164 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 20 1885 
gardens under notice many noble young specimens will be ruined. The 
trees and shrubs certainly look well, mingling together their luxuriant 
branches and fine foliage, and it seems a pity to ttuch them, but they will 
not remain in the same condition as they are now. If noble trees are 
wanted, and the future beauty of the grounds considered, some sacrifice 
must be made; if not, in a few years the trees will be mere mop poles, 
•bare and unsightly at the base. Every plant should have room to display 
its true character without being encroached upon by its neighbour, for one 
good plant duly proportioned is more pleasing than a hundred loose 
badly developed specimens. In exposed positions, Hollies, or whatever 
evergreens are found to do well, should be freely cut to keep them 
compact and thick, with plenty of light and air surrounding them, and 
•then they will be found to brave storms with little or no injury. 
Thinning should be done judiciously, for somewhere in the grounds 
alluded to an old Oak was very noticeable, from the fact that his gigantic 
branches were spreading over and smothering some common Laurels and 
a flourishing young Cupressus Lawsoniana or two. My advice in this 
case, after studying the position carefully, is, Spare the giant even if he 
destroys the smaller members, for there are plenty of them, and if not, 
■they can be replaced in from ten to fifteen years. The Oak, when once 
•down, could not be replaced, even in a century, by the most luxuriant 
growth. 
The collection of Ivies on* the outer wall of the kitchen garden at¬ 
tracted my attention during a previous visit, and upon returning home I 
sought out a wall upon which I could plant a collection. Before doing so, 
however, I thought again abcut the matter, as my experience with choice 
kinds in an exposed position had not been satisfactory, and so determined 
•to plant the common Irish Ivy, which is the best of all green varieties 
when well managed. Of small marbled cut-leafed form», Caenwoodiana 
has proved hardy, a good grower, and one that retains well its small but 
beautiful foliage. The two should never be mixed on the same wall, 
for the first-mentioned would smother the latter, and if not allowed to 
do so the wall would present an uneven appearance. Many of the varie¬ 
gated and fancy varieties, although strikingly beautiful, soon become thin 
and bare at the base, and if they do this at Cloverley, what would they 
do in smoky exposed positions where the air is polluted by sulphuric 
acid ? 
The flower garden is a large geometrical design laid out with Box and 
gravel walks, in close proximity to the mansion, and was certainly very 
neat. When carpet bedding was in its glory I used to admire this style 
•of gardening, and thought it the most lovely of all. My views have 
changed since then, as carpet bedding, according to my idea, should only 
be admitted for the sake of change and variety, unless the wishes of others 
compelled compliance. My idea of what a garden ought to be, is one in 
which there is a little of everything from which a basketful of the most 
fragrant flowers can be gathered at will. I have before my eye a model 
garden in which there is always plenty of flowers from early in the season 
until they are cut down by frost. The secret of success lies in a judicious 
selection, and a number of really good plants in preference to a greater 
variety, that would only add confusion and give a much less display. But 
there is considerable variety in the gardening at Cloverley, and the carpet 
bedding is very suitable for the place it occupies, and looks much better 
than if the beds were filled with a mixture of herbaceous plants. There 
is a garden devoted to Roses, a small rockery of Ferns for a change, and 
a large garden for herbaceous plants. 
I must just note, in concluding, a large house of Black Hamburgh 
Grapes that were very good at the time of my visit. Many other things 
of interest might be alluded to, but I remember reading a full account of 
this fine garden in your pages a few years ago. It is evident that great 
credit is due to the owner, as well as to the gardener, Mr. J. Jones, for 
the former must have a strong love for gardening, or this large and 
beautiful place would not have been in the admirable condition in which 
I found it. —V. 
WHITE FLOWERS IN GARDEN DECORATION. 
In the various improvements which florists’ flowers have undergone 
the last few years, it must be admitted that but little has been done to 
obtain things purely white ; the dazzling scarlet, rich purple, or gay 
yellow, have been more sought after than the simple colour whose claims 
to our notice it is my purpose here to call attention to ; and as the number 
of plants blooming white is no ways meagre, a few remarks on the disposal 
•of them may not he out of place. 
I should think there are few visitors to a flower garden by twilight 
but who have been struck by the gay appearance a large plant of the 
double white Rocket has at that time ; a large white Campanula (whose 
name I cannot call to memory), is equally conspicuous, as also are all 
other free-blooming white flowers, while their more gay brethren of the 
blue, red, and other dark hues, appear little different from the foliage 
they wear ; if you go into the greenhouse the effect is the same, the whi'e 
Azalea, pale-coloured Cineraria, and similar things attracting your at¬ 
tention. Now my readers will be saying, “We know all that, but we 
seldom visit such places at that time ; but what has that to do with day¬ 
light gardening ? ” Have patience, and we will explain. We have said 
that white looks better than other colours in the dark, it is because it 
forms such a strong contrast to all around it—the foliage, the ground, or 
it may be the turf, nay, even the very atmosphere wearing a murky 
aspect, tend to strengthen that contrast, and show its perfection to greater 
advantage. Now, the same thing, or nearly so, may be done by daylight, 
and we will attempt to explain how and when it may be made to do so. 
In very many $irdena there are more or less of shrubbery borders 
having a front of flowers, and as such borders are generally at some 
distance from the house and principal walks, and their appearance at a 
distance is an important matter; in such borders, we say, plant abundance 
of white flowers—as Dahlias, Roses, Phloxes, Rockets, and similar things. 
The reason is obvious, the background of shrubs, &c., being higher, show 
the white bl oms of such things to every advantage, while it is only on 
closer inspection (that is, when the eye takes a more limited view), that 
deep-coloured flowers look well at all. Let anyone dubious of this matter 
just examine a scarlet and a white Thorn closely, and then walk a distance 
from them and look again ; the white one which looked well, even on close 
inspection, will look equally so as far off as the eye can discern colours at 
all; not so its companion, a very short distance is sufficient to confound 
the bloom and foliage. Now, this is just the same if a pink, red, or blue 
flower is planted in front of a mass of foliage of other things, the eye 
being unable to separate these colours from tbe green against which they 
are placed, they are consequently lost to view. Next to white are those 
pale colours approaching nearest to it, even yellow and white with a 
mixture of other colouring, but it is surprising how much the latter 
detracts from the effect white would have alone. How gay an orchard of 
Cherry trees in bloom looks at the distance of a mile, compared to one of 
Apples at tbe same ranee of view, the m : xture of pink neutralising the 
latter ; lo >k also at an Elder tree, its bloom forming a strong contrast 
with its rich green foliage. The Gueldre Rose might form another 
example, if such were wanting, but it is hoped we have said enough to 
call the attention of your young friends to the subject; and if they have 
borders backed by shrubs or trees, or even where the eye of the spectator 
passing over them rests on a piece of turf or other dark body, we say plant 
white and other light-coloured flowers with unsparing hand. We should 
certainly not discard all others. What we mean, is to plant in such a 
situation more than the u'ual share of such colours, especially if appear¬ 
ance at a distance be an important point. The same remark holds good 
to massing or bedding-out in flower gardens where the beds are cut out 
on grass, which forming the base or background, the effect is much the 
same, though in a less degree than the shrubbery border above in the 
flower garden. Other circumstances render a variety of colours indis¬ 
pensable, but it is to be deplored that in the directions generally given a3 
to the planting of such beds, the background or rather groundwork seems 
to be entirely overlooked ; certainly a set of geometric figures cut in grass 
ought not to be planted the same as if they were separated by gravel 
walks; in the former case white and kindred colours should be more 
liberally dealt out than in the latter, or, to speak more plainly, the colour 
approaching nearest to that of the,' gravel ought to be most sparingly 
used. 
While on this subject I may remark, there is only one place where 
white flowers are out of character—that is, in a Dutch flower garden, 
where the walks intersecting the beds are laid with white shells ; in such 
places the walks generally occupy one-third, or even one-half, of the entire 
area, and the bright glare they present to a summer’s snn renders any¬ 
thing more of that colour superfluous. In all such gardens we would say, 
plant deep coloured flowers in greater profusion ; and if for variety’s sake 
you must have a white bed, edge it with something dark, as scarlet 
Verbena or blue Lobelia—it will not be so likely to blend with the walks. 
When gravel, sand, brickdust, or ashes are used for walks, we would say, 
use sparingly those colours approaching thereto ; if, as we have said, 
above, you wish to introduce one, let it have a rim of something blooming 
the reverse. But as this is foreign to the subject we have in hand, we 
shall say no more than again impress on our readers to remetnber, that if 
they want to make a flower border (backed by anything except a chalk 
cliff or whitewashed wall) look well at any distance exceeding fifty yards, 
they must plant abundance of white and other pale-coloured flowers ; and 
where a great breadth of turf separates flower beds on the lawn, there 
likewise to plant the same colours in as great profusion as attention to 
other matters will allow them to do.—S. 
THE ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS OF HEREFORDSHIRE. 
[Read at the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club by C. G. Martin, Esq., President.] 
(Continued from page 137.) 
lo, Gymnadenia conopsea, or Fragrant Orchis.—This charming flower 
may be found pretty plentifully within a few miles of Hereford. It is 
known readily by its rose pink colour, and its strong delicious perfume. I 
have for many years gathered it in a damp meadow near Aconbury Hill. 
It may be found, very sparingly, in most parts of our county during June 
and July, though it is singularly little known and appreciated. Some of the 
localities named for it are the Great Doward, Llanwarne, St. Weonards, 
Orcop, Fownhope, and Tedstone Delameie. Mr. Lees found it at Colwall 
and West Malvern. Mr. Ley reports it to grow in a meadow at Tram Inn, 
and Sir George Oornewall told me, some years ago, that it grows at Moccas. 
It has also been found in the Olcbon Dingle, and the head of Crasswell 
Valley. The Rev. R. H. Williams informs me that it is common at 
Byford. 
10, Gymnadenia albida is extremely rare in this part of England, though 
it is not infrequent in grassy mountain pastures, especially in the north. 
Its flowers are very fragrant, and cream-coloured. They grow in a some¬ 
what dense spike, and the stem is rather shorter than G. conopsea. Mr. 
Ley found about thirty specimens in a single spot in June, 1880, growing 
in company with Habenaria bifolia, in a hill-side meadow at the head of the 
Grwjnne(Valley. I found one specimen only in June, 1808, in a meadow 
near Aconbury Hill, growing in company with G. conopsea. I have often 
searched for it since in the same place, but have not found it again. I 
showed it to the late Mr.Flavell Edmunds, who called it Habenaria albida, 
or Small White Butterfly Orchis. Bentham gives it the same name. 
