276 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 1, 1859. 
variety said to keep till March. Fruit not ripe on arrival 
(November 11), and subsequently appeared to have 
suffered from keeping, but still pleasant flavoured and 
tender fleshed. Messrs. Chater are requested to send it 
again, to next Meeting. 
Messrs. Youell’s (of Yarmouth) Seedling Apples again 
came before the Meeting; but not any of them were con¬ 
sidered, from the present exhibition, worthy of being 
commended as acquisitions. Several of the most pro¬ 
mising varieties, however, had suffered so much from 
having been gathered in an immature state, that it may 
be worth while to receive them again in a better condition 
next year. The kinds referred to were numbered 1, 11, 
19, 23, and 33. 
A NEW ARRANGEMENT OF SHRUBS. 
(Continued from page 249.) 
Since writing my former paper on this subject, I have visited 
several places, and, as a matter of course, observed with a critical 
eye the arrangement of the shrubberies. With a very few 
exceptions, that arrangement is very unsatisfactory. In one 
place, at Didsbury, near Manchester, the seat of Joseph Bull, 
Esq., the shrubs are mostly evergreen; hence, at this tune of the 
year, their deep green foliage gives a relief to the eye, which is 
very pleasing; but, even here, the mingling system has been 
adopted at the time when the place was planted. Rhododendrons, 
however, prevail pretty largely, and, when in flower, must be 
very handsome. 
The natural desire of change and variety seems to be inherent 
in the human mind, and this desire, or love of change, is, no 
doubt, implanted in the mind for a wise purpose. In ornamental 
gardening, it has led to a search after new plants, either from 
the wilds of nature in foreign countries, or by hybridising such 
as we already possessed ; and not only have we sought for, or 
raised, new trees, shrubs, and flowers, but a desire has arisen 
so to plant them, as to combine new ways of placing them in 
our gardens. From this principle, we have arranged our flowers 
in masses, known by the cognomen of bedding-out system, and 
have added to that another, which I named the ribbon style, and 
which style, I believe, was first adopted by Mr. Fleming, in the 
gardens of the Duke of Sutherland, at Trentliam. 
Now, I propose, to all about to plant, or renew, a shrubbery, 
to arrange a series of shrubs in tins ribbon style, or, in other ! 
words, to plant them, so that if viewed from a distance, in a long ! 
line, they would have the appearance of a striped ribbon. We 
possess shrubs with dark green foliage, and, also, light green I 
leaves. We have variegated shrubs of every hue, and we possess ! 
shrubs with purple leaves. Then, to vary the outline, we can use 
shrubs with spiry forms, and others that are conical, round, or j 
even drooping shapes. Having all these elements of variety at 
command, a shrubbery might be planted to be at once novel, 
varied, and interesting throughout, in which art and design 
would be as conspicuous as in the most elaborate parterre; and 
it would have an advantage over that region of flora 1 beauty— 
that of being permanent throughout the whole year. Besides 
that, this arrangement would look beautiful from the day it was 
formed, and would increase in effect for a great number of years, 
without any further care, excepting that of keeping it free of 
weeds, and an annual stirring of the surface in the autumn. I 
am as certain as a man can be certain of anything, that this new 
arrangement of shrubs would bo liiglily valued, if it only had a 
trial; and I should like, of all men in the world, that my friend, 
Mr. Beaton, would set his brain to work, and carry it cat in 
the Experimental Garden he so often mentions; though I 
should like to see it carried out, also, in a place where everybody 
could see it—the grounds of the Crystal Palace, at Sydenham, for 
instance! 
There may, however, be amongst the readers of The Cottage 
Gardener, some spirited individuals with sufficient means and 
taste to try this scheme of mine, though, perhaps, on a small 
scale. To guide such, I will give a list of such shrubs as I judge 
will carry out the method to some extent. I suppose this 
ribbon to be planted with evergreens, or variegated evergreen 
shrubs. By way of variety, I give two sets of shrubs, each 
shrub to occupy the square of the distance between each. So 
the ribbon will be eleven yards two feet and seven inches broad, 
and as long as the planter pleases. I propose to use twelve 
kinds of shrubs as follows:— 
1st row. 
2nd row. 
3rd row. 
4th row. 
5th row. 
Oth row. 
7th row. 
81 h row. 
9th row. 
10th row. 
11th row. 
12th row. 
1st row. 
2nd row. 
ditto. 
3rd row. 
4th row. 
5th row. 
6th row. 
7tli row. 
8th row. 
ditto. 
9th row. 
10th row. 
11th row. 
12th row. 
1st Arrangement. 
20 Erica herbacea, a. 1 foot apart in the row. 
16 Erica Alportii, a. 1 foot 3 inches ditto. 
12 Common Lavender. 1 foot 8 inches ditto. 
8 Berbcris aquifolium. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
8 Dark-leaved Phillyrea. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
8 Gold-striped Hollies. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
8 Cuprcssus excelsa. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
6 Arbutus, of sorts. 3 feet 4 inches ditto. 
6 Green Tree Box. 3 feet 4 inches ditto. 
4 Portugal Laurel. 5 feet ditto. 
4 Irish Yew. 5 feet ditto. 
4 Common Green Holly. 5 feet. 
2nd Arrangement. 
20 Daphne cneorum variegata, a. 1 foot apart. 
16 Buxus nana ; a dwarf, neat Box. 1 foot 3 inches 
12 Berberis glumaeea. 1 foot 8 inches ditto. 
8 Rhododendron ferrugineum, a. 2 feet 6 inches do. 
8 Andromeda formosa. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
8 Aucuba Japonica. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
8 Laurustinus. 2 feet 6 inches ditto. 
6 Tall Rhododendron, a ; various. 3 feet 6 inches 
6 Sweet Bay. 3 feet 6 inches ditto. 
4 Silver-striped Holly. 5 feet ditto. 
4 Portugal Laurel. 5 feet ditto. 
4 American Arbor Vitae. 5 feet ditto. 
If flowering, deciduous shrubs are chosen, then Roses, Snow¬ 
ball Trees, purple-leaved Hazel, and purpled-leaved Berberis,—a 
row of each,—may be introduced, instead of some of the ever¬ 
greens. 
Every kind must be kept distinct, by pruning in straggling 
shoots. Those marked a should have some peat soil to each, at 
the time of planting.—T. Attleby. 
THE SCIENCE OF GARDENING. 
(Continued from page 268.) 
It is quite certain, (hat every plant, when growing in a favourite 
soil in its native climate, has its roots growing in the temperature 
which is best accordant with that in which its branches are de¬ 
lighting. Under no circumstances, if the plant is flourishing, 
will the temperature in summer, at twelve inches from the sur¬ 
face, be found to be less than 2°, nor more than 5° lower than the 
average temperature of the atmosphere; and in winter, that 
temperature, at the same depth, will be found to range similarly 
above the atmospheric temperature. It is quite true, that at the 
Chiswick Garden of the London Horticultural Society, and else¬ 
where, there is a difference of 10°, or more, between the tem¬ 
perature of the soil at that depth, and the temperature of the 
air ; but this only is evidence that the drainage, or composition 
of the soil, are defective. If the difference of temperature was 
less, the plants grown on such soils would be more early, and 
more healthy in their vegetation. 
There is no doubt, that in tropical climates, the bare, exposed 
soil becomes heated, for a few inches in depth, to a degree higher 
than that of the air incumbent upon it. But this is not the 
case about the roots of plants ; for their foliage, and the herbage 
naturally clothing the soil, preserve this from such a pernicious 
elevation of temperature. Besides, we have seen that a foot 
below the surface the temperature is but slightly elevated, or 
depressed. That an excessive elevation is injurious, is known to 
every observer of plants, whether the plants are growing in the 
tropics or in a stove. The roots are stimulated to imbibe 
moisture faster than the foliage can sufficiently digest the sap 
thus forced to them, and that foliage is expanded wider and more 
weakly, in the vain effort to keep pace with the supply. This 
is only one among many instances of that property, so wisely 
given to organised beings by their Creator, of adapting them¬ 
selves to circumstances ; and it is only when the vicissitudes of 
those circumstances are too violent, or too long continued, that 
they fail in their effort at conformity. 
If the temperature of the soil be unnaturally below that in 
