March G. 
Schedule, by which we see that the temperature of 
Ireland is about five degrees higher than in England. 
Mean temperature of 
Ueg. 
Mean temperature of 
Deg. 
Greenwich . 
34-5 
Dublin. 
37-5 
Nottingham. 
35- 
l’ortarlington . 
37-5 
Ilowarden . 
305 
Armagh . 
. 37- 
English Mean 
33-33 
Ireland.. 
38TG 
“ We can scarcely at present speak of the state of the 
barometer; neither is it possible to remark on the fall 
of rain; for the returns have been, in nearly every place, 
‘ frozen.’ ” 
At present it is premature to state what have been 
the effects of the severe weather upon our out-door plants. 
At Winchester, with an elevation of 300 feet above the 
sea’s level, on a light loam, resting on chalk, the Cryp- 
tomeria japonica has its lower leaves browned, but the 
upper leaves are green. The Taxodiuni sempervirens, on 
the contrary, has its upper leaves killed, whilst the 
lower are much less injured. We do not think either 
of the trees have suffered much, but the Taxodium 
certainly the most. Newly-planted Laurustinuses and 
Berberis aquifolium, both old and young, have been 
scorched brown, as it were, on the side exposed to the 
long-prevailing easterly winds. The common Laurel, 
Arbutus, and Portugal Laurel, are quite uninjured. 
The soil was so dry when the frost set in that wo do 
not anticipate much injury has been sustained. 
We shall bo much obliged by any of our readers 
communicating to us accurate registers of temperatures 
during January and February, as well as the conse¬ 
quences to plants exposed to them. 
THE NEGLECTED SHRUBBERY. 
There is as much difference between the noglected 
shrubbery and the well-managed shrubbery, as between 
a high-mettled racer and a horse for the kennel. Strange 
it is that persons living in neat villas or suburban resi¬ 
dences—to say nothing about halls or mansions—should 
rest contented with the gawky, lean, and poverty-stricken 
looking trees, or shrubs, which, in but too many cases, 
constitute what is termed a shrubbery. Such pea-stick¬ 
looking screens may have been tolerably well planted 
at first; the things, whilst young, probably looked fresh 
and prosperous; but by degrees, and, as it were, in an 
insidious way, most of those shrubs, or trees, which 
were intermixed at first, in order to produce rapid effect, 
and, indeed, to economise more choice things, become 
so coarse and rampant, that superior shrubs or ever¬ 
greens have no chance, and instead of becoming yearly 
handsomer, grow annually more scraggy, and finally 
become mere skeletons. 
Every shrubbery intended for an ornamental ap¬ 
pendage to the dwelling-house, or, indeed, in auy 
important part of the grounds, should be looked over 
annually, and the very best time for this proceeding, in 
my opinion, is the mouth of November, towards the 
end. At that period the deciduous trees, or shrubs, will 
have cast their leaves, and as hacking and pruning, as 
well as any re-arrangements by transplanting, is sure to 
produce disorder, one thorough cleansing, which would, 
in any case, be requisite, will suffice for all the opera¬ 
tions. Besides, since in the majority of cases, either 
some planting or removals will be necessary, I am 
anxious to impress on the minds of the reader the great 
427- 
importance of using the shrubbery rakings, in all cases, 
in the bottoms of the holes for trees or shrubs. This 
practice I have followed for many years, and I imagine 
we might challenge the country for luxuriant evergreens, 
shrubs, and trees. 
In examining neglected shrubberies, a sharp bill¬ 
hook, hand saw, and pru mug-knife, are requisite, and 
sometimes the woodman’s axe. When of any age and 
size the axe will occasionally claim the precedence. If 
any will, Sycamores, Beeches, or other overbearing 
timber trees, are likely to derange the original plan of 
giving a dignified sky outline, and at the same time 
permitting shrubs, evergreens, &c., to well occupy the 
ground line; let those be removed at once, before they 
have done more mischief. This proceeding will pave 
the way for a free consideration of what ought to be 
done, which can seldom be the case when one of the 
hands is tied through a too fast adherence to one mode 
only of judging things, and which has generated a kind 
of fixedness in the mind but ill adapted to give any 
customary thing a free reconsideration. 
It will be seen that I have been pointing to what has 
been termed the Tree Mania; for verily, although we 
all love trees, I hope ; and although a man should sleep 
once or twice on the suggestion of taking down one of 
these would-ho veritable giants, yet it is unfortunate to 
see, as we have seen, most important plans marred 
through this want of consideration in deciding on such 
operations. 
In such uncomfortable and half-worn shrubberies, 
then,—lean, poor below, rampant above—the chief busi¬ 
ness, in general, is first to see that the mere ground hue 
is furnished in such a way as permanently to prove 
warm in winter, snug, and durable. He who can accom¬ 
plish this in limited shrubberies, which may be taken 
as accompaniments of the house, and, at the same time, 
impart most botanical interest and most dignity, I take 
to be the very artist required. 
Of course, if huge young trees, or shrubs, are moved, 
other things will be required to fill the blanks occasioned; 
and even as I would advise some pert country wench— 
who wanted to be fine at the expence of comfort—to first 
secure good linsey-woolsey before she purchased silks; so 
now I say as to planting—see that you have some of 
our permanent evergreens introduced as a basis to the 
scheme, and then let us talk about new and fine shrubs. 
One of the most permanent shrubs we have, and one 
which is ever looked at with pleasurable feelings, is the 
Holly —none of your hedgehog Holly, but the old green 
Holly, made to luxuriate. This I adverted to before, in 
a little advice^ about the Holly; I therefore pass on, 
merely observing, that I am impulsively led to place the 
Holly first on the list. The Portugal Laurel, where 
soils are suitable, is a long-enduring and comfortable¬ 
looking evergreen; and, indeed, wherever a shrubbery 
is rich in these two evergreens as a back ground, there 
be suYe you will love to walk during the dreary winter 
days, and will, moreover, raise no objection, even in 
summer, so long as they do not trespass on the border, 
which has to glitter with Tom Thumbs, the Cerise 
Unique, Verbenas, Fuchsias, &c. 
But good and permanent evergreens for securing a 
warm groundline are well known. I must pass by this 
matter; and am now in a position to speak of decorative 
affairs, which brings me to suggest a liberal use of those 
shrubs, or evergreens, which at once present an outline, 
as to bulk and figure, worth consideration, and at the 
same time, possess floral or other features of importance. 
This, of course, is for the foreground of the shrubbery. 
Of such are the Arbutus, the Laurustine, Mahonias, and 
some of the Berberis family, amongst which I cannot 
allow myself to omit that delightful evergreen hush, the 
Berberis Daruinii. 
Well, then, we have all our Uhododendrons, from the 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
