294 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
I April 11, 1389. 
D. Pierardi is common in the north of India, and is widely 
distributed southwards. Tn Hooker’s interesting “ Himalayan 
Journal ” the following passage occurs, which probably has reference 
to it. “ From Kursang a very steep zigzag leads up the mountain 
through a magnificent forest of Chestnut, Walnut, Oaks, and 
Laurels. It is difficult to conceive a grander mass of vegetation; 
the straight shafts of timber trees shooting aloft, some naked and 
clean, with pale or brown bark ; others literally clothed for yards 
with a continuous garment of epiphytes, one mass of blossoms, 
especially the white Orchids, which bloom in a profuse manner, 
whitening the trunks like snow.” 
DENDROBITTM: NOBILE WALLICHIANUY. 
A few days ago, when paying a visit to Mr. T. Record at 
Folkington Manor, my attention was drawn to a splendid plant of 
the above Orchid in one of the houses. The plant, which is grow¬ 
ing in an 8-inch pot, had over 200 fully expanded magenta crimson 
blooms evenly distributed over the growths, and there are twelve 
fine growths maturing for next year’s flowering, most of them 2 feet 
long, and thick in proportion, the thick and leathery foliage speak¬ 
ing well of the care and attention bestowed on it by Mr. Record. 
A smaller plant of Dendrobium nobile ccerulescens, with rather 
paler flowers, and growths more after the style of D. Wardianum, 
was also very handsome, contrasting well with the ordinary forms 
of nobile and Wardianum, of which there were many examples. 
Many other Orchids were in flower, but my visit being a flying one 
I only had time to take special note of these. Mr. Record evidently 
understands the management of imported Orchids, for the plants 
under his care have made wonderful progress since my last visit, 
six months ago.— Thomas A. Wiiibley, Eastbourne. 
ON PLANTING CLUMPS IN PLEASURE 
GROUNDS. 
Clumps are very important features in pleasure grounds, and 
their effect, whether pleasing or otherwise, depends greatly on the 
manner in which they are planted. It may be taken in a general 
way that they are introduced either to improve the landscape or to 
hide some unpleasing object which forces itself on our vision. 
The choice of materials for both purposes is now so varied that the 
chief difficulty is in making a suitable selection for the purpose 
intended. Errors frequently arise from insufficient knowledge of 
the geological formation of the district in which the planting is 
done, for although the climatic influences may be in every respect 
suitable for the well-being of the plants, yet if the soil is adverse 
to their growth failure is certain. The Rhododendron is a familiar 
illustration of this shyness of adapting itself to seemingly suitable 
situations, growing quite freely in the natural soil of some localities, 
while but a few miles distant artificial aid is necessary before any¬ 
thing like a satisfactory result is attained. The experienced planter 
rarely selects varieties that require a foreign compost in which 
to grow, as even where expense needs not to be considered .there is 
danger of the roots extending beyond their restricted limit, and 
the plants thereby getting into ill health at a time when they ought 
to be at their best. Such sorts ought not to be planted, except in 
separate small groups or isolated specimens, as they can then be easily 
removed should failures occur without spoiling in any marked 
degree the general effect. 
No special rule can be made regarding the manner in which the 
soil ought to be prepared for receiving its occupants, but it is 
essential for their welfare that it should be trenched to a greater 
depth than for ordinary garden crops. Extra stiff soils may require 
to be mixed with some of a more friable nature, and vice versa. 
Some soils of a tenacious description require to be frequently turned 
during the summer months before they are sufficiently pulverised 
for planting. But an even more important matter than this is the 
drainage. No other cause affects the future health of the plants 
more than this ; therefore it is very necessary that it should be 
thoroughly efficient before anything else is done. The influence of 
imperfect drainage is easily noticeable in unhealthy specimens and 
unnatural growths, while the power it exerts on some plants classed 
as tender is much more than is sometimes supposed. 
The shape of the clump requires consideration, and must in 
some degree be suited to the position it is to occupy. A formal 
design ought to be avoided, because even with the most skilful 
planting a square or circular-shaped bed detracts from its effect. 
The opposite extreme, bordering on the grotesque, something like 
a schoolboy’s first map of the British Islands, is another style which 
confuses in its windings more than it pleases with its irregularity. 
An easy informality of simple design is the best, where the planter 
has freedom to display his taste so as to produce a pleasing arrange¬ 
ment. Artificial mounds should not be introduced, but where there 
is a natural slope every advantage ought to be taken of it. 
Clumps planted solely with evergreen shrubs fail to possess the 
same interest which is obtained where there is a judicious admixture 
of deciduous varieties However well they may be arranged, there 
is nevertheless a sombreness and formality which needs the relief, 
of their more variable associates. Exclusiveness is rarely pleasing, 
and ought to be avoided as much as possible, except in the case of 
Rhododendrons, which are always most effective when planted 
together. Evergreens certainly ought to be more planted than 
deciduous sorts, somewhat in the manner of a groundwork, and the 
latter in places where they will be effective without causing a gap 
during winter. Future growth ought to be considered more than 
it is sometimes, for although the habit of a certain variety may be 
suited to the position in which it is planted when young, that habit 
often changes as it advances towards maturity, so as in course of 
time to have a very different effect from what was originally 
intended. 
An arrangement, which at the best is very questionable taste, is 
to plant tall varieties in the centre, gradually sloping off to the edge, 
which is sometimes bordered with a hardy flowering plant. It is 
pleasing to observe that this style is more seldom met with than 
formerly, and that boldness and freedom are gaining the ascendant. 
When there was a greater scarcity of material this mode of planting 
was in some degree pardonable, but the variety we now possess 
gives us scope for more artistic work. To be really attractive the 
work of planting ought to be hidden in its effect. There should be 
no formality noticeable anywhere, nothing in the nature of lines on 
gradual slopes to the eye, but each plant arranged so that it may 
develop its true character without encroaching on its neighbour, or 
dreading the barbarity of the pruning knife. When herbaceous 
plants are used the most satisfactory way of doing so is to plant 
them in groups at intervals along the edge, each separate group to 
consist of one variety only. If more than one variety is used the 
confusion of colours thus introduced is very apt to spoil the general 
harmony. A strictly formal edging is rarely pleasing, and is quito 
out of place where the grounds are extensive. 
Another practice which savours more of the painter than the 
gardener is to make a ribbon border on the side of the clump most 
in sight, which is filled with herbaceous or bedding plants, and 
frequently a mixture of both. A picture of such a border where 
the towering Hollyhocks stand out against a crowded background of 
shrubs with the smaller floral gems at their feet is decidedly attractive 
from a certain point of view, but it is not to be commended for 
several reasons, the principal one being that as the shrubs advance 
in growth their roots in search of nourishment will be sure ere long 
to invade the flowers’ domain, and their presence will be apparent 
by the weakly growth of the latter. Then, again, the border of 
flowers prevents free access to the clumps for the examination of 
specimens contained in them, and this reason alone would be 
sufficient for its exclusion by the genuine arboriculturist.—M. D. 
HARDY FLOWER NOTES. 
EARLY SPRING FLOWERS. 
The bulbs and other plants which bloom normally in March 
ani early April, if limited in number, tend yearly to become lesssc> 
and they are in my judgment unsurpassed for delicate beauty. 
A simple frame house, unheated, and which may be constructed 
at surprisingly small cost, we find an excellent home for the choicest 
of these early arrivals ; less to protect the plants from cold, or even 
damp, than to prolong the beauty of the blossoms and to guard the 
petals from the splash of rain. That amount of shelter, too, 
expedites by some weeks the opening of the flowers, and so pro¬ 
longs their season as well. I recall a singular instance of the 
staying power of a blossom thus protected. The same truss, even 
the same pips, on a plant of Primula uralensis was in bloom with 
me for nearly four months, opening before Christmas, and passing 
away only with the warmth of spring. Among the less-grown 
hardy plants of the season in question I find charming the pink and 
white varieties of Scilla bifolia. 
The type is a good early flower, but it is common, and is 
eclipsed in clearness of colour by the even commoner Scilla sibirica. 
Puschkinias libanotica and compacta (for garden purposes these 
are equal in value) are admirable associates with the foregoing. 
Leucojum vernum and the Chionodoxas will never be surpassed 
as early spring beauties, though they are now plentiful and cheap 
enough to be planted in quantity in the open. In the latter class 
(the Chionodoxas) we seem to be threatened by the trade with that 
multiplication of species or varieties, real or supposed, which many 
of us find so much more irksome than profitable in other classes 
For myself, other recommendations being at all equal, I circs® 
the nurseryman who sells the more limited number of sorts, and I 
avoid, on many grounds, the man who multiplies names. Ihe 
