68 
THE GABDENING WORLD 
October 1, 1887. 
of some admitted foliage plants, which, 
while blending and toning, shall at the same 
time give some welcome relief to that formal 
hardness so inevitable in any ordinary 
shown group of Chrysanthemums. It is 
well to point out that at home it is the 
invariable custom of gardeners to mix or 
commingle their Chrysanthemum plants with 
others for the production of pretty effects; 
why cannot the same be done at our shows 1 
We should find their attractions greatly 
enhanced thereby. 
We want to impress upon the managers 
of Chrysanthemum exhibitions the fact that 
if they would secure permanently the coun¬ 
tenance of the public, they must cater some¬ 
what to meet their requirements. The 
world does not exist for Chrysanthemum 
shows, but the latter will find it hard to 
live without the aid of the former. Once the 
public is satiated with sameness, our autumn 
shows will suffer from lack of patronage, and 
some such catastrophe seems to us almost 
inevitable presently unless the exhibitions 
are made to follow in the wake of the 
public taste. 
- ; —-»% < —■ — 
Me. B. Fixdlay is arranging for holding a great 
exhibition of Apples, Pears, &c., in the Manchester 
Exhibition Palace, on October 14th and 15th. 
Schedules of prizes are in course of preparation, and 
it is believed a large and thoroughly representative 
show will result. The schedule will be issued as soon 
as ready. 
The annual exhibition of the Banbury Chrysan¬ 
themum Society will take place on November the 
23rd, and will be held, as usual, in the Exchange Hall 
at Banbury. 
The Royal Botanic Society offers the society’s Gold 
Medal, accompanied by a purse of fifty guineas, for the 
best essay Ox the Plants and Vegetable Products 
introduced into the United Kingdom for use in the 
arts, manufactures, food, and domestic economy during 
the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. The essays 
are to be written in the English language, scientific 
names and terms excepted, and are to be sent in 
addressed to the Council on or before December 31st, 
1887, bearing a motto and accompanied by a sealed 
envelope, with motto outside and name and address of 
writer inside. The essay to which the prize is awarded 
is to become the exclusive property of the society, to be 
used as the Council may determine. 
The members of the Preston and Fulwood 
Horticultural Society will meet this Saturday 
evening, at 7.30 p.m., to discuss the paper on 
“Natural v. Artificial Manure,” read by Mr. Samuel 
Heaton at the last monthly reading, the principal 
points in which are : (1) that manures are not always 
necessary for the growth of plants, flowers, fruit and 
vegetables, as some soils may contain the required 
ingredients ; (2) that manure, when possible, should 
be applied in a liquid state to obtain the greatest 
benefit therefrom ; (3) that a too frequent use of 
natural manure, in a solid or liquid state, tends to 
make the soil full of humic acid ; (4) that manures are 
not applied to the soil for the sole purpose of supplying 
plants with nutriment, but to assist in dissolving and 
holding in solution other substances required for the 
growth and development of plants ; (5) vegetables and 
fruit-bearing plants that are given an excessive supply 
of manure are deprived of that flavour which under more 
natural treatment they would possess; (6) that to manu¬ 
facture a cheap and beneficial manure for the wants of 
plants can only be done by a thorough knowledge of 
chemistry and other kindred subjects. 
One of the most beautiful of annuals at present 
adorning the herbaceous ground at Kew is the subject 
of this note, Loasa lateritia, and the wonder is that 
it does not find numerous homes outside of botanic 
gardens. True it is the species of Loasa have an evil 
repute for stinging, but this is neither dangerous nor 
particularly troublesome should accident be the lot of 
the cultivator occasionally. No one but an actual 
beholder could credit the amount of bloom it is capable 
of producing in the moist autumn months, while in 
the drought of summer, it is worthy of every consider¬ 
ation. Possibly, another drawback which militates 
against it is the fact that the stems are twining, thus 
necessitating staking of some sort. This, moreover, 
should prove itself a desirability, as a handsome effect 
could be produced where an unsightly object requires 
to be covered. The flowers are large, of a lively brick- 
red and effective. Seeds are produced in great abun¬ 
dance, so that an effort should be made to distribute it. 
SHRUBS FOR SEA-SIDE 
GARDENS. 
One morning last week, when passing along the 
Marine Parade at Rhyl, I was forcibly’struck with the 
number of plants and shrubs that succeed well in the 
almost miniature gardens attached to those beautiful 
houses that face this promenade, which are consequently 
within 100 yds. of high-water mark, and subjected to the 
ozone and saline spray that almost constantly blows 
in from the Irish Sea — two atmospheric conditions 
that tell severely on the majority of our trees and 
shrubs. As the plants that succeed well under such 
circumstances are few indeed, the thought struck me 
that a list of those, which from their healthy appearance 
seem to be quite at home, and well fitted for such a 
place, would be of moment to at least those of your 
readers who are interested in sea-side gardening. 
The Euonymus is pre-eminently a shrub for the 
maritime garden and grounds ; indeed, it is question¬ 
able if any other of equal merit in an ornamental way 
can compare with it for the purpose just now under 
consideration. The beautiful rich glossy leaves, neat 
habit of growth, and perfect hardihood, render it an 
acquisition wherever planted, and to this we may 
likewise add its non-partiality for any particular soil or 
situation. But not only as a sea-side shrub can the 
Euonymus be with every confidence recommended, for 
it withstands in a marked degree the deleterious effects 
of an impure atmosphere, not only growing, but even 
thriving in the heart of London, and where few other 
plants can eke out an existence. Most of the specimens 
of the Euonymus that we noticed in these confined 
sea-side gardens were in rude health, and of vigorous 
growth, one unusually large plant being fully 6 ft. in 
height, and well furnished with foliage. Of the 
forms of the Euonymus, the golden-leaved would 
seem be best suited for the sea-side, as the numerous 
fine twiggy plants in and around Rhyl clearly point 
out. 
The Japan Aucuba (A. japonica) is another excel¬ 
lent seaside shrub, and being of ornamental appearance 
is well suited for adorning gardens in such situations. 
What a pity it is that the value of this shrub as a 
berry-bearing plant is not better known, for rarely do 
we find it covered as it should be with its myriads of 
large, bright red fruit. It is, however, not generally 
known that the plant is dicecious, and, therefore, to 
have berries produced in abundance the male and female 
plants should be grown side by side. 
The Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum).— 
This is not only an ornamental shrub worthy of the 
first rank, but also one that is of the readiest culture, 
perfectly hardy, and well adapted for planting in 
exposed maritime districts. Along the parade it does 
remarkably well and flowers profusely. 
The Golden and Silver Variegated Elders 
have few rivals for seaside planting, and as they are 
quite at home in almost pure sand, are particularly 
valuable wherever the soil is of poor, thin quality ; 
even in the most exposed and wind-swept districts, and 
where almost lashed with the waves, these plants refuse 
not to grow and root freely, as numerous instances along 
our coast line could be pointed out. The wealth of 
deep purplish berries is another point in favour of their 
extended culture where ornament more than utility is 
aimed at. 
Hollies. — Both the common and silver-leaved 
Hollies have attained to respectable dimensions, and 
some of the latter, with fine branching heads and an 
abundance of mottled foliage, clearly point out that 
they are both healthy and happy in their sea-side 
home. 
The Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus), -whether 
for easy culture, strong, hardy nature, or abundance of 
bloom, is certainly a much-to-be-desired plant; but 
one that, unfortunately, is not employed half enough 
in the decking-out of ornamental grounds. Then it is 
a capital town or sea-side shrub—a fact that is well 
borne out by the numerous fine specimens to be seen 
in this part of Flint. 
Privets. —Few plants are more extensively used in 
the planting of our lawns and grounds than the common 
and oval-leaved Privets ; for not only are they perfectly 
hardy, of free growth, non-particular as to soil or 
situation, easily procured, and at least second-rate as 
ornamental plants, but they are quite at home in town 
or country, by the sea-side, or on exposed mountain 
ground. 
Polygonum cuspidatum, with its large oval-oblong 
leaves, and drooping racemes of white flowers, is a 
plant that is not to be met with every day, although 
its free growth and ornamental aspect render it well 
worthy of culture. Here several fine specimens, with 
their peculiar arching stems and 6-in. wide leaves, 
may be seen in the most rude health, offering a fine 
contrast to other smaller-foliaged subjects. 
The Greater Periwinkle (Vinca major) for 
carpeting purposes can hardly be done without, and as 
it thrives -well within the influence of the sea, is here 
largely used as a rock-work plant, or for covering bare 
patches of soil, for which purpose its low procumbent 
habit and abundance of foliage renders it particularly 
well adapted. As a flowering plant this Periwinkle is 
well worthy of attention, for when quite established the 
solitary and showy bright blue flowers are as unusual 
as they are pretty. 
Escallonia macrantha must on no account be 
omitted from our list, its bright glossy leaves, and 
waxen pretty flowers rendering it a gem amongst hard 
free-blooming plants. Then it succeeds well all along 
the coast, better, indeed, than inland, while as a town 
plant, and for flowering in the smoke-laden atmosphere 
of our larger cities it is almost invaluable. Trained as 
a wall plant it looks well on several of the houses, even 
in the heart of Rhyl, while for withstanding the keen 
blast of the sea no better proof of its fitness can be 
brought forward than its healthy appearance in the 
Winter Gardens of the same town. 
The Snoavberry (Symphoricarpus racemosus) with 
its pretty racemes of flowers and familiar white berries 
needs no recommendation from us. It flowers in a 
commendable way along the coast line, and as it is 
easily propagated, and runs freely at the root, it may 
be increased to any desired extent. Flowering in the 
poorest of soils, and in wind-swept districts, it is to be 
recommended for extensive culture. 
Clematises. —For training as wall plants very few 
climbers can compare with Clematis montana and 
C. flammula, and as they delight in maritime districts 
are largely used for the decoration of verandahs and 
porches along the sea coast. C. montana, when in full 
bloom, is, in truth, a lovely plant, and one that is far 
less cultivated than its merits deserve. The flowers are 
pure white, in axillary panicles, and remain in good 
order for a considerable length of time. 
Gaultheria Shallon is not usually recommended 
as a sea-side plant, yet from what we have seen of it 
lately in this district, it seems to be weU adapted for 
growing even within a few yards of high water mark. 
Being of low neat growth, and withal easily managed, 
for neither shade nor sunshine, drought nor moisture 
comes amiss to this interesting and desirable plant. It 
blooms freely and produces its tempting purple fruit 
in great abundance. 
Hypericum Androsemum, a British plant by- 
the-bye, grows stout and strong in, at least, one place 
we noticed along the parade^ indeed, in this, its sea¬ 
side abode, it seemed quite as much at home as we have 
found it in some of the sheltered woodlands near the 
base of one of the Snowdon range of hills. 
Lilacs are well known to be excellent maritime 
subjects, and the truth of the assertion is verified to 
some extent, at least, in the healthy specimens to be 
met with in not one, but several of the gardens at 
present under consideration. 
The Mahonia, with its large shining leaves and 
clusters of terminal racemes of bright yellow and 
deliciously fragrant flowers, looks healthy and happy 
in the grounds of the Children’s Hospital close to the 
sea-shore, in company with the Laurestinus, Cotone- 
asters, Roses, and hosts of other interesting and 
desirable plants. 
The Elm and Elder do fairly well at the same 
place, but had the Cluster Pine (Pinus pinaster) been 
planted as a screen fence instead of these, or mixed 
with the Sycamore, 'White Poplar, Austrian Pine (P. 
Austriaca), and Lambert’s Cypress (Cupressus Lamber- 
tiana), much better results would have been obtained, 
for these are, unquestionably, the best sea-side subjects 
that have yet come under our notice. 
The Common Hazel, Plum, Scotch, or Mountain 
Elm (Ulmus montana), Maple, and Birch all do well in 
various parts along the coast, and an excellent carpet 
plant for these is found in the common Ivy, the mari¬ 
time situation and the mild warm atmosphere favouring 
its growth in a marked manner. 
Ferns. —Amongst Ferns that we noticed doing well 
the Hart’s Tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare) took the 
lead, as the numerous fine, healthy-looking specimens 
in several of the west end gardens but too clearly 
pointed out. The male Fern, Lastrsea Filix-mas, like¬ 
wise braved the sea blast in a commendable way, and 
several tufts of the common Polypody (Polypodium 
vulgare) pointed out to us that it, too, is an excellent 
subject for maritime rockwork. Of the ordinarily 
cultivated garden plants, such as the Pelargonium, 
Fuchsia Riccartoni, Cherry Pie, and others of a 
similar cast, we noticed numbers that space and time 
will not permit of our dwelling on at present. — A. D. 
Webster, Ethel Villa, Rhyl.. 
