July 7, 1888. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
713 
summer months a bright and showy picture, gay with 
blossoms of innumerable shades, toned down by the 
fresh green foliage. In autumn and winter, too, fresh 
beauties are borne ; the gorgeous autumnal tints of the 
falling leaves form a picture of no mean beauty, and 
when winter comes and casts its mantel of snow over 
tree and shrub with unsullied purity, it makes one 
almost forget the outer world, and imagine oneself in 
some fairyland, so still and beautiful is all around. 
In this brief note we can only describe a few of the 
more notable trees that adorn these grounds, amongst 
which we may mention a symmetrical specimen of 
Picea Nordmanniana, nearly 40 ft. high, and straight 
as an arrow. This tree is the first of its kind which 
perfected seed in Scotland, and from which Mr. Bissett 
(who, by the way, has had the oversight at Moncreiffe 
for over thirty years) has raised a number of young 
trees, none of which, however, resemble the parent. 
Sequoia sempervirens, close on 50 ft. high, with a 
stem girthing 7 ft., is in luxuriant health. In close 
proximity to this is a fine Cedar of Lebanon, 70 ft. in 
height, spread of branches 70 ft., and girth of bole 
11 ft.—a very itnposing tree, especially in winter, when 
the branches are weighed down with their snowy 
burden. A number of Cupressus Lawsoniana, planted 
in 1861, now averaging from 24 ft. to 34 ft. high, are 
dispersed throughout the .grounds, stiff and erect, like 
huge sentinels. Abies Albertiana, planted in 1869, is 
now bordering on 40 ft., its pendulant branches drooping 
gracefully to the surface of the ground. Abies Menziesii, 
planted eight years previous to the last, is barely 30 
ft. high, showing a marked difference in the growth of 
the two varieties. Cupressus thuyoides viridis is here 
represented by the finest of its kind in Scotland—a 
neat symmetrical tree, between 35 ft. and 40 ft. in 
height. Thujopsis dolobrata, T. nutksensis, T. pisifera, 
Picea Pinsapo, Wellingtonia gigantea, Araucaria im- 
bricata, A. Cunninghamii, Cryptomeria japonica, &c., 
are all well represented by healthy thriving specimens 
of various sizes. Among the more common Coniferce— 
such as the Spruce and Silver Firs—huge specimens 
upwards of ICO ft. high, with branches spread along 
the turf 50 ft. in diameter, and with trunks girthing 
13 ft. and 14 ft., are quite numerous. 
Deciduous trees have also been very judiciously 
planted, and many grand old monarchs are pointed 
out. A fine old Horse Chestnut growing about 200 
yards from the house, has attained to a height of 
nearly 100 ft., while the bole girths 20 ft. 6 ins. ; 
many of the branches themselves would form good 
sized trees. This is generally accepted to be the 
largest Horse Chestnut in Scotland, if not in Great 
Britain. In close proximity to this is a nice Golden 
Oak, which during the spring and early summer 
months forms a striking and conspicuous object, which 
is seen for miles around, the pale creamy colour of its 
foliage readily catching the eye. Purple Beeches, too, 
have been largely planted, both on the hill and the low 
ground with telling effect. These trees vary a good 
deal in the colour of their foliage, some being almost 
black, others again having more of a coppery tinge. A 
fine well-shaped tree growing near the entrance to the 
flower garden has a spread of branches 220 ft. in 
circumference. A peculiar tree of the Silver Willow 
tribe is admired by every one who visits Moncreiffe. 
The main trunk, which measures 17 ft. in girth at the 
surface of the ground, and 19 ft. at 5 ft. up, is beginning 
to show signs of decay, but a branch which rests on the 
ground has rooted, and is now bidding fair to outrival 
the parent, with which it is connected by a slender 
stem, which has long ceased to increase in size between 
the parent tree and its progeny. A Hickory tree 
growing quite close to the mansion, is probably the 
finest of the species in the country. It has a clear 
stem for 20 ft., girthing 6 ft. 6 ins. 
Another tree rarely met with in Scotland, the 
Maidenhair Tree, is represented by a healthy plant 
trained on Mr. Bissett’s house. It annually produces 
growths from 2 ft. to 3 ft. long, which are highly 
prized for decorative purposes. A large specimen of 
the Tulip Tree is also much admired, especially when 
laden with its Tulip-like inflorescence. A nice little 
tree of the Variegated Oak is also very handsome, the 
beautifully variegated leaves being very useful in 
autumn for decoration. Walnuts succeed well, and in 
good seasons produce quantities of nuts which are 
highly prized for dessert. 
The usual collection of evergreen and flowering 
shrubs, such as Hollies, Laurels, Lilacs, Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas, Weigelias, Pdbes, Berberis, Osmanthus, Vi¬ 
burnums, Philadelphus, etc., all succeed admirably 
here, and in their season make all gay with blossom 
and sweet with perfume. In a secluded corner, sur¬ 
rounded with sombre Yews, are the ruins of an ancient 
chapel, which has been used as the family burying 
ground since 1357. In conclusion, we may state that 
these beautiful grounds are generously thrown open to 
the public once a week by the noble proprietor, Sir 
Robert Drummond Moncreiffe, Bart., and it is needless 
to say such a delightful boon is highly appreciated by 
the numerous visitors, who year after year enjoy the 
privilege thus kindly granted. — Arbutus. 
HOLLYDALE AND ITS TREES. 
The Ailanto or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosa) 
is a choice and desirable object for any lawn, but where 
it is shown off to perfection is when planted in front of 
a group of dark-foliaged Pines, such as the Austrian or 
Corsican. This is one of the most distinct, and 
certainly the handsomest of hardy trees with pinnate 
foliage in cultivation, and succeeds admirably, 
whether planted in the seaside garden or where 
suojected to the deleterious effects of an impure town 
atmosphere. The leaves in young and vigorous-growing 
specimens often exceed 2 ft. in length, and are then 
highly ornamental, and so distinct from any other 
hardy tree with which we are acquainted. Flowers are 
produced freely enough, but these have no special 
fascination, being small and greenish, and arranged in 
close terminal panicles. 
The Hollydale tree is, unfortunately, badly placed, 
it having been planted in too close proximity to one of 
the out-buildings, and where it is hemmed in and 
stunted by taller-growing subjects. For all this it has 
attained to respectable dimensions, being 42 ft. in 
height and with a trunk 3J ft. in girth at a yard up, 
and a spread of branches covering a space of 30 ft. in 
diameter. Another smaller but vigorous-growing tree 
of the same occupies a favourable position in one of 
the shrubberies. 
In the common Plane (Platanus orientalis), which 
is well represented on the lawn, we have a valuable, 
fast-growing, and highly ornamental tree, and one that 
has been found to withstand the evil effects of a smoke¬ 
laden atmosphere better, perhaps, than any other of 
those commonly cultivated. 
The lawn specimen just referred to is truly a noble 
object, the ramification of its branches being greatly in 
excess of what one generally sees, and this is entirely 
owing to its having been allowed at all times plenty 
of room for its perfect development. The total height 
is 78 ft., the spread of branches 75 ft., while the stem 
girths at 3 ft. and 5 ft. from the ground 11 ft. 5 ins. 
and 9 ft. 10 ins. respectively. It contains 118 ft. of 
timber. This is the true London Plane (P. orientalis 
acerifolia), which is readily enough distinguished from 
the normal plant by the less deeply divided leaves, 
and this again from the American Plane (P. oe- 
cidentalis), with which it is frequently confounded, by 
the many fruits (“ balls ”) that are attached to each 
peduncle, the fertile catkins of P. occidentalis being 
usually produced singly. 
The majestic size to which the Oriental Plane 
attains, coupled with its finely cut foliage and 
adaptability for planting even under circumstances 
that would prove uncongenial to other trees, render it one 
of great value for afforesting purposes in this country. 
Intermingling its branches with those of the latter, 
but not so as to cause permanent injury to either, is a 
clean-stemmed and far-branched specimen of the 
common Beech (Fagus sylvatica), and which at 1 yard 
from the ground girths 11 ft. 8 ins. The branches 
form a shady canopy of some 78 ft. in diameter, while 
the stem rises to 76 ft. in height. 
Of the Walnut (Juglans regia) there are several trees, 
the largest occupying a rather conspicuous position on 
the lawn near to the fountain. It is a clean and evenly- 
branched specimen of 72 ft. in height, the well-rounded 
bole girthing 7 ft. 7 ins. and 7 ft. 6 ins. at 3 ft. and 
5 ft. from the ground. The Walnut would seem, in 
judging from the many fine specimens I have noted, to 
be well suited for the soil and climate of this part of 
Kent. Fruit is produced in abundance, and the foliage 
is clean and well-developed. 
The Indian Cedar (Cedrus deodara) and Bhotan Pine 
(P. excelsa) grow side by side in one of the shrubberies, 
both being trees of great beauty, and, when suitably 
placed, of rapid growth. The Bhotan Pine is well suited 
for lawn or park decoration, but as a timber tree it is 
far behind its nearally, P. Strobus, or Lord Weymouth’s 
Pine. In the light silvery foliage one finds much to 
admire ; but when bedraggled with rain, few trees 
present a more miserable appearance than does that 
under consideration. It is 53 ft. in height, and with 
a fairly proportionate stem, which girths 4 ft. 2 ins. at 
a yard from the ground. The Indian Cedar looks the 
essence of health, the bright silvery sprays of foliage 
rendering this one of our choicest coniferous subjects. 
For associating with the Yew, Holly, or Austrian Pine 
it is peculiarly well suited, the easy, drooping, and 
light-coloured sprays of the one offering such a rich 
contrast to the sombre, somewhat stiffly-arranged foliage 
of the others. The tree under notice is a perfect 
specimen, 51 ft. in height, the long and lithe branches 
covering a ground-surface of 33 ft. in diameter. 
Begonia Camellia. 
