THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
July 15 
Ul 
but they were all deficient in one property or another ; 
perhaps the late wet weather has had something to do 
with the matter. In the collection we added a few to 
our former notes. Sarah was shown in better condition 
in the collection than amongst the seedlings. It is a 
large flower, with a heavy red lacing, well up in the 
centre, but rather too much fringed at the edges. Lola 
Montes, Oxford, Rival, Optima, a seedling of last year, 
Harriet, Criterion, Double X, Dr. Hawkins, Huntsman, 
Koh-i-Xoor, Hon. Mrs. Herbert, Sappho, Narborough 
Buck, and Morning Star. Cultivators of pinks who do 
not possess the above varieties would do well to pro¬ 
cure them. 
Verbenas. —We were much surprized that there were 
no plants in bloom exhibited of these lovely flowers. 
Is it because no prizes are offered for them ? Mr. 
Smith, of Hornsey, who has raised more good varieties 
than any other grower, sent a fine stand of cut blooms. 
The best were Shyloclc, Alba mayna, Ornisby Beauty, 
Purple Rival, Exquisite, Ariel, and Othello. .Amongst 
the seedlings we noted one named La Camargo, that 
will be useful as a bedding variety; flowers medium 
size, of a deep purple colour, relieved by a white eye; 
truss large; habit dwarf and compact; a desirable 
variety. T. Appleby. 
CONIFERJE. 
(Continued from page 217.) 
Arrangement {continued). —Though it was mentioned 
in our last paper on Conferee, that to see these fine 
trees to advantage it is desirable to congregate them 
together on one spot of ground, called a Pinetum, there 
to display their several characters of beauty of form, 
stateliness of figure, or magnitude of growth, yet it by 
no meaus follows that they may not be arranged in 
different ways, and various situations, in the other parts 
of the domain. The effect of avenues of Araucaria 
imbricata, Cedrus Deodara, and the Irish Yew may be 
seen at Elvaston Castle, Chatsworth, Bayfordbury, and 
various other places. Whoever intends to plant Coni- 
j ferce merely as ornamental objects w r ould do wisely to 
| visit these places, especially the two first. We shall 
| never forget seeing the gardens at Elvaston two years 
| ago. We were one of the favoured few whom the late 
noble earl permitted to see the place; such was the 
sensations of pleasure the sight gave us, that we actually 
! threw our body down upon the soft lawn in an ecstacy 
j of delight. And this beautiful scene, be it remembered, 
| is created upon a tame, level piece of land, some eighteen 
| acres in extent, but so judiciously planned that the spec- 
I tator at almost every step sees fresh scenes of beauty, and 
is delighted beyond measure at every turn. It is to be 
hoped that Sir Joseph Paxton will introduce these elegant, 
charming, evergreen trees most profusely in the park or 
pleasure-ground at Sydenham. It is ;a matter of rejoic¬ 
ing that Sydenham is far enough removed from the 
smoke of Loudon to allow Conifer® to flourish as well 
there as at Elvaston, or even Chatsworth itself. This 
alone will help to console the Londoners for the removal 
of the Crystal Palace, and will be a great attraction to 
the lovers of fine, rare trees growing in the open air in 
all the luxuriance of their native woods. 
To return to our subject of arrangement. Wherever 
there is an opportunity, plant avenues; only bear in 
mind our former hints about planting, and protecting 
them from game. Hares and rabbits are very fond of 
the young tops of most kinds of Conifer®, and we need 
not say that if the leading shoot is nipped off the beauty 
of the plant is destroyed for a considerable time, if not 
for ever. An avenue may either be formed with turf 
between the row of trees, or a gravel walk, with turf on 
each side of it. There is one advantage if a gravel walk 
is formed—it can be walked upon immediately after a 
shower, or in damp weather, without fear of catching j 
cold by damp feet. The trees should be planted at 
such distances from each other, and from the walk, as 
will allow of their expanding growth without fear of 
encroaching upon each other. Then, again, the avenue, 
whether short or long, should be formed with one 
species. They are formed at Elvaston in one direction 
with Irish Yews, in another with Deodars, in a third 
with Araucarias, the latter being on one of the fronts 
of the house, so that when you stand upon the steps 
leading to the entrance on that side you look down 
upon it, and a fine effect it lias even now. In villa \ 
gardens of moderate dimensions, an avenue of Deodars j 
would be the most elegant of all objects; and it is a 
matter of some surprise that our landscape gardeners do 
not make more use of this beautiful and perfectly hardy 
tree. 
If, however, it is not thought advisable to form an 
avenue on account of its formality, conifers may be 
planted in different localities in the pleasure ground 
with the happiest effect; they may be arranged singly, 
or in groups of three or five together, only care must be 
taken to plant them so that they have room to show 
forth their several characteristics. We were very much 
pleased with the manner in which a considerable 
number of these trees are arranged on the lawn at 
Rolleston Park, belonging to that fine old English gen¬ 
tleman, Sir Oswald Moseley. There, in winding round 
the walks, you come upon a noble Abies Douglassii, 
forty feet high, and branches that spread twenty feet in 
diameter; then, after passing a clump of ordinary 
shrubs, you are startled with a noble Pinus Sabiniana, 
standing quite clear upon the lawn, and fully as large as 
the A. Douglassii; after admiring its beauty, and walk¬ 
ing a little further, you meet with others, more rare, 
perhaps, and equally as beautiful. In this irregular 
way they form most interesting objects. Any one with 
an eye of taste, and a love for these beautiful plants, may 
form such a scene as this. Even in smaller places, a 
few of these interesting trees may be so placed as to give 
the most pleasing effect, and at a very slight expense, 
too; for it is a fact, that there are now in the nurseries 
plenty of beautiful conifers that may be had as cheaply 
as a common geranium, and after they are once planted 
there is no further expense, excepting protection whilst 
young. The only objection to their universal cultiva¬ 
tion is, that they will not bear the smoke of large towns, 
and yet, the other day, when attending the exhibition 
at Regent’s Park, we were much pleased to observe 
several species thriving well there, especially two 
examples of the Abies Morinda; these were flourishing 
most luxuriantly, and had attained the height of twenty 
feet, notwithstanding the smoke of London. This is a 
beautiful species, with drooping branches, and is worthy 
of being planted extensively. Loudon describes it under 
the name of Abies Smithiana, but it is best known 
under the name of A. Morinda. It is a native of the 
Himalayan mountains, where it forms a drooping tree \ 
from sixty to eighty feet high. It is perfectly hardy in \ 
Britain, and grows as rapidly as the common spruce I 
fir. T. Appleby. 
(To be continued.) 
CULTIVATION OP CELERY. 
(Continued from page 231.) 
In continuing our observations on celery, and more 
especially on that portion of it intended for the main 
crop, consideration must be paid to the taste and wants 
of the family for whose use it is intended. In a general 
way, the amateur celery-grower is more ambitious of large, 
overgrown celery than the country gentleman; the former 
prides himself on showing it to his friends, and sometimes 
