November 19, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
443 
Although I have advocated the association of ornamental 
deciduous trees and evergreens together, it is only when the two 
can be planted with plenty of room for the development of each 
without the one robbing the other of the necessary materials requi¬ 
site for development. Plantations can be made of forest trees with 
evergreens in the front, and very beautiful and effective they are 
if planted right at the commencement and duly attended to after¬ 
wards. It is essential to accomplish this to keep the former well 
in the background, which in narrow strips as alluded to above 
cannot be done. The tallest trees should be planted in the centre 
of a large clump, or well in the background. If the former, an 
evergreen front may be presented all round, the latter being 
followed when only one front of evergreens is required. It may 
be supposed that the centre trees are Sycamores or others of similar 
growth, while to the front of these trees of a smaller size should 
be planted, such as some of the varieties of Mountain Ash, Thorns, 
Laburnums, and other trees of moderate growth. In the front 
may be planted evergreen Privets, and few plants form a better 
background for other evergreens, or are more beautiful when laden 
in summer with their deliciously fragrant trusses of white flowers. 
Privets deserve planting more largely as flowering shrubs when the 
system of planting I am attempting to illustrate is practised, for 
they suffer less by association with forest trees than any other 
evergreen. In good soil they grow rapidly, and soon form large 
bushes. To the front may be planted Silver Hollies, and in the 
angles hybrid or other Rhododendrons. This example is only one 
of many that could be given of planting clumps of deciduous trees 
and evergreens together, where the last-named would flourish and 
answer the purpose for which they were planted. This in a large 
measure depends upon judicious thinning after planting. The 
Privets, as well as the other evergreens, must be given plenty of 
room to develope, then they will furnish the front, and continue to 
do so afterwards for an indefinite period. It is surprising under 
favourable conditions what enormous bushes, beautiful in shape, 
Rhododendron ponticum will form in a very few years if given 
plenty of room ; but these are generally planted thickly and allowed 
to become crowded and bare at the base. 
Another advantage of planting thinly and thinning out the 
plants not wanted directly they show signs of crowding is the fact 
that those exposed to light and air will be thick all round, and thus 
brave winds and severe weather much better than when drawn up 
weakly together. In exposed situations it is of the utmost import¬ 
ance that each plant or tree stands separately with plenty of room 
to develope naturally. 
Before planting it is necessary to trench the ground as deeply 
as the soil will allow of this being done. If the soil is poor and 
unfertile a good coating of manure should be added. For Rhodo¬ 
dendrons and such evergreens nothing can be better to incorporate 
with the soil than leaf mould, for the majority of trees and shrubs 
grow most luxuriantly in it. When planting Hollies, Pines, or 
choice Conifers it is a good plan to give to each plant a few 
barrowfuls of fibry loam, to which about one-third of decayed 
manure has been added. This will give the plants a good start, 
and insure their lifting with good balls of roots when the first 
thinning requires to be done. If the soil upon the portion of 
ground to be planted is poor and shallow a greater quantity of 
fresh soil may be given to each of the choicer plants. When they 
are planted singly on the lawn or elsewhere a good-sized hole should 
be made, say three times the distance from the centre, that the 
roots will extend from the tree or shrub to be planted when first 
placed into the ground. The soil at the base should be well dug 
and manured, mixing with it a good per-centage of fresh soil, 
which should also be incorporated with soil for filling in about the 
roots. If a good preparation is made at the commencement, and 
the surrounding soil is moderately deep and fertile, the tree or 
shrub will in all probability develope into a good specimen without 
further attention at its roots. When the soil is shallow it is a good 
plan after the roots have taken full possession of the soil prepared 
for them to cut a trench round them and fill it with fresh soil and 
manure. It is surprising how this helps plants, and in the end they 
abundantly repay for the labour expended upon them. 
In order to insure quick luxuriant growth the ground should be 
well prepared by being trenched and manured as early in the 
season as possible. The planting, if possible, should be done before 
the ground has had time to become saturated with rain. Trees and 
shrubs grow much more luxuriantly in trenched than in untrenched 
land. This is the case, however, in the majority of soils. There 
may be exceptions to this rule.— Wm. Bardney. 
WHITE PLUME CELERY. 
As this novelty is now receiving flatteiing test’m nia’s fiom men 
whose opinions we have every reason to respect, I wcull like to ask 
“ Kitchen Gardener ” or anyone who can speak from practical experience, 
how it turns out after a snowstorm ? 
“ Kitchen Gardener ” says, “ Planting and weeding is the whole of 
the details necessary for its successful culture.” If this be so, then it 
must indeed be an acquisition, and in these hard times well worthy of ex¬ 
tensive cultivation ; but will it, like Cabbages or Broccoli, rise after being 
beaten |down with snow, and prove to be as good for a second-course 
vegetable as Celery grown in the old-fashioned way. 
An answer to this question will, I venture to say, interest more than— 
J. McIndoe. 
“THINKER’S” NOTES. 
Showing Late Grapes. —I have only to say that I feel I am no match 
for “ Thinker ” at “ hedging ” and evading a plain issue, and therefore 
decline to prolong the discussion. His last apologetic six paragraphs are 
a sufficient commentary on bis earlier remarks. If it had been a Bimple 
question of whether some object was black or white “ Thinker ” would, 
1 doubt not, have displayed just the same casuistry, and left the question 
where he has left the present one. As to the “ sincerity ” of my own 
convictions, it is at least as genuine as his own, which has not been called 
in question. It is his opinions that are criticised. I have done nothing 
at variance with the position I have taken up here, and “ Thinker’s ” 
inuendoes and insinuations assume more than anyone has any right to 
do. —Non-Believer. 
P.S.— I have not used any such expression as “ I do not show now 
because from a pecuniary point of view I can do better.” The “ now ’’ 
is introduced by “ Thinker ” himself for a purpose of his own, and does 
not express either my position or opinion. The alteration is on a par 
with “ Thinker’s ” other unscrupulous misrepresentations—to wit, his 
conversion of my “ putting it on a low ground ” into “ accusing a body 
of men of being engaged in a low calling,” in order to render his own 
dubious position less conspicuous.—N. B. 
Potatoes. —In reply to your correspondent, I am able to say that in 
my opinion the Reading Russet Potato is a variety of considerable value 
for table use. It is a second early, ready in August, and of medium 
growth, producing well in rows 2 feet asunder. The tubers are of good 
and uniform size, rough in the skin, and, though this is dark, the 
Potatoes are quite white when cooked and of first-rate quality. I find a 
certain prejudice against coloured Potatoes in the market and amongst 
cooks generally, but the one I have to deal with is quite content with the 
variety in question. I know very little about the other red and Vicar of 
Laleham, but am told it is not very good.—A Country Gardener. 
NOTES UPON DAFFODILS AND NARCISSI. 
(Continued from page 42S.} 
Group 2.—THE PEERLESS OR MOCK NARCISSI. 
N. Barri. —This is a sub-section, including several most 
beautiful varieties supposed to have originated from a cross 
between N. poeticus and N. pseudo-Narcissus. The following 
are what I have proved to be best and honestly worthy a place 
in any collection—Conspicuus, division rich yellow, very broad 
and large; cup yellow, conspicuously margined with scarlet; a 
gem of the first water. John Stevenson, divisions pale sulphur, 
cup of the same colour; very lar^e and spreading. Maurice 
Vilmorin, divisions creamy white, cup rich lemon heavily stained 
orange-scai-let. Flora Wilson, yellow divisions, cup of same 
colour, distinctly edged scarlet. 
N. incomparabilis (the Peerless Daffodil of John Pai-kin- 
son).—The typical form is well worth growing, with its large 
flatfish spreading flowers of a rich yellow, and vei-y suitable for 
planting in masses. There are a considerable number of forms 
centring around this, arranged in the sub-sections of albus. 
albidus, concolor, and sulphureus, which space will not admit of 
enumerating even, and for further information concerning which 
I must refer my readers to “ Ye Booke of Ye Daffodyl,” pub¬ 
lished by Barr & Son. King Street, Covent Garden. I will 
merely select a few of the best varieties, and cannot do better 
than begin with Sir Watkin, a so-called new variety, certainly 
new to commerce, but it has been revelling in certain Welsh 
valleys I could name, perhaps for a century, nevertheless it is a 
first class kind, producing immense flowers, sometimes as much 
as 5^ inches across; the perianth rich sulphury yellow, cup 
unusually large, approaching the Ajax section, rich aureolin 
yellow, deeply friuged; it possesses a vigorous constitution, and 
will always be highly esteemed both of borders and pot culture. 
Mary Anderson is a gem, perianth creamy white, large and flat, 
cup deep orange scarlet; most conspicuous, indeed there is not 
a more effective variety. Princess Mary of Cambridge, large 
flowers with white perianth; cup large, very widely expanded, 
rich oran.-e; a most distinct and beautiful variety. Stella, one 
of the oldest and best for cutting, as it comes in very early, 
following hard on N. poeticus ornatus; perianth pure white, 
cup pale lemon. Crawfordi, immense flowers, the perianth 
