THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September % 1857. 34$ 
towns anything that will grow is acceptable. Hence I 
am compelled, as it were, to write against my published 
opinion that trees should never he planted amongst 
shrubs, especially evergreens, when intended merely as 
screens. 
In my last paper on the subject of which this is a 
continuation I promised to give a list of those things 
which would thrive, or at least exist, in such situations, 
believing that this information would be useful. 
I may just mention here that I find the churchyards 
of Sheffield very deficient of trees; indeed, some of them, 
the venerable parish church included, have not a tree 
or a shrub growing within their precincts. The solemn 
shade of old trees adds, in my view, greatly to that 
pious frame of mind which all right-thinking men try 
to acquire on entering the sacred place devoted to the 
service of that Omniscient Being whose presence and 
attributes are so much above our comprehension. To 
remedy this, in my opinion, great defect, I wrote a short 
paper on the subject, and sent it to the editor of one of 
the local papers, recommending a certain species of tree 
that would live and thrive in churchyards so situated. 
I met our worthy and revered vicar (Dr. Sales) a few 
days after the publication of my trifle, and had the 
pleasure to receive his thanks for my attention on the 
subject. I mention this little anecdote to show that the 
public estimate such information as I am about to give 
very much. No doubt many trees, shrubs, and flowers 
that I have not noticed may have been observed grow¬ 
ing in similar situations by others, thriving in spite of 
dust, smoke, and close air; and I invite such observers 
to send their notes to the Editor, who will, I am sure, 
be glad to record such useful information. I now pro¬ 
ceed with my list, commencing first with 
TREES THAT WILL LIVE IN OR NEAR SMOKY TOWNS. 
Acer palmata (Hand-leaved Sycamore).—Handsome 
foliage and branches. 
Carpinus (the Hornbeam).—I have seen this close- 
twigged, bushy-growing tree in such a situation a con¬ 
siderable size. 
Cratcegus (the Thorn).—Several varieties of Thorns 
will live in the neighbourhood of towns, provided the 
soil is dry and deep. 
Cytisus (the Laburnum).—This half-shrubby tree I 
have seen growing well in the heart of such towns as 
Nottingham and Northampton, and can recommend it 
in consequence. 
Platanus occulentalis (the Western Plane tree).—Of all 
trees I know this is the very best for planting near 
cities, towns, or in churchyards. I have seen very 
large trees in such situations. This is the tree I re¬ 
commended to give shade and shelter to the churches 
of Sheffield. 
Populus. —Some Poplars thrive in a middling way in 
towns. The best that I have seen so growing is the 
Balsam Poplar ( Populus balsamifera). 
Samhucus (the Elder).—This is scarcely a tree, but it 
has the quality of being very hardy in all jilaces. Hence 
I say, plant it where nothing else will grow. 
Tilia (the Lime).—At a small distance from the town 
the Lime may be planted. It loves a dry, deep soil. 
SHRUBS. 
Aucuba Japonica (the Golden-spotted Japan Laurel). 
—This evergreen shrub seems almost created to bear 
the smoke with impunity. Where the common Laurel, 
Box, and others languish and die, this hardy eastern 
plant flourishes well. However, mind this—hardy though 
it is, it will not bear the strong currents near high 
buildings. 
Berberis aquifolia. —A well-known evergreen dwarf 
shrub, with early yellow flowers, succeeded by purple 
berries. Very handsome shining foliage. I saw several 
plants of it in the churchyard at Rotherham in the* very 
midst of smoke from blast furnaces. 
Buxus (Box tree).—Well known as a perfectly hardy 
evergreen. 
Ilex (the Holly).—I observe this shrub thriving very 
fairly in such situations, providing a deep, good, dry 
loam was present. Hodgson’s variety seems particularly 
suitable. 
Ruscus aculeatus. — Not very handsome, but bears' 
smoke well. 
In addition to the above I would recommend the 
common Lilac, Syringa, and Snowberry shrubs, that 
will live almost anywhere, providing care is taken to 
thin their branches out and destroy the suckers annually, 
BLOWERS. 
The list of flowers that will live in or near large 
smoky towns is, of necessity, but scanty. In general 
early flowers do the best, because their foliage has so 
short an existence that they do not suffer so much as 
others whose foliage is more persistent. To keep them 
as healthy as possible under such an unfavourable 
position let the syringe and the rose water-pot be in 
constant use during the growing months. 
Anemone Japonica. 
„ vernalis. 
Anthericum liliastrum. 
Arum Italicum. 
Aster, several varieties. 
Astrantia major. 
Betonica grandiflora. 
Caltha palustris flore-pleno. 
Campanula glomerata. 
Centaurea montan a. 
5 , macrophylla. 
„ macrocephala. 
Clematis erecta. 
Dielytra formosa. 
Doronicum Caucasicum. 
Erigeron Villarsii. 
Eicaria ranunculoides flore- 
pleno. 
Helianthus multiflorus. 
GARDEN SEEDS AND THEIR GERMINATION. 
The vitality of seeds, when placed under peculiar 
circumstances, has attracted much attention of late, 
besides which an alarm has been raised that the seed 
trade is no more exempt from corrupt practices than 
others are wherein great competition exists; in fact, 
some have affirmed that quantities of seeds of the most 
common of the Cabbage families are systematically 
killed by being subjected to some chemical agency or 
heat, which destroys their vitality without altering their 
appearance, for the express purpose of mixing with 
seeds of a similar shape, but of a more costly descrip¬ 
tion. 
Without vindicating the practices of the wily and dis¬ 
honest tradesman who so acts, I cannot but think that 
the public at large are also to blame in the matter. The 
insatiable desire to have everything cheap has naturally 
led to this practice. Customers who will insist on having 
their purchases at a price below the cost of production 
must expect, in some way or other, to be victimised; and 
as bad seeds, unlike adulterated flour or coffee, do not 
entail on the vendor any serious charge of fraud, the 
matter is seldom heard of in any other way than by the 
grumbling of the sufferer; and, although the tests for 
seeds are as common and simple as anything else in 
existence, it is seldom that any further notice is taken. 
Hemerocallis flava. 
,, fulva. 
Hieracium aurantiacum. 
Hypericum elegans. 
Iris, many varieties. 
Ononis rotundifolius. 
Orobus vernus. 
Pulmonaria officinalis. 
Saxifraga. I have found 
many species of Saxifrage 
bear smoke well. I re¬ 
member seeing several 
large patches in the very 
centre of Leeds, one of 
the smokiest of towns. 
Solidago minuta. 
Trollius Asiaticus. 
Veratrum nigrum,fine foliage. 
Yinca major and minor. 
X. Appleby. 
