448 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ November 18, 1886. 
(Sequoia sempervirens) is omitted. It is no use except in very sheltered 
situations, and then it does f/.irly well, but at best is very uncertain. 
The Yew. —The Common Yew (Taxus baccata) is well known, and 
of specimen size, 30 feet or more high and spreading. It is unique in its 
sombre grandeur. I think nothing approaches the Yew in stately im¬ 
pressiveness. 
The Upright or Fulham Yew (Taxus baccata erecta).—Smaller foliage, 
forming a very massive and effective pyramid. The Flattened Yew (T. 
baccata adpressa).—The foliaae closely set on the numerous branches, 
stricta being its best form. The beautiful variegated (T. baccata elegan- 
tissima) is a dense spreading bush, and is very effective. The variegated 
Upright Yew (Taxus baccata erecta variegata) is a pleasing variety, and 
contrasting in form well with the preceding one. In contrast with these 
we have the Sea Green Yew (glaucal, dark green above and glaucous 
beneath, quick growing and spreading; and the singular horizontal- 
branched Yew (horizontalis), and the Gold-striped Yew (T. baccata 
variegata), which is so frequently worked on the top of Irish Yews, and 
looks so uncharming and unbeautiful. All except the pyramidal require 
large space laterally. 
The Florence Court or Irish Yew (Taxus baccata fastigiata).—Distinct, 
stiff, bundle-like, with sombre daik foliage. It is, perhaps, more used 
for the margins of terraces, walk angles, and on lawns than any 
other Conifer, and for cutting up flat surfaces and lines marked 
by formality is very serviceable. It is thought to give depth and colour, 
which it may to statuary, and it would be well if they were kept nearer 
buildings than we usually see them. I cannot but think it is much too 
frequently seen, and as a specimen I would use it very sparingly. Its 
variegated forms are not of much account. Taxus Washingtoni or Golden 
American Yew has the whole of the foliage more or less tinted with gold. 
In specimens it is beautiful, being a low spreading bush. 
Yews are very accommodating. They will grow on light soil, but are 
not so fine or free as on good soils, liking loams, and abhorring stiff clays. 
A free moist soil, freed of lodging water, is where they revel most, and 
they succeed well in shade only not too dried and impoverished by the 
roots and heads of other trees. The Prumnopitys elegans partakes of the 
character of the Yews, and is a very elegant dwarf tree. It is really 
elegant in comparison with Yews. 
The Larch. —The Larch in a plantation is not very beautiful. Grown 
singly, allowed to assume its towering height of 90 to 100 feet, and spread 
laterally without hindrance, clothed from base to summit with its grace¬ 
ful arms, and seen in spring with its drooping spray of soft green leaves, 
amid which its young crimson cones glisten, or in autumn when assuming 
its amber tint, I question if any in the whole trine of Conifers are as 
attractive and beautiful. It is, indeed, a lawn tree of the first order, and 
lights the leaden landscape with softening splendour. If there is not 
coloour enough in the common Larch (Larix europaea), take the golden 
L. Kaempferi, light green in spring, and golden yellow in autumn. There 
is also the silver L. europaea glauca, as silvery as the Deodar, and there 
is also the European and American Weeping. Larch likes good soil deep 
and moist, but not from stagnant moisture, and on a knoll it will hold its 
own with any of its compeers for elegance and beauty. 
The Deciduous Cypress (Tax odium distichum), is very beautiful 
in spiing and autumn, but u .fortunately does not succeed everywhere. 
Its light graceful habit gives it a peculiar fitness for association and 
contrast with dark foliage, but appears only Buited to rich open loams 
where its roots can have moisture, and the climate is mild or well 
sheltered. On light soils it succeeds fairly well for a time, not, however, 
assuming that dense habit and freshness so characteristic of it in free 
soil where the roots have access to moisture at some little distance, being 
especially effective on the bank of a rivulet or lake. 
The Maidenhair Tree (Salisburia adiantifolia).—A singular tree, 
and very distinct as a Conifer. It does best in good soil, light in pre¬ 
ference to heavy, and being of conical habit does not require a large 
space, about medium will meet its requirements. It is a picturesque 
rather than beautiful object, and in contrast with the Larch and Deci¬ 
duous Cypress is very effective, its foliage being singularly and effectively 
contrasting, and with a ba kground of tall dark Pines is very pleasing. 
In specimens it is very effective, even when leafless. There is a variety 
with cut leaves—viz , S. adiantif -lia laciniata ; the leaves are variably 
lobed and irregularly dentated. It is equally ornamental, if not more 
so, with the species. 
Conifers are perhaps best transplanted in early autumn so soon as the 
growth is complete and hardened, moist weather being chosen for the 
operation, and in spring when on the point of starting into growth. 
The chief point to insure success are plants grown so that they have 
light and air for their due furnishing and development, and transplanted 
frequently so as to insure moving with good balls. Thus attended to 
periodically from the early stages, large plants are safely moved, and an 
effect produced at once. For general purposes the smaller plants are 
much the best if they have sufficiently developed. 
The after treatment consists in pruning or regulating the growths to 
insure a perfect specimen. This is a very simple, but none the less neces¬ 
sary matter. If the tree forms two leads or more they should ouly 
remain until choice can be made of the best and the other removed ; or 
if the subject lise its leader altogether then a growth most likely to 
furnish one must be encouraged and given its proper position, securing it 
the necessary advantages by staking or a support secured to the main 
stem, and tying effectively but not too tightly, or the remedy will be 
worse than the disease. In like manner irregularities must be curbed. 
A gross shoot must be shortened or removed, so that a hump will not 
appear on one side and a hollow on the other. The gross shoot must be 
shortened or removed, so as to cause scant parts to become furnished—at 
least made alike, so as to insure symmetry ; and for like reason a 
straggling growth on one side must he shortened, so as to make it accord 
with the side corresponding. Little attentions in these respects are 
necessary. It is not much that is needed, yet the little must not be over¬ 
looked. Wherever there is irregularity remove it, and in spring or 
during growth. It is the only way to have specimens with certainty 
and if they come naturally all the better. 
Those wanting to see what trees can do will trench the ground as 
deeply as the good soil allows, and not be afraid of loosening the stubborn 
pan beneath. To keep the roots active, surface dressings of leaf soil will 
be given, or of any fresh soil that is available, not of great thickness, but 
thin and frequently—say, annually or biennially, and in autumn or 
winter. Trees that are getting enfeebled may have a dressing of fresh 
rough loam on the surface. It will weight the roots and keep the 
tree from being uprooted, and by encouraging a greater profusion of 
fresh roots the tree will be recuperated and stand better, because having 
better hold of the soil.—G. Abbey. 
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES. 
October blooming Japanese Chrysanthemums. — I am sure all 
lovers of Chrysanthemums will feel indebted to Mr. Davis and the Com¬ 
mittee of the National Society for the evident pains taken to make 
their catalogue complete, and not less for the disposition to receive 
suggestions tending in that direction. As new editions are certain to be 
called for, I would like to ask him whether he wou'd not think it an 
improvement to have a separate class for those? Even with me in the 
open-air, James Salter and its sport Ladv Selborne, Alexander Dufour, 
Elaine, Margot, Henri Jacotot, Mons. Mousillac, and several others at 
present included in the general list, when crown buds were used, were 
blooming on a south wall in mid-0 rioter.—W. J. Murphy, Clonmel. 
Maiden’s Blush. —This variety when more generally known will be 
injvery strong demand amongst cultivators. Although classed in cata¬ 
logues as an exhibition variety, I venture to predict it will be extensively 
grown as a decorative plant. My reason for thinking so is that I have 
three dozen plants in 12, 9, and 24-inch pots ; tho habit of all of them is 
exceedingly good, their average height being a little over 3 feet from the 
rim of the pot with healthy bright green foliage, much after the manner 
of a Chrysanthemum I have heard called Magnum Bonum, very common 
here (Ipswich) as an outdoor plant. I also grew as a trial three in the 
open ground. They are thicker plants, but not quite so tall as those in 
pots bearing a quantity of blooms of a much deeper colour than those 
under glass. With respect to the colour of Maiden’s Blush, that must be 
a matter of opinion. For my part I prefer them when they have been in 
bloom about three weeks, as at that time they are almost pure white, 
having the appearance of lasting for a considerable time.—F. C. B. 
HIGH AND DEEP PLANTING. 
Although I have chosen a new heading for my remarks, it will be 
found that it is nothing more nor less than a continuation of the subject 
of “ Trenched v. Untienched Soil,” and as such I hope it will be met by 
my rather numerous opponents. 
From this time onwards the work of root-pruning, lifting, and re¬ 
planting of trees of all kinds will be undertaken in different places all 
over the country, and many a blunder will be discovered, I am afraid, and 
many another error committed. In some cases f»ultv practices arise 
from a want of thought or judgment on the part of those responsible, one 
great mistake being to treat all soils alike. Anyone possessing a very 
slight knowledge of geology, and more especially that branch relating to 
the natural formation of this country, are aware that the surface soils as 
well as the underlying strata vary to a surprising extent. I may even 
go further, and add that they also vary considerably, not only in one 
parish, but, as in our case, in a limit of four acres of k tchen garden ; yet, 
if we are to believe several correspondents of the Journal of Horticulture, 
little or no heed should be paid to the peculiarity of our sods, but all alike 
will be benefited by deep culture or trenching in some form or other. 
They go to work on the lines that what is sauce for the goose is equally 
good for the gander, as witness how few indeed that admit there is any 
risk attending trenching, no matter how bad the subsoil may be. Trench¬ 
ing ha9 become a time-honoured custom, and nearly every votary pilots 
with pride to his different quarters that were double-dug at a certain date. 
As a consequence those who venture to question the propriety of the 
practice are liable to be “ sat'upon,” but whether that would “ serve them 
right” remains to be seen. Before any ne starts trenching ground they 
should consider the matter well, and not too readily arrive at the conclu¬ 
sion that a deep root-action is bound to be beneficial to whatever they 
intend to cultivate. Will the roots do better service on the surface or 
deep down into a cold subsoil, or even the partially cultivated second 
spit ? If it can be proved that they are best well bel >w, then by all 
means break off and manure as deeply as possible; but on the other hand 
if it is found to be the case that the most productive fruit trees, for in¬ 
stance, are root ng principally near the surface, wbat motive can any¬ 
one have for trying to alter this satisfactory state of affairs ? 
On page 335 a very practical c rrespondent states he gets his best 
fruit from trees growing in the poorest shallowest parts of the garden. He 
at any rate does not appear to have believed in trenching, but prefers to 
feed and support the roots from the surface, an 1 if more would follow 
this example there would be much less need to import the bulk of choice 
