Jaanary 12 , HfS. ] 
JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
23 
CHOICE GARDEN! 
CONIFERS. 
-4-- 
S uccess with Conifers, as with most other hardy trees, depends, 
to a great extent, upon the suitability of the situations chosen 
ior them and the care exercised in the selection of varieties. For 
■extensive pleasure grounds and parks there are many strong-growing 
Conifers that can be advantageously planted in numbers. On the 
other hand, in gardens near the house, or wherever space is restricted, 
•quite a different selection must be made, and ultimate success will 
•depend greatly upon the judgment exercised in this matter. The 
position, soil, and climate of a garden also require consideration, 
as many fine Conifers will thrive in the south and west of England 
ithat prove quite unsatisfactory in the north, or in any cold exposed 
localities. In regard to this, however, protection in the early stages 
is a matter of much importance, as numbers of reputedly tender 
■Conifers only need some adequate screens from cold winds for a 
few years until they are well established and growing freely. In 
most northern gardens abundant examples of this are afforded, and 
where suitable protection, by stronger-growing trees or shrubs, has 
ajeen afforded, at the critical time, comparatively little difficulty is 
■experienced in forming good collections of Conifers from York¬ 
shire or Northumberland in England, to Perthshire and beyond in 
Scotland. 
For lawns and pleasure grounds in proximity to the dwelling 
liouse single specimens of the dwarf, bushy, or fastigiate Conifers, 
•are preferable, but in their employment and the system of planting 
adopted there is room for the exercise of much taste. An undue 
proportion of the Biotas, Thuias, or plants of similar habit produce 
a most displeasing formality, and attempts to place such Conifers 
in clumps is usually unsatisfactory to a remarkable degree. Well- 
•developed specimens of the green or golden Arbor-Yitass, Yews, &c., 
have a fine appearance when not too closely placed, but it is 
necessary to have a fair proportion of the more graceful Eetino- 
■sporas or Cryptomerias, with some deciduous trees and shrubs to 
avoid a monotony of tint. An admirable example of this mode of 
planting is seen in Baron Schroder’s garden. The Dell, Egham, 
where the numerous specimen Conifers on the. lawn and near the 
house are backed up with massive beds of Rhododendrons, the 
fragrant and profuse deciduous Azaleas, K-almias, and other 
American shrubs. Beyond these are belts of common Laurels, 
with miscellaneous strong-growing deciduous trees, shrubs, or 
Uonifers, which, while yielding adequate protection, serve as a 
kind of frame to a tasteful garden picture. In large gardens the 
pinetum, when well planted and properly attended, is one of the 
most important departments, but there are thousands of gardens 
where such extensive experiments cannot be undertaken, and it is 
still possible to have within moderate compass a fairly representative 
collection of the principal coniferous types. 
Shallow poor or dry soils are the worst for Conifers generally, 
and though some can be found to thrive on chalky soils they are not 
very numerous, especially amongst those of dwarf habit. For moist 
situations several can be named, but all object to stagnant water in 
the soil. A well-drained deep rich soil is the best for Conifers of 
all kinds, and when» planting near a house it is advisable to form 
suitable stations wherever these conditions are not naturally pro¬ 
vided. Remove the soil to the depth of 3 or 4 feet and of a width 
proportionate to the size of plant, refilling with good turfy loam 
and leaves from which all the woody portions have been taken. 
This should be trodden rather firmly after the tree is in position 
No. 394.—VoL. XVI., Third Series. 
and a liberal supply of water afforded. For some Conifers leaf soil 
is used very freely, and we have seen serious evils result from this, 
especially where it contained a quantity of woody substances, as 
fungoid growth is produced that speedily renders the soil sour and 
the trees unhealthy. 
In suitable situations the handsome silvery Abies Engelraanni 
glauca is one of the most effective of lawn Conifers. Unfor¬ 
tunately, however, it cannot be relied upon except in the south or 
western counties, as the late frosts in spring are very apt to dis¬ 
figure if not to kill it Still it possesses such attractions that it is 
worthy of a trial wherever there is the remotest chance of success ; 
and when it grows freely, forming a well-proportioned specimen 
5 or G feet high, it is effective in an extraordinary degree, the dense 
glaucous substance on the leaves and branches glistening like silver 
under a bright sun. Some confusion has existed respecting this 
and Abies Parryana glauca, some authorities being of opinion that 
as they are both from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and similar 
in general aspect, they are identical. However this may be in 
some places it is certain that in others, and more particularly in the 
northern gardens and nurseries, the Conifer grown as A. Parryana 
glauca IS distinct from A. Engelmanni glauca, and while usually 
possessing less of the glaucous character is sometimes quite of a 
bluish tint and is much more hardy. This latter quality has recom¬ 
mended it to many persons who have failed with the other variety, 
and most of those who have tried it speak favourably respecting its 
merits. A. Engelmanni glauca should, however, be preferred 
wherever it can be reasonably expected to succeed. 
Another beautiful glaucous Conifer of moderate growth is the 
Silver Fir, Abies (Picea) nobilis, which should be included in every 
garden. A good specimen of this Fir is a fine study, as in addition 
to the prevailing silvery tint there is also a tinge of steely blue in 
the older leaves that affords a charming harmony. It deserves the 
best position that can be afforded it, but should not be placed too 
near the house, as where it succeeds it will attain considerable size 
if undisturbed. Abies magnifies, A. grandis, and A. Yeitchi are all 
beautiful members of the Picea section. The first two are weU 
known, but tbe last named, though as yet comparatively scarce, is 
likely to become a great favourite, owing to its distinct graceful 
habit. Several others of this group, such as A. amabilis, A. con- 
color, are scarcely less attractive than those named. 
The Hemlock Spruces, Abies canadensis, A. nigra, A. Merten- 
siana, and A. Hookeriana, though free-growing Conifers, are useful 
for the dampest positions, more especially the borders of lakes and 
streams. Capital effects can be produced in such positions with 
these, Taxodium distichum, Thuia Lobbi, some of the T. occiden- 
talis varieties, and the Virginian Juniper, a few clumps of selected 
Willows of different colours assisting greatly in rendering this 
part of a garden or pleasure ground agreeable at all seasons. For 
large rockeries the dwarf forms of Abies excelsa are well adapted ^ 
clanbrasiliana, pumila, and pygmsea constituting a trio of distinct 
varieties for that purpose. 
The Biotas and Thuias are important garden Conifers, both the 
green and golden varieties being some of the most generally 
planted. They have an extremely neat appearance, and possess the 
double advantage of being hardy and easily grown. The Chinese 
Arbor-Vitse, Biota orientalis elegantissima, is one of the best both in 
habit and colour, as it assumes a fine golden tint in the spring and 
summer, the American Arbor-Vite, Thuia occidentalis and its 
varieties forming fine companions for this. The feathery and 
varied Retinosporas, especially the golden forms of R. obtusa, 
R. plumosa, and R. pisifera, are invaluable, as they present a marked 
contrast with most other Conifers both in habit and colour. 
Cryptomeria elegans is also a handsome lawn plant, its peculiar 
purplish tint having an admirable effect in a good situation. The 
varieties of Cupressus Lawsoniana are almost numberless, and in 
some avenues of these trees, like that at Keir House, Stirling, all 
raised from seed, scarcely two are alike, and the difference in some 
No. 2050.— VoL. LXXVIII., Old Series. 
