82 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION.— Noyembeb 4,1856 
bees to rest upon, or, what is better, pieces of empty combs, 
which are, after all, the best feeding-pans. The morning or 
middle of warm days is the best time to place fresh food. 
Cottagers often feed with success by merely placing the 
light hive upon an eke, to afford room for a plate of food be¬ 
low, taking care to close the entrance, to keep out strange 
bees. Rut whatever plan is adopted, the supply should be 
continued, and not given by dribblets; for, if possible, bees 
should not be disturbed by feeding in winter.— J. Wighton. 
GROUPING TREES AND SHRUBS. 
The autumnal tints of the foliage last year were richer 
than I ever remember seeing them. The mild weather, also, 
prolonged their beauty and magnificence to a much later 
period, giving us country-people ample time to judge of the 
effects of judicious grouping over a mixed medley of con¬ 
fusion. 
As this glorious season has again brought us round to the 
time that even the rustic and clodhopper can hardly pass 
through the lanes without admiring dying leaves. I say 
glorious season, as I believe few can remember seein^tlie 
earth, both last year and this, so loaded with the useful to 
animal life. Noble single trees, such as tho Oak, Cedar 
of Lebanon, Elm, Ac., standing boldly out as a foreground 
to masses of other descriptions, have a truly noble effect; 
but the mixed mode, without design either for use or orna¬ 
ment, is miserable and contemptible. 
And now, while the trees are in all their glory, let me give 
the chance to your young writers of a discussion on this 
interesting subject. With this view, I inclose a sketch, and 
will just point out a little of what is to be seen that can be 
done with common every-day things. 
To explain matters more clearly, 1 have marked the clumps 
into divisions, and numbered them. Say, therefore, No. 1 
is planted with Tulip-trees, or scarlet or other varieties of 
Chestnuts or Limes, or any other variety of trees growing 
about the same height, that carries a similar cream-coloured 
or yellow autumnal tint. Of course, whatever one is chosen, 
keep to it—let there be no mixing. The common Hornbeam 
ought not to be forgotten in this class, as it retains the 
masses of seed-vessels long after the foliage has disappeared, 
giving it the appearance of being covered with Hops, and as 
late as March forming a beautiful and pleasing contrast 
to the dark and sombre foliage of varieties of the Conifer 
tiibe. 
No. 2. Scotch Firs, or Pinus Austriaca, or P. insignis, or 
P. Pindrow, or P. cxcelsa, or P. ccmbra, Ac. 
No. 3. Spruce Firs, or Abies Morinda, Ac. 
No. 4. Planes, or English Elm, Ac. 
No. 5. Larches. 
No. 0. Cedars of Lebanon. 
No. 7. American Scarlet Oak, or Purple Beech, Ac. 
No. 8. English Oak. 
No. 9. Silver Fir, Abies JDouglasii, or A. Nordmanniaua., Ac. 
No. 10. Cut-leaved Weeping Silver Birch, Ac. 
No. 11. Cedrus dcodara. 
No. 12. Evergreen Oak. 
Again, suppose Nos. 1 and 2 were planted with Larch ; 
3 and 4, Spruce Firs; 5, Weeping Birch; 0, Cedar of 
Lebanon; 7 and 8, Scarlet Oak; 9, Pinus Dovglasii; 10, 
Virgelia lutea; 11, Cedrus dcodara; and 12, fine Purple 
Beech. 
Again, 1 and 2, Cedrus dcodara; 3, 4, and 5, Larch ; 0, 
Scotch Firs; 7, 8, and 9, Scarletor English Oak; 10, Tulip- 
tree; 11, Cedar of Lebanon ; 12, Silver Firs. 
Any of these would have a good effect; but, of course, this 
will depend on the size of the clumps, and, therefore, must 
be ruled by circumstances. 
If the ground outline is not kept in grass, but required as 
a cover for game, I should plant a deep, irregular margin on 
the outside with such plants as appear suitable and liarmo- 
