June 9, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
427 
I QUITE agree with “ C. C.” that shrubberies in the majority of 
gardens are not what they ought to be. Those who are re¬ 
sponsible for the arrangement of the plants pay too much attention 
to the evergreen kinds, which are beautiful in winter no doubt, but 
are often planted to the exclusion of many charming and useful 
flowering shrubs of a deciduous character. When this takes place 
I think it is time to protest against the scanty appearance of the 
shrubberies during the spring and early summer months. All 
gardens ought to possess a collection of hardy flowering trees, no 
matter how small they may be. At the seasons indicated there is 
no pleasure to be derived from a walk round the shrubbery borders 
if little else but evergreens are planted, because these are then 
changing in appearance, either by making new growth, wLich alters 
their colour very much, or by flowering, which certainly gives 
variety, but is not sufficiently interesting to warrant their inclusion 
to such an extent as to debar many flowering kinds that are real 
objects of beauty when planted and treated properly. 
What I call the “ dot ” system of planting shrubberries with 
evergreen or flowering plants is too much in vogue. A much 
better plan is to plant more in a mass, so as to give a brighter 
effect when the trees are in bloom. Take, for instance, double¬ 
flowering Gorse, which “ C. C.” does not name. The effect of a 
dozen plants in a mass is much better than that of the same 
number dotted about singly. The same remark applies to ever¬ 
green shrubs. Three trees of the common Juniperus chinensis are 
far more effective if grouped than standing singly. Some persons 
may perhaps regard my remarks upon this subject as quite out of 
season, but now is the time to take note of irregularities and to 
make suggestions for alterations in the autumn. The present 
affords many more opportunities of judging whether the trees 
and shrubs are in the right position or not than can be had 
later on. 
It is wonderful how many kinds of flowering trees and shrubs 
will annually give an abundant crop of blossoms with a minimum 
amount of attention in the way of either top-dressing or manuring 
when the branches are kept thin. Immunity from overcrowding 
is the great point in prolonging their floriferousness year after 
year. If overcrowding take place the crop of flower will soon 
get thin. Of course something depends upon the kind of soil in 
which the trees are growing. Perhaps that which is light and 
sandy will not give the same results as that which is of an opposite 
character, heavy and retentive, as in my case. I know that a great 
number of the flowering trees and shrubs here did not receive a 
scrap of manure when they were planted a dozen years since, nor 
have they had any during that time, and still they flourish. This 
surely is a point in favour of planting flowering trees and shrubs 
more extensively. 
I should like to supplement these remarks by calling attention 
to a few kinds in addition to those named by “ C. C.” Magnolia 
purpurea is a capital sort to succeed conspicua ; the flowers are a 
little larger, and the purple tint on the petals renders it showy. 
M. Soulangeana is very similar in colour, but still later in opening 
its blossoms. Amongst the Laburnums quoted alpinum—the Scotch 
variety—is perhaps the most graceful. The drooping chain-like 
flowers are not so numerous as the others, but their natural 
elegance, combined with the deeper hue of the foliage, is more 
No. 624.— VoL. XXIV., Third Sekibs. 
appreciated than any other, especially when standing alone on 
grass. The habit of this variety is more tree-like than any of 
them. In addition to Amelanchier Botryapium, which is generally 
known as the Snowy Mespilus, A. florida is well worthy of a 
position. We have several tall standards of it growing amongst 
and over the top of dark evergreens, and the contrast between 
their foliage and the pure white freely produced blossoms of the 
Mespilus during May is very fine. The Siberian Crab deserves 
far more attention than it at present receives. We have a tree 
growing on grass 40 feet high and as much in diameter ; the 
lower branches sweep the ground, and it is one mass of bloom over 
every part of the tree. The inside branches are as thickly clothed 
as the outer. The worst enemy this and the Almonds have is the 
bullfinch, which is exceedingly partial to the buds when swelling. 
When this cause of complaint is removed the Siberian Crab is a 
noble example of our spring flowering trees. 
The Judas Tree is but seldom seen ; its purple flowers, which 
are produced from the main stem and branches apparently without 
any previous growth, are curious and pleasing. We grow the 
Weigelas rosea and amabilis as a hedge on the top of a bank 
facing north. On the southern side there is a tall Laurel hedge, 
which provides an agreeable contrast to the freely produced 
blossoms of the Weigelas. The latter are the result of inducing 
vigorous shoots annually by removing many of those which are 
weak from the centre of the bushes. Cydonia japonica we grow as 
a hedge, and in this way it looks quite at its best ; the flowers are 
brought nearer together, giving a fuller effect. For the shrubbery 
Lilacs are indispensable. Charles X. deserves a foremost place, 
the growth being strong and upright it is well fitted for mixing 
with other plants. Keep the wood thin and plenty of flowers will 
be had. The common Jew’s Mallow, Kerria japonica, is a true 
cottager’s plant. In this locality a quantity of it is grown against 
the front wall of cottages, where it succeeds better than elsewhere. 
The warmth from the wall ripens the wood thoroughly, producing 
abundance of bloom. 
A shrub seldom seen is Buddlea globosa, the orange-coloured 
ball-like flowers of which smell strongly of honey, and are freely 
produced in June. Unfortunately the last two winters have played 
sad havoc with both large and small plants, but it is easily raised 
from cuttings, and grows so rapidly that another stock can quickly 
be raised. The Siberian Pea Tree, Caragana arborescens pendula, 
is not often met with. Its yellow Pea-like blossoms are showy 
during July. The Bird Cherry, Cerasus Padus, grew so fast with us 
and required so much room that the plants had to be relegated to a 
position on the margin of’a pond in the park:, where they make a 
great show when in flower. To enumerate all the varieties of the 
Spirsea family would require a considerable amount of space. Two 
varieties worth adding to those already quoted are S. prunifolia 
fl.-pL, the small rosette-like blossoms of which are thickly set on 
arching branches, and S. arifolia, which produces its long plume¬ 
like flowers in July.' The latter is amenable to two forms of treat¬ 
ment. It will either grow as a tall bush, or can be annually cut 
down to within 3 feet of the ground. 
The Berberis family provides much that is useful for our 
shrubbery borders. B. Beali, with its massive foliage, bears 
richly perfumed and showy blossams freely during February. 
B. Darwini as a bush in the shrubbery, or what is perhaps 
more effective, growing close by the waterside, is very fine. It 
may not be generally known that this orange-coloured Barberry 
makes a capital hedge ; we have two fully 50 yards long. The 
common form of B. aquifolium is much more useful for planting 
under tall forest trees than many think. A mass of it 12 feet 
square is planted on a sloping bank, out of which are growing 
three bushes of Golden Queen Holly,, which give an agreeable 
effect. 
One more word, and that is in favour of those princely varieties 
of the Mock Orange Gordonianus and grandiflorus, which are only 
No. 2280.— VoL. LXXXVI., Old Series. 
