106 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
October 16, 1886. 
poisonous, and sufficiently like a Mushroom to be often 
mistaken for it. As if for pure and unmitigated 
devilry, this fungus sometimes grows side by side 
with true Mushrooms, on Mushroom beds, a pretty 
case of 11 mimicry ”•—a Satanic organism mimicking 
one of nature’s best gifts. — Worthington G. Smith, 
Dunstable. 
-- 
CHOICE DECIDUOUS TREES 
FOR SUBURBAN GARDENS. 
During lialf-an-hour’s walk in any suburban district 
much may be seen of the way in which many villa 
gardens are planted to arrest attention. Here and 
there instances of judicious planting are met with 
which will please the most fastidious, but in too many 
instances the incongruity displayed by the ill-assorted 
assemblage of Elms, Limes, Poplars, Sycamores, Chest¬ 
nuts, &e., planted by the “jerry” builder with a view 
.to immediate effect, and to hide the tenants from their 
neighbours is dreadfully conspicuous. These soon 
smother up the place, and have to be cleared out in a 
few years, unless the tenants are content with such a 
mixture of ugliness and wretchedness. Ho dwelling 
can be dry and healthy under the shade of large trees. 
There is a mine of wealth opened to the planter, in¬ 
cluding foliage and flowering trees, which, from the 
moderate dimensions they attain when fully developed, 
are admirably adapted for places of small extent. We 
will instance a few which, from their distinctness of 
growth and foliage, will, if judiciously distributed about 
a place, give it a very superior appearance to those 
planted with common-place forest trees, and will well 
repay the little extra cost incurred. Confining these 
notes to deciduous trees, I will commence with the 
Japanese Maples. —Acer polymorplium and A. 
japonicum, with their varieties, are well worthy of 
more attention than they have hitherto received. 
Where the soil is good, and the situation sheltered, they 
should have a place, being among the most distinct 
and handsome plants we have, both in the formation 
and colouration of their foliage. They are of slow 
growth, and should be planted near the margin of the 
shrubbery. A. polymorphum dissectum, A. p. roseum 
marginatum, and A. p. sanguineum are three very 
distinct varieties. 
Acer negundo variegata is too well known 
to need any description or commendation. Where 
soil and situation suits it, there is no other variegated 
tree that can compare with it. If dotted about it 
lights up the dark masses of evergreen, and other 
foliage when flowers are scarce or altogether absent. 
The misfortune is, that in some descriptions of dry 
soils exposed to cutting winds it becomes unsightly, 
and unless it is known to do well in the locality, 
sparing use should be made of it, selecting spots for 
it which seem likely to suit it best. 
Ailanthus glandulosa. —This, if left to itself, 
will grow into a tree of considerable dimensions and 
is one of the most beautiful subjects we have, and by 
cutting it down annually, as in the sub-tropical 
gardens in the London parks, it is available for the 
ornamentation of the smallest places. A plant here 
and there in the foreground of the borders or single on 
the grass, is more effective than many plants used in a 
similar -way which require housing during the winter 
months. 
Aralia japonica. —A well-grown plant of this, 
with its much-divided foliage from 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
length, by If ft. in breadth, when in flower, is one of 
the most pleasing sights to a lover of hardy trees. 
Carpinus quercifolia and incisa, two varieties 
of our common Hornbeam, not often met with, are 
particularly well adapted to places of moderate extent 
to give variety and form a pleasing contrast to other 
things of more ample and larger foliage. 
Catalpa syringefolia and the golden variety 
C. s. aurea cannot be passed over, though it may be 
urged against them that, from the large size they 
will ultimately attain they ought to be excluded from 
a list professed to be made out for limited domains. 
But the temptation to include them is too great, for 
after the Horse Chestnut, if second to that, it is far and 
away the most beautiful flowering tree we have, and its 
fine heart-shaped leaves give it, when in a small state, 
an unique appearance ; the golden variety is of slower 
growth and well adapted for sub-tropical gardening. 
Cornus jias variegata.— This, as a standard, is 
one of the best plants for small places ; it can easily 
be kept about the size of a moderate standard Rose, and 
is one of the best variegated hardy trees. 
Cytisus Laburnum aureum stands the sun well, 
and is a fine addition to our coloured-leaved trees. 
Fagus asplenifolia, a fine subject interspersed 
among other trees or standing out singly. These 
variations of foliage from the normal type among our 
Oaks, Hornbeams, and Beech are all very interesting 
to tree lovers ; this is, perhaps, the best among them. 
Fagus pendula is excellent to form a natural 
arbour with, its bright glossy foliage being more agree¬ 
able to the eye than the lighter and duller green of the 
Ash. 
Fagus purpurea, still the very best coloured foliaged 
tree we have. A word of caution to intending pur¬ 
chasers may not be out of place, as it is often reared 
from seed, and the plants thus obtained cannot be 
depended on to become a good colour ; to insure this 
refuse any but grafted plants. 
Liquidamber styraciflua. —This is of moderate 
growth, and very distinct in foliage. Towards autumn 
it assumes a rich crimson tint, vieing with the popular 
Virginian Creeper ; this ought to find a place in the 
most limited collections. 
Liriodendron tulipifera. —The Tulip tree, though 
attaining in time to large dimensions, is so distinct in 
foliage that, on this account, it well merits a place in 
domains of comparatively small extent, and ivhen in 
flower will always, from the striking resemblance they 
have to the Tulip, be objects of great interest. 
Paulownia imperialis.— Large specimens of this 
arc rarely met with ; being rather tender in a small 
state they often get cut back by the frost. Its immense 
heart-shaped leaves renders it unique among hardy 
trees. It is, perhaps, scarcely the plant for small 
places, unless treated as suggested for the Ailanthus. 
Populus fastigiata.— Where the space is large 
enough, room should be found for a few of these. 
Towering above their neighbours, they form admirable 
landmarks, and give a feature to the landscape pecu¬ 
liarly their own. 
Rhus glabra laciniata has elegantly-divided 
foliage, dying off in the autumn a rich crimson. R. 
typhina is like the preceding, giving when judiciously 
planted a fine sub-tropical appearance, and dying off 
in the richest crimson hues imaginable. Being of very 
moderate dimensions, it is well adapted for small 
places, and cannot be too highly recommended. 
Robinia inermis umbiiaculifera, the Mop Acacia, 
is deservedly popular, and often made good use of in 
the front gardens of villa residences ; no plant is better 
adapted for these positions. Keeping within moderate 
dimensions for a lengthened period, it is a pity that it 
is not more generally planted than it is. 
Salisburia adiantifolia (The Maidenhair Tree).— 
A well-grown specimen of this is a beautiful object, and 
the formation of the leaves is so distinct, that there is 
nothing among trees to compare it with. As its name 
implies, it bears a striking resemblance to the Maiden¬ 
hair Fern. 
Salix AMERICANA pendula. —This lias been pretty . 
freely planted in some localities, and is a very useful 
and distinct plant, well suited for small places. 
Salix babylonica is the most beautiful of all weep¬ 
ing trees. To show this off to advantage, it should be 
planted near water where its long pendulous shoots can 
fall clown and dip into it, standing thus, it is positively 
unrivalled as a weeping tree—no other can compare 
with it. 
Ulmus Montana pendula.— This is often passed 
over in favour of the Weeping Ash ; while for small 
villa gardens it is much the best plant. With a little 
attention to training and pruning, to keep it trim and 
neat, it has a dressy appearance which the Ash never 
can have. 
Pyrus aria (the white Bean tree), Pyrus aucuparia 
(the mountain Ash), Pyrus sorbus (True Service), are all 
distinct and well merit attention from landscape 
gardeners. 
Quercus coccinea and Q. aurea claim, at least, a 
passing notice, and where the space admits should be 
introduced. 
Some of the subjects named in this paper are common 
enough yet—how many places are there where but few 
of them are found? The object of this paper is to 
direct the attention of planters to the diversity of form 
and foliage among trees, which is not taken the advan¬ 
tage of in planting villa gardens, it should be.— 
W. B. G. 
CELERY FOR EXHIBITION. 
The large, well-grown, and equally well-blanched 
samples of this favourite winter esculent, which are 
shown by the cottage gardeners in the towns of the 
northern counties, often call forth high praise from 
the general public, as well as from the professional 
gardeners who are called in to adjudicate the prizes. 
Gooseberries, Celery and Red Cabbages are especially 
cultivated for exhibition by cottagers, who bestow 
much time, care and attention upon their favourites, 
and in return secure remarkable, results. I have 
already, in your last volume, described the method of 
growing Gooseberries, and will now deal with the 
Celery. 
I may remark, at the outset, that the shows are 
mostly held in the large rooms of the principal public 
houses in the towns and villages ; and though certain 
objections might be urged against the exhibitions being 
held in such places, it must be said that, as a rule, 
they are well managed, and conducted in an orderly 
manner. The prizes are good, and will range from 
10s. up to £3, in some cases £5 ; consequently the 
competition is generally strong. 
Sowing the seeds is entrusted, as a rule, to the more 
fortunate of the artisans, who have little greenhouses 
in the corner of their allotments ; but many have to 
resort to the market-gardener, who makes the rearing 
of show sorts a speciality. Sowing is commenced in 
the third or last week in January, and is continued at 
intervals into March. Some like good plants early, 
but others prefer those from the February sowings. 
All are sown in boxes on fine soil and in moderate heat, 
and when the young plants have made their third 
rough leaf, they are planted singly into 4-in. pots ; a 
practice which entails a little more labour, and takes 
up much room, but an advantage is gained at the time 
of transplanting, when they receive no check.; others, 
again, are transplanted thinly into boxes, with a slight 
layer of manure at the bottom of the box, and over this a 
fine layer of soil. They are then placed on shelves and 
stages near the glass, and carefully attended to—in the 
matter of watering and giving air—so as to ensure a 
robust stocky growth, so essential to their future well¬ 
being. They are subsequently put into frames and 
gradually hardened off, previous to being transplanted 
in their permanent quarters. 
The trenches vary in width, from 10 ins. to 15 ins., 
and about the same in depth ; and run due north and 
south, so as to expose both sides of the rows to the 
sun’s influence. The distance from trench to trench is 
about 5 ft. These are filled up with manure to within 
4 ins. of the ground level, which is covered over with 
good fine soil; the manure is such as the cottager can 
get—well-rotted horse or cow’s dung mixed, or the 
manure from the pig stye, which is what many of them 
use, but it is apt to breed, and fill the ground with 
worms ; a couple of stones pf salt, mixed in winter, to 
the half load will settle these, and add materially to 
the value of the manure. 
Transplanting is performed in May, during showery 
weather, and the plants are set from 9 ins. to 15 ins. 
apart, in single rows. If the weather should be dry, 
planting is done in the evening, after sundown, and a 
good soaking of water is given immediately ; and if the 
soil on the ridges and around the sides is damped over, 
it helps materially to prevent flagging. During the 
summer, plenty of water and weak liquid manure is 
given, the soil frequently stirred, all off-shoots and 
useless stems cut off, and a sharp look-out kept for 
slugs and the Celery-fly. 
Blanching, or earthing-up, is carried out in various 
ways ; but all lead to one essential point—the exclusion 
of light from the stems. Brown paper wrapped round 
each individual plant is the plan most followed ; and 
as the plants advance in growth, additional pieces of 
paper are put above the others. This “collaring” 
process usually commences when the plants are of fair 
size in July and August ; but no hard-and-fast rule 
can be laid down, as an eye must be kept to the date 
of show, or for the month in which the} 7 are most likely 
to be wanted. The collars are unloosed at intervals, 
and the stems and heart examined minutely for slugs, 
&c., and well washed, syringed and cleaned from all 
dirt or grit which may have accumulated inside the 
stems, after which they are again wrapped up. The 
trenches, during the summer, are kept open, so that 
the roots can be well supplied with liquid manure, as 
before stated ; guano and nitrate of soda are the chief 
substances used for the making of this. 
