312 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ April 20, 1393. 
The finest tree of C. atlantica was planted in 184B, and is 64 feet high 
and 5 feet 10 inches in girth, well clothed, and of splendid shape. 
C. Libani argentea measures 84 feet in height, with a girth of Id feet. 
The genus Abies, almost without exception, thrives remarkably well, 
and the majority of them are branched to the ground. The finest of 
this class is a tree of Abies Douglassi, the Douglas Fir, which w’as 
planted in 1830, and is now over 120 feet in height, and has a girth of 
11 feet 9 inches, and branches sweep the ground at a diameter of 64 feet. 
The seed from which this tree was raised was sent to Lord Grenville by 
the Royal Horticultural Society in 1827, and although snowstorms in 
the winter of 1880-81 had broken several of the upper branches, the 
specimen is fast outgrowing the damage it sustained. It is the parent 
of several trees planted in different parts of the estate ; and one, which 
was planted 1843 is 78 feet high, and has a girth of 8 feet 2 inches, 
and a spread of 39 feet; a perfectly formed specimen. 
Before going further I may state that the “ girths ” of all trees 
mentioned in this paper have been taken at 3 feet from the ground. 
Abies Albertiana, Prince Albert’s Fir, planted in 1861, is now over 
60 feet in height, girdi 5 feet 3 inches ; a beautiful specimen, its 
branches touch the ground, and it has a spread of 40 feet in diameter. 
A. amabilis, planted in 1847 ; height 48 feet 6 inches, girth 6 feet 
9 inches. A. Brunoniana, the Indian Hemlock Fir, planted in 1847 ; 
height 42 feet, circumference of branches at base 134 feet. A. cepha- 
lonica, the Greek Silver Fir, planted in 1843 ; height 71 feet, girth 
3 feet 7 inches, a very fine tree. A concolor, planted in 1857 ; height 
51 feet, girth 5 feet 9 inches ; a very good specimen ; was bought at 
Chelsea when 3 inches high for 3 guineas. Abies grandis, the tall Silver 
Fir, planted in 1861 ; height 64 feet, girth 6 feet 6 inches, spread of 
branches 55 feet. A very handsome tree, has leaves of a rich green, the 
branches touch the ground on all sides. A. Menziesi, Menzies’ Fir, 
planted in 1841 ; height 73 feet, girth 7 feet 3 inches of clean growth : 
very symmetrical. A. nobilis, the Noble Fir, planted in 1835 ; height 
71 feet, girth 7 feet 9 inches. A beautiful, well clothed, branched to 
the ground. A. pectinata, the common Silver Fir ; height 94 feet, girth 
8 feet 6 inches. A. pindrow, the Indian Silver Fir ; rarely attains 
any height in this country, it begins to grow early in the spring, and is 
usually nipped by the frosts later in the season. A pinsapo, the Spanish 
Silver Fir, planted in 1843 ; height 65 feet, girth 6 feet 10 inches. 
A. Smithiana, the Indian Spruce, planted in 1843 ; height 61 feet, girth 
7 feet, spread of branches 38 feet in diameter. A splendid tree, branches 
hanging on the ground. A. taxifolia, planted in 1841 ; a well grown 
tree about 60 feet in height. 
According to the " Genus Pinus,” a work by Lambert, published in 
1832, the Dropmore collection of Pines was then the finest and most 
complete in the kingdom. The majority of that collection have gone 
the way of all trees, but there are a few old veterans left, and they look 
grand and noble in their old age, more especially on a bright day in 
early spring, when the sun brightens up the red tints of the bark, which 
is relieved by the green of the leaves above. 
Amongst the Pinuses are Pinus Benthamiana, a variety of P. pon- 
derosa, planted in 1843 ; height 56 feet, girth 6 feet 3 inches, one of the 
most strikingly handsome trees of the genus, its long leaves are of a 
most beautiful green. P. excelsa, the Himalayan Pine, planted in 1845; 
a fine tree, well clothed, growing healthily and bearing numbers of 
cones annually. P. insignis, the “ Remarkable ” Pine, planted in 1839, 
height 90 feet, girth 11 feet 2 inches, usually considered very tender and 
delicate, but here it grows robustly and is rarely injured by frosts. 
P. JefEreyii, Jeffrey’s Pine, height 47 feet, girth 4 feet 6 inches. 
P. escarene, a variety of P. pinaster, planted in 1841, raised from seed 
produced here from a tree presented to Lord Grenville by Lord Aber¬ 
deen. P. Laricio, the Corsican Pine, planted in 1829, height 96 feet, 
girth 9 feet 9 inches, a grand tree, a giant amongst Pines, P. Lambert- 
iana, the Sugar Pine, planted in 1843, height 71 feet, girth 8 feet 
9 inches, a splendid specimen. P. ponderosa, the western Pitch Pine, 
planted in 1829, height 85 feet, girth 8 feet 9 inches, a good timber tree 
with a clean straight bole. P. Pallasiana, the Crimean Pine, height 
'.*6 feet, girth 11 feet. P. Pyrenaica, the Pyrenean Pine, height 86 feet, 
girch 9 feet, P. Strobus, the Weymouth Pine, a very large tree. 
P. Strobus aP'a, a variety of P. Strobus, but with more silvery leaves, 
very brittle branches. 
Another noteworthy specimen is Cryptomeria Lobbi, planted in 1843, 
which has attained a height 53 feet, and perfectly straight. Of Crypto¬ 
meria japonica, the Japanese Cedar, there are also some fine specimens 
of good shape and with branches to the ground. Cunninghamia 
sinensis, no date, hei ht 39 feet, girth 4 feet 10 inches, branches within 
5 feet of the ground, growing well, but some of the lower branches die 
annually. Thuia gigantea, Lobb’s Arbor Vitre, height 62 feet, girth 
6 feet 6 inches, a very fine specimen. Sequoia sempervirens, the Cali¬ 
fornian Re woi)d Tiee, planted in 1845, has made a very fine tree, fully 
So feet in height and branches hanging on the ground. Taxodium 
distichum, the D ciiluous Cypress, grows freely near the water’s edge, 
Wellingtoiiia gigamea, the Mammoth Tree, planted in 1857, height 67 feet, 
girth 11 feet 3 incnes, and another specimen planted in 1862, 62 feet in 
height, girth 12 feer ; taking age into consideration these are two very 
fine tree^, the branches touch the ground and the trees are growing 
robustly. 
Thecollection also includes good sized healthy trees of Abies canadensis 
(the Hemlock Sp-uce), A. nigra (the Black Spruce), A. carpatica, 
A. Jt-z )ensis (the Je.sso Fir), and A. Nordmanniana (Nordmann’s Fir), 
borne spec'metis of Cupressus Goveniana (Gowen’s Cypress), are 
strikingly beautiful now, covered with numerous yellow male catkins. 
bearing immense quantities of pollen, which gives the trees a distinctly 
decorative appearance, 
Cupressus Lawsoniana (Lawson’s Cypress), C. thurifera, C. funebris 
(the Funereal Cypress), C. macrocarpa (the liarge-fruited Cypress), 
Cephalotaxus Fortune!, Glyptostrobus heterophylla (the Chinese Water 
Pine), Pinus monticola, P. montana (the Mountain Pine), P. Inops (the 
Scrub Pine), P, pungens (the Table Mountain Pine), P, pinaster (the 
Cluster Pine), P. neoza ; Retinospora pisifera (the Pea - fruited 
Retinospora), a very good specimen ; Taxus fastigiata (the Irish Yew), 
T, Dovastonei (the Westfelton Yew), and many other trees too numerous 
to mention are also well represented. 
Young trees have been planted from time to time, and the majority 
are growing strongly, notably some specimens of Thuiopsis dolabrata, 
T. dolabrata variegata, Retinospora squarrosa, Thuia gigantea, Juniperus 
japonica alba, Pinus pinea, all planted in 1872. Planted at a more 
recent date are Abies amabilis, A. bracteata, A. Hookeriana, A. orientalis, 
A. polita, A. Veitchi ; Cryptomeria elegan.s, Juniperus drupacasa, 
J. virginiana Schotti; Retinospora obtusa aurea, R. obtusa gracilis, 
R. pisifera aurea, R, plumosa aurea, R. filifera ; Thuia occidentalis, 
T, aurea, T. filiformis, T. Standishi, and Sciadopitys verticillata (the 
Umbrella Pine). 
In concluding this short account of the Dropmore collection of trees 
I may mention that the largest Araucaria is supposed to be the finest in 
the northern hemisphere, and this opinion is corroborated by Professor 
Sargent and many other tree enthusiasts that frequently visit the estate, 
which is always open to visitors on week days. 
Tree planting in days gone by was a much more expensive hobby 
than it is now, as witness the recorded price paid for many here, of 
which [ may instance the following history of one of the Araucarias 
supposed to have been raised from a cutting taken from the original 
tree in Kew Gardens, and by some means passed into the nursery of the 
late Mr. Knight, King’s Road, Chelsea, now Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons :— 
‘‘ Lord Grenville knowing this sent his gardener to purchase it at any 
price, and he gave ten guineas for it—a small branch with a few roots.” 
How many employers now would purchase trees at such fancy prices ? 
Gardening has taken another turn. Orchid fanciers being now in power 
as far as fancy prices are concerned. Let us hope that at no distant 
date ornamental tree planting will again come to the front, and all the 
newer introductions find a congenial home in every Devonshire estate 
and others throughout the country. 
ARUMS. 
For various forms of church and home decoration in early spring these 
plants, with their glossy leaves, and broad white spathes, are indispen¬ 
sable, and fortunately they are easily produced. The only point upon 
which cultivators appear to differ is that of planting out the roots in 
summer, or keeping them in pots. I favour the former plan, as a decided 
gain is effected in labour. When the plants are kept in pots they need 
much water during the hot days of summer, even when partly rested, as 
is the practice of many persons. Our plants opened their first spathes 
in December, and have continued to give a supply ever since, culminating 
in a goodly number at Easter, and we have promise of more for three 
weeks to come. 
Our method of growth is briefly this. Plants now in 10-inch 
pots are divided mainly into single crowns. Those in 8-inch pots we 
plant entire ; these were the single crowns of last year’s planting, and 
they make the largest specimens for the next season. We thus have 
plants of various sizes. A border having a western aspect is chosen for 
the summer quarters, and as the soil is retentive watering is reduced to 
a minimum. A small quantity of manure is added when digging the 
ground deeply in the autumn. The plants grow freely, and ample 
space is provided to prevent the growth becoming weakened by over¬ 
crowding. 
When potting, towards the end of September, a mixture of strong turfy 
loam and horse manure is employed, two parts of the former to one of 
the latter. Shade is provided for a few days after potting, as the roots are 
reduced to enable us to get them into the desired pots. The plants are 
stood on the north side of a high wall, and well syringed several times 
daily. When the roots have fairly taken hold of the new soil 
stimulants are liberally supplied. Nothing is better than liquid made 
from cow manure and soot. Such a gross feeder is this Calla that it is 
difficult to give the plants too much water when the drainage is perfect. 
—B. Molyneui. 
AIDS AND HINDRANCES IN FRUIT CULTURE. 
Much has keen said and written respecting fruit culture and the 
fruit supply, and a vast amount of useful information has been 
disseminated through the Press and by Mr. Wright’s gold medal prize 
essay, which should be bought and read by all who desire to make fruit 
culture profitable. I have found mixed plantations of fruit trees the 
most satisfactory—viz., Apples, Pears, and Plums, with Gooseberries 
for picking green, planted in rows at 4 feet apart between the trees, to 
be cut out or replanted at a greater distance when too thick. The value 
of mixed plantations was well shown last year in some parts of the 
country, where Pears and Plums were failures, whilst Apples were a 
splendid crop, while in other parts where Apples were a poor crop 
Plums and Pears were plentiful. Gooseberries can almost always bs 
