404 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. [March 27. 
parks or grqunds surrounding a mansion, may, perhaps, he 
I of sendee to some of its numerous readers who may be 
1 contemplating alterations or additions to their park scenery; 
\ and as the instructions left by that class of professional 
gentlemen, called landscape gardeners, seldom descends to 
particularise the kind of tree adapted for the different 
purposes they may have planned out, we think a few hints 
| to our gardening friends may be of service in preventing 
their falling into errors fatal to their reputation hereafter. 
It is hardly our province here to suggest where a single 
tree, a group, or a bulk of trees are to be planted, for such 
details can only be arrived at by a careful observation of the 
various objects in view on the spot; but it is generally 
admitted that certain prominent points, as the front of a 
mansion, a summer-house, some elevated portion of the 
lawn, or other conspicuous positions, should form points 
i from which distant objects of interest might be distinctly 
| seen to advantage; while the judicious hiding of objects less 
| pleasing to look upon, by prudent planting, forms the highest ' 
j branch of the art of landscape gardening. But as the 
various works already before the public convey, as far as 
paper and print can do, a correct notion of such matters, ■ 
we will leave the selection of sites for the various objects to 
be planted, and descend at once to our remarks on trees | 
adapted for the various purposes. 
For distinction, it is proper to say that the principal 
features in park planting are the single tree, the group or 
clump, the avenue, the screen, and the belt. Plantations 
on a more extended scale have generally other objects in 
view than picturesque effect, and consequently do not come 
under our present view. We shall, therefore, begin in the 
first place with single trees, and point out such species as form 
the most pleasing objects, combined with other qualities, 
enabling them to withstand the inconveniences of them 
isolated condition. 
Single Trees. —Under this head we presume our readers 
will expect to find us pointing to the Oak. Poetic feeling and 
national objects have vied with each other hi doing homage 
to this so-called king of the forest. But, though we are not, 
as here implied, so disloyal as to dispute his title, we yet 
think he has many compeers equally, if not more, deserving 
of the. coronet as chief baron of single trees. Not but that 
the oak often is found in great beauty, but we think he must 
yield to the wide-spread limbs of the full-grown Walnut. 
When a good specimen of the latter is seen to advantage, it 
is generally acknowledged to present as beautiful an outline 
as any tree we are acquainted with. In saying this, we may 
as well explain that we do not confine our observations to 
the appearance certain trees have at stated periods of the 
year ; fine and pathetic as the feeling may be that regards the 
tree only with interest when in the “ sere and yellow leaf; ” 
and far be it from us to impugn that feeling, yet we often 
think an undue importance, and what is worse, an erroneous 
impression gets abroad on the merits or demerits of certain 
trees at that memorable period. Who has not heard the 
oak lauded as possessing all the tints of the rainbow, while 
of the beech and other trees few have sung ? Leaving that 
subject, however, we may say that we look to the appearance 
that single trees have in winter, as well as in autumn, and in 
our opinion the walnut, the liorse-chesnut, beech (for its 
feathering tips), and the plane, are all equally valuable as 
the oak as single trees. We must not forget everybody’s 
favourite, the White thorn, than which we know of nothing 
more really beautiful; the common white being the best for 
distant views. The sweet chesnut, also, looks well as a single 
tree, its white blossoms contrasting well with its glossy 
green leaves. The lime and maple may be more sparingly 
planted, but we confess we do not admire them very much; 
I still less do we like the elm, its dirty looking limbs loaded 
with a superfluity of small black twigs gives it anything but 
an agreeable aspect in winter; besides, those limbs are more 
liable to break off than those of other trees. The Sycamore is 
more suitable, but ash, and the whole tribe of tall poplars, 
are out of pdace here; while many of the less common 
deciduous trees, as the Tulip tree, the Acacia, the Purple 
beech, &c., are more proper as adjuncts to the group or belt, 
than to stand unsheltered in an isolated state. 
We fear, if the amateur thinks our list of deciduous trees 
proper for solitude meagre, he will think our catalogue of 
evergreen ones still more deficient, for, we confess, we have 
j not much faith on many of the lately introduced Pinuses 
! proving at all suitable as single specimens. We have, how- 
I ever, the Cedar of Lebanon, which we unhesitatingly place first. 
i Evergreenoaks seldom do well alone, although many are found 
in single stations, which have, however, been nursed by other 
things. Yews will brave the weather in any dry exposed place; 
but where cattle are expected to feed they are dangerous, 
j for fear of their browzing on the leaves. The holly is better 
! adapted for plantations. If Pinuses must be planted singly, 
try the Deodar Cedar, and some of those partaking of the 
} character of the Scotch fir, taking care to select such as have 
proved themselves sufficiently hardy to withstand not only the 
cold, but the tempestuous winds which single specimens are 
subjected to, and mindful, that although a deciduous tree in 
a reclining position may at times appear natural, and con¬ 
sequently picturesque, that a pine can only have a distorted 
look when it becomes so. S. N. V. 
(To be continued.) 
HISTORY OF AN APIARY. 
(Continued from page 277.) 
On the 12th of May, early in the morning, I released my 
prisoners in the old hive, which (as it took the place of the 
fourth stock, whose fate has been already reported) I termed 
“ 2nd D.” The day before it appeared the hive was hi great 
commotion, which argued that the population had increased, 
and was increasing. Happily the sun had shone out brightly, 
so that, striking on the hive, it had supplied the want of 
natural heat, occasioned by the paucity of its inmates, and 
had, doubtless, hatched out many young bees. On first 
examining the hive-entrance, before I withdrew the list- 
bandage which obstructed it, a considerable humming was 
already perceptible, though so early in the morning; the 
bees, too, were busily employed in gnawing at the list, through 
which they would soon have forced their way. No sooner 
was the bandage withdrawn, than an eager rush of the libe¬ 
rated insects took place, and within half-an-hour I counted 
upwards of a dozen that had returned from the fields laden 
with pollen,—so speedily had they reconciled themselves to 
their circumstances. The new swarm also appeared con¬ 
tented with its new dwelling, crowds issuing and entering 
earlier and later than usual. 
Nothing of importance occurred till the 18th, save only 
that the weather having become cold again, I thought it 
prudent to feed the new swarm (which I had presented to 
the kind friend who allowed me the use of his garden) with 
two or three pounds of honey. On the 18th, however, 
I went to assist an intelligent cottager in the parish in 
forming a swarm artificially from His only hive, which seemed 
full of bees. Whether the drones had appeared or not, he 
could not tell; indeed, he professed himself quite ignorant 
of the natural history of bees, never having been aware of the 
existence of more than one sort of the genus Apis. Now, I 
could not have ventured to make an artificial swarm without 
clearly ascertaining beforehand the presence of drones ; the 
more so, as this was the only hive in the place ; but to make 
sure, the bees were driven in the usual manner, and knocked 
out of the temporary hive into which they had climbed, in front 
of the dwelling intended for them; at the same time that 
the old hive was carefully removed to anew stand and tied up. 
On attentively scrutinizing the swarm now exposed to view, 
it was evident that no drones had yet appeared ; but we saw 
the queen distinctly, and watched her enter the new hive, 
followed by her subjects. Leaving these bees, I turned up 
the old hive once more and carefully examined the combs to 
see if any drone brood could be found ceiled up in their 
cells. The search, however, having proved vain, the old 
stock was set on the ground, and the swarm once more 
dashed out before it, and into it they seemed right glad to 
I enter. It was now replaced in its former situation, whither 
| all the out-flying bees quickly resorted; nor did many 
J minutes elapse ere the garden presented its usual appear¬ 
ance, save only that the bodies of some hundred bees lay 
about the place, the unfortimate victims of our experiment. 
The cottager, who had been the first to spy out the queen, 
took a share and a lively interest in the whole proceedings; 
I and in spite of our ill-success, professes himself willing to 
I renew the experiment another year. Indeed, we had resolved 
