a free use 
of large masses of Pinus austriaca, Larch, Scotch Fir, Beech, Wild 
Cherry, Maples, Horse Chestnuts, Tulip Trees, Scarlet Oak, and 
AVhite Birch. The effect during summer is exceedingly good, and 
in autumn it is lovely. This blending of deciduous with evergreen 
growth is always desirable, and is entirely satisfactory in skilful 
hands. It gives the planter scope for tasteful combinations, and 
imparts clothing and warmth to a landscape throughout the year. 
“ How frequently has one cause for regret, both at unskilful 
grouping and the subsequent neglect of trees that are so generally 
planted too thickly. In my long journeys by road and rail it is 
quite an exception to meet with really well managed timber. Even 
hedgerow trees are seldom fine timber or flourishing specimens, and 
belts and clumps frequently have an air of neglect, which betokens 
all too plainly a lack of knowledge, to use no stronger term. Much 
caution is necessary in any attempt at the improvement of trees 
that have often been left untouched and uncared for during many 
years. I have occasionally been consulted about them, and am 
only too glad when judicious thinning and trimming prove to be 
possible.” 
It will be conceded that our correspondent writes sensibly, and 
the work he has done affords sufficient evidence of his capacity tc* 
teach sound doctrine on the subject in question. 
IIARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
The weather, which for some days was exceedingly stormy, has' 
again become more settled, and as usual, frost not having been so 
severe as further inland, flowers have not suffered much. AVe have 
still Dahlias in flower, and Tropaeolums, among the first to suffer 
in frost, are yet in bloom. This being the case with such tender 
plants, hardy flowers were comparatively uninjured. The Asters 
are among the finest plants in the garden at present, and one is 
glad to find them becoming increasingly appreciated. I have of 
late been repeatedly asked by friends if I could give them pieces 
of such fine varieties as amellus bessarabicus, novae-anglife ruber 
formosissimus, longifolius var. formosus, and diffusus var. hori- 
zontalis. The latter has attracted much attention when in full 
flower, as it has been for a fortnight or more, and for neatness of 
habit and general gracefulness of appearance it is difficult to find 
a compeer. The flowers are very small—white, with red centres 
and somewhat reflexed petals. Individually, or when cut, theso 
flowers are of little effect, but the plant when in flower is exceed¬ 
ingly pleasing, the deep green foliage and the multitude of flowers 
making it look like a bush sprinkled plentifully with snowflakes. 
AVith me it grows about 3 feet in height. I have had this species 
for some twelve or thirteen years, and am a little surprised to find 
some good hardy plant growers who have been until now unac¬ 
quainted with it. 
A. formosissimus well deserves its specific name, which means 
“most beautiful.” It is of good habit, grows with me about 
4 feet, and produces many flowers of the finest colour. The fault 
of the varieties of A. novaj-anglias is their ungainly habit and the 
comparatively few flowers produced for cutting purposes. It is,, 
however, invaluable. Chrysanthemums are still aiding in the 
garden display, and we hope the increasing interest taken in October 
flowering varieties will add some more varieties which will prolong' 
their season outside. 
AVe have, as usual with mild weather in autumn, many unsea¬ 
sonable flowers. Alyssum saxatile has been in flower for about two 
■months, but the appearance it presents is most forlorn as compared' 
with its effect in spring. Instead of the masses of old gold cover¬ 
ing the leaves as with a carpet of cloth of gold, a few stray spikesr 
only are thrown up above the greyish leaves of the plant, and one. 
longs for the time when its vernal robe will again cover it with 
beauty. Auriculas and Primroses must needs present themselves, 
while one or two of the giant Thrifts which with me are almost 
continuous bloomers, lift their tall wiry stems above their pretty tufts 
of grass-like leaves. Some of the Aubrietias have never ceased to. 
flower all the season, but, like the Alyssum, they only present the 
shadow of things to come. Erinus alpinus, which is quite at homer 
in my light soil, throws up many stray spikes of its pretty little* 
flowers. Seedlings of this vary considerably in colour, some pale> 
some bright purple, and some bright rose. Erysimum pulchellam is. 
bearing many little yellow flowers, which are borne on extremely 
short stems hardly rising among the foliage. These flowers are not 
nearly so freely produced as in spring, but as a set-off to this the* 
spring flowers are carried on stalks which are then too long in pro - 
portion to the size of the flowers. I do not believe this will ever 
become a popular or useful border plant, nor do I think it will be 
thought one of the choicest of our rock plants ; but I feel sure if 
more could only see it as it does with me, it would be more generally- 
grown . I grow it on a narrow ledge of the rockery less than 3 inches- 
across, and allow it to grow down over the front of a large stone,, 
which is soon covered with a cushion of evergreen small AVallflower- 
like leaves. As a covering plant for an upright stone it has few 
equals. I wish, however, to be perfectly frank a3 to its defects, and 
thus have again to warn the reader that its spring effect is not so 
neat as one would wish. It seems to become better the longer it is 
established, as last year, after being four years planted, it was finer 
than ever. This Hedge Mustard (“ popular ” names are not always 
attractive) is easily grown from seed, and large plants are difficult 
to establish. 
Eucomis punctata, spoken of on page 335 by Mr. Skinner, is- 
quite hardy with us here, requiring no protection. My plant did 
not flower this year, having been robbed by another flower being too 
close, but it flowers well here and in some other gardens in the 
vicinity. It is wellw'orth growing, and although dull in colour it 
is a plant w r hich stands and needs careful inspection to appreciate 
thoroughly. AVhat a harbour it is for small flies, attracted probably 
by the perfume, which is so powerful as to be hardly agreeable. I 
have never seen a bee on this plant. Can anyone state anything as 
to this point ? Anemones are again beginning to flower. Lasix 
, winter we had them in the open all throughout the winter with a 
