Angnst 13, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
127 
* f , 
COMING EVENTS 
13 
14 
15 
TH 
F 
s 
16 
SUN 
Eleventh Sunday after Trinity. 
IS 
Tu 
Basingstoke. 
19 
W 
Shrewsbury Show (two days). 
HYPERICUMS. 
URING June, July, and August one or other of 
the St. John's Worts gladdens the eye with their 
bright golden flowers, which are large salver¬ 
shaped, albeit there is such a centre-filling of 
anthers that the flowers appear almost globular, 
and being borne for the most part in dense 
corymbs or clusters have a telling effect in the 
summer sun, the effect being enhanced by their 
ample, somewhat yellow, rich green foliage. 
Though they appear well at the time when the sun is 
strongest, yet they are in a certain sense shade-loving plants, 
but they are not seen to advantage under large deciduous 
trees that leave little moisture to minister to the ample 
foliage and profuse-flowering properties of the Hypericums. 
Shade of this description they do not thrive in ; but if they 
can have a position where trees from a distance afford shade 
whilst their roots do not deprive the soil of moisture, so as 
to interfere with the growth of the Hypericums, then I 
readily grant they will do exceedingly well, and the bloom 
be longer than in the full sun. For shady places they are 
unique, but the less there is of it overhead the better. Hy¬ 
pericums no doubt like moisture in summer, but that they 
suffer more than other moisture-loving plants in a hot dry 
time is not admitted. The sum and substance of the matter 
is that they are low-growing shrubs, and as such are always 
better by being associated with their taller growing kindred 
in front of them to the north or south, or so that they will 
have their sheltering if not fostering aid. 
Under ordinary circumstances the open border or shrub¬ 
bery is the best place for them, and fine they are. They 
grow freely in any soil not cold and stagnant from water 
lodging in it, but succeed best in a light or free soil overlying 
good drainage or gravel, and if enriched with leaf soil or 
decayed vegetable matter it is better. They form very beau¬ 
tiful bushes in the front of shrubberies, and so choice are 
they that no herbaceous border kept in a semi-natural state 
is complete without them ; indeed I can see that we must 
make a great departure in our arrangement of these plants 
if we desire to see them in all their natural loveliness, with 
symmetry added by the thoughtful cultivator. 
Our soil is light overlying gravel, and Hypericums thrive 
capitally : they grow well, bloom freely, and spread rapidly. 
The richer the soil is made the better they seem to like it, 
but it is safe to opine that in a naturally rich soil they would 
make too soft late growth, and be liable to be cut down by 
severe weather. Indeed a good soil needs no addition to 
have them fine if it is properly prepared by digging or trench¬ 
ing before planting, with an addition of any manurial matter 
that can be spared as a top-dressing occasionally. Our 
shrubberies have every particle of decayed matter removed, 
and rarely does it or its equivalent find its way back as a 
surface mulching to protect the roots from the winter frost 
or the summer heat and enrich the soil. But shrubberies 
are as a rule neglected. They get nothing, not even timely 
attention in thinning and pruning. They get crowded, and 
No. 268.— Yol. XI., Third Seeies. 
so become unsightly ; but where the shrubbery is cultivated 
1 question if there is any other part of a garden or grounds 
that with as little care and expense affords such a variety of 
objects of beauty and interest over so lengthened a period 
with every shrub given its due amount of space for develop¬ 
ment. I mention this more particularly to guard others 
against falling into the common error of planting shrubs 
without considering that they will need space for develop¬ 
ment. 
Of the many form3 of the genus under notice H. calycinum 
forms a dense mass of foliage about 1 foot high, and when 
covered with its large bright golden flowers is charming, and 
is admirable for a front position. H. olympicum forms a 
neat symmetrical bush about 15 inches high, not nearly so 
bold in aspect as H. calycinum, as the stems are slender, yet 
it spreads quickly, a bush 2 or 8 feet across covered with its 
numerous flowers, and in succession for six weeks, being 
beautiful. H. uralum attains to a height of 2 feet—I have 
it nearly 3 feet—and is of graceful habit, and the flowers are 
borne in clusters of about eight, and having great substance 
last some time, and are very effective. H. nepalen3e is 
similar to the last, being equally graceful and certainly as 
profuse flowering, the flowers being a rich golden yellow. Of 
the same type as the two last named is H. triflorum, which 
grows about the same height, or 2 to 3 feet, the shoots being 
long and slender and the flower heads depend or droop, which 
give it a graceful appearance ; the flowers are large, over 
2 inches, some nearly 3 inches across. It is from Java, and 
I cannot answer for its hardiness other than on a south 
border in light soil about 5 feet from a wall 10 feet high, 
and it ought to be stated that H. uralum and H. nepalense 
are in similar positions, and that they are herbaceous, as 
also is H. olympicum. H. hircinum is of shrubby habit, 
and forms a large bush 3 or 4 feet high, which when covered 
with its clusters of bright yellow flowers, as it is profusely in 
July or early August, is remarkably effective, and is not at 
all particular about position, doing well in any ordinary 
shrubbery. There is a variegated form of H. hircinum that 
is beautiful in foliage as well as flower. 
As flowers in shrubberies are not over-plentiful in summer, 
the claims of this distinct and attractive family of plants 
appear to merit general consideration.—G. Abbey. 
GRAPE-GROWING AT BATH. 
What will some day become a noted vinery has already 
been described in these pages, but as most of U3 who are 
either personally acquainted with Mr. W. Taylor, or have 
profited by the many excellent instructive remarks upon 
various topics which he contributed when at Longleat, are 
doubtless much interested in his present undertaking, further 
information will not be unacceptable. Mr. Taylor, it will 
be remembered, has started Grape-growing for Mr. Alderman 
J. Chaffin, and a grand vinery, in addition to others already 
established, has been erected in that gentleman s pretty 
grounds at Larkhall, near Bath. The position chosen is on 
a rather sharp declivity with a south-west aspect, a great 
amount of excavation being necessary before the vinery could 
be built; but there is no doubt the site is highly suitable for 
Grape-growing, and as Mr. Taylor has long been an expert 
in ventilating there is no doubt he will fully utilise what 
might otherwise have proved a source of danger. The 
structure, though not quite so large as that at Longleat, may 
be said to be an improvement on that noted vinery, notably 
with regard to the substitution of top lap ventilators for the 
more expensive lantern method adopted at Longleat. The 
length of the house, which is span-roofed, is 140 feet, and 
the width 30 feet. It is glazed on an excellent imperishable 
system invented and patented by Mr. Chaffin. 
There are three compartments, the central one much the 
larger. This is the only division yet wholly occupied with 
Vines. These were struck from eyes in March last year, and 
planted early in July. The whole of the sunniest side of the 
No. 1924. —Yol. LXXIII., Old Series. 
