May 2, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
559 
described as bell-shaped, seeing that it narrows equally 
to both ends. Externally it is of a golden yellow, 
suffused with a bronzy hue, and more or less reticulated, 
while internally it is spotted with blackish purple. A 
clump of it in bloom is very effective and pretty, owing 
to the decided yellow colour of the flower, its relatively 
large size, and the dwarf habit of the plant. We 
noted some hundreds of plants in the nursery of 
Messrs. Barr & Son, Long Ditton. 
Corydalis nobilis. 
The spring garden might more often be ornamented 
than it is with many of the spring-flowering Fumitories. 
Corydalis nobilis is by no means a common species, 
except in gardens that are specially devoted to the 
cultivation of herbaceous plants. The foliage alone is 
beautiful, and cloches the stems close up to the dense 
racemes of flowers. The leaves are bipinnately divided, 
with wedge-shaped segments, and are of a glaucous 
hue, such as prevails amongst a large number of the 
members of the family to which it belongs. The 
flowers are supported by variously cut bracts, and are 
light yellow, more or less tinted with green at the tips 
of the outer segments, and brown on the inner ones. 
These latter colours, however, are not sufficiently con¬ 
spicuous to mar the general effect of the soft yellow 
hue. The stems vary from 6 ins. to 12 ins. in height 
under favourable conditions, but are much dwarfer this 
year on account of the cold, dry spring. The species 
is perennial and perfectly hardy, as it comes from 
Siberia, from whence it was originally introduced in 
178-3. 
Androsace .Laggeri. 
The species of this genus are annuals or perennials, 
closely allied to Primula, but generally smaller in all 
their parts. The perennial species are of dwarf compact 
habit, and amongst the choicer subjects that can be 
cultivated on rockwork. In favourable seasons A. 
Laggeri comes info bloom during March, but at present 
is in full beauty owing to its being retarded by the 
cold spring. The awl-shaped leaves form small rosettes 
similar to those of some of the Saxifrages, and from 
amongst these the flower scapes arise, very short at 
first, but afterwards lengthening an inch or two and 
bearing tufts of bright pink flowers. It was introduced 
from the Pyrenees in 1879, and requires treatment 
similar to other Alpines from the same country. A 
somewhat shady position and a well-drained but 
tolerably moist soil are best suited to its requirements. 
Dicentra spectabilis alba. 
The white variety of this beautiful and well-known 
plant is very distinct in general appearance from the 
type, and although it cannot strictly be described as 
better or even equal to it, yet its beauty is best brought 
out by contrast, whether in the open ground or the 
conservatory. The flower is of average size, and white 
with the tip slightly tinted with green, which fades as 
the flower reaches perfection. If grown in the open 
air the flowers might become slightly tinged with pink. 
The plant is quite hardy when grown in a cool climate 
like that of the north, and the trouble sometimes 
experienced with it in the south is that a mild winter 
and spring are liable to start it into growth, when of 
course it gets more or less injured on the occasion of 
late, severe frosts. The white variety is now flowering 
in the nursery of Messrs. Barr & Son, Long Ditton. 
Lobelia, Maid of Moray. 
I notice that Messrs. R. B. Laird & Sons, of Edinburgh, 
are this season offering a new bedding Lobelia named 
Maid of Moray. I saw the variety last autumn at several 
places about Edinburgh where it had been sent for trial, 
and was much taken with its exceedingly neat, compact 
habit, and the sparkling appearance of its blossoms. 
It grows almost into a spherical-shaped tuft, and freely 
produces its bold, lovely, cobalt-blue flowers, with a 
clear white eye. In catalogue phraseology it is 
certainly “ a most desirable acquisition.”— TV. 
Primus divaricata. 
The Almond is now gay everywhere, at least in the 
south, and is greatly behind its usual time. The same 
may be said of Prunus divaricata wherever it happens 
to be planted. The flowers come slightly in advance 
of the foliage, but now the one may be said to 
accompany the other, making the tree quite a hand¬ 
some object. It varies from 10 ft. to 15 ft. in height, 
but as it branches from the base it naturally forms a 
low and broad spreading tree. The individual flowers 
are not very large, and they are produced singly from 
the buds, yet so numerous are the latter that the tree 
now wears a gay appearance. It is a native of the 
Caucasus, from whence it was introduced'in 1822, and 
proves perfectly hardy, as it has not been injured in 
any way by the severity of the past winter. 
Eryfchronmm Howellii. 
String flowers of this class are always welcome, and 
the greater the amount of variety that can be secured 
in a genus, so much does it add to the interest of a 
collection. The flowers are white, with a deep yellow 
or orange blotch at the base of each segment, which is 
lanceolate and moderate in size. They also appear 
to be produced singly on a stem, but may be more 
numerous as the plant gains strength. But such is the 
present condition of a plant in the herbaceous ground 
at Kew. Each bulb produces a pair of lanceolate 
leaves, which are variously blotched and marked with a 
bronzy hue on a green ground. The stamens, including 
the anthers, are wholly white, so that, with the 
excention of the six orange blotches, the flowers are 
pure white. 
-«-»£<•«-- 
DEATH OF A NOTED FORESTER. 
Many of our readers, not only in this country, but in 
widely different parts of the world, will learn with deep 
regret of the death on the 17th April, at the age of 
eighty-one, of Mr. William M’Corquodale, forester to 
the Earl of Mansfield, at Scone Palace, Perthshire. He 
was a man who enjoyed the love and esteem of all who 
were acquainted with him. As a forester he had acquired 
a European reputation. Until last spring Mr. 
M’Corquodale was in the enjoyment of excellent health, 
but at that time he suffered from the epidemic of influ¬ 
enza, and although he was able to resume his duties, he 
was never so robust as formerly, and towards the latter 
part of September he was entirely confined to the house 
as an acute sufferer, with little hope of recovery. Mr. 
M’Corquodale was born in Argyleshire, 'and received 
part of his training at Stonefield. -In 1838 he entered 
the service of the Earl of Mansfield, and for many years 
has been the acknowledged father of forestry in Britain. 
In May, 1880, he completed his fiftieth year as a 
practical forester, and on October 5th following, at the 
annual dinner of the Scottish Arboricultural Society, 
of which he was one of the original members and 
staunchest friends, he was the recipient of a valuable 
testimonial, consisting of a handsome gold watch and a 
purse of 100 sovereigns, with a brooch for Mrs. 
M’Corquodale. 
During the long period he has been connected with 
Lord Mansfield’s estates he has planted and reared 
many thousands of acres of woodlands with the greatest 
success, thus not only enhancing the beauty of the 
landscape in what were formerly desolate portions of 
the county, but adding immensely to the value of the 
property. Oak, Larch and Scotch Fir were the 
varieties which he most largely cultivated, but all other 
species and varieties of British timber have found a 
home under his care on the Scone estates. Still, it is 
as the pioneer planter of the newer Conifer® on an 
extensive scale, as a regular forest crop, that Mr. 
M’Corquodale’s name will be best known to future 
generations. "When he first took charge^of Scone woods, 
the taste for planting ornamental Conifers was just 
developing, fostered by the splendid introductions of 
Douglas (himself a native of Scone) and others from the 
north-western seaboard of America. Of these noble 
trees, Mr. M’Corquodale had the greatest faith in 
Abies Douglasi, which he regarded not only as a beauti¬ 
ful ornamental tree, but as a valuable timber tree as 
well. He commenced in 1857 by planting 13 acres of 
poor moorish soil with Douglas Fir, and he was so well 
pleased with the result that in 1860 he planted several 
acres on Taymount Estate, alongside the Highland 
Railway between Stanley and Murthly, with Douglas 
Fir as a permanent crop. This is now a pure Douglas 
Fir plantation, and from its singular beauty readily 
attracts the attention of observant travellers. The 
success which so far crowned his efforts led him to 
extend his experiments at Lynedoch, Logiealmond, and 
Scone, with the most gratifying results. 
He happily, lived to see his early beliefs justified by 
results. These experiments brought him into notice 
not only all over Britain, but also in various parts 
of Europe. From his extensive experience, Mr. 
M’Corquodale was frequently invited to act as a wood 
valuator and surveyor, and, through the kind indul¬ 
gence of his noble employer, he was privileged to 
inspect and report upon the woods of a very large 
number of estates in Scotland and England, his 
opinions and recommendations being held in the 
highest estimation by landlords and others. Many of 
his most valuable contributions to forest literature 
appear in the Transactions of the Scottish Arboricultural 
Society, from whose annual meetings he was only once 
or twice absent since the formation of the society in 
1854, and in which he held various important offices. 
He is survived by a widow and a family of grown-up 
sons and daughters, for all of whom there will be 
widespread sympathy.— Perthshire Constitutional. 
-- 
EVERGREEN TREES AND 
SHRUBS.* 
The term “Evergreen,” happily for me, will not 
require any great amount of explanation to define ; and 
as I have no intention of attempting a scientific lecture 
it will, I hope, be sufficient for the purpose of this evening 
to say that evergreen subjects retain their foliage 
through the seasons, not casting off all their old clothes 
until provided with new. In shedding their leaves 
they do so, as a rule, in the summer months, after, or 
during the process of making new growth ; and it is 
somewhat provoking to find your paths and lawns 
strewed with them, when otherwise you might have 
everything fairly in apple-pie order, with every leaf in 
its place. 
Then at this season of the year, I have occasionally, 
and possibly others have also, been surprised by some 
visitor, evidently struck with a new thought, asking— 
“What is the matter with your Hollies? Are they 
dying ? Why are they losing their leaves ? I thought 
they were evergreens ? ”—showing that the term 
“evergreen” leads some to think that the leaves of 
these shrubs never change or die away. Such an idea, I 
know, does not want any dispelling here this evening, 
although possibly there is one evergreen that even 
approaches the ideal of my visiting friend, namely, the 
Monkey Puzzle. As the list of evergreens is very 
numerous, I purpose offering my remarks, not on novel¬ 
ties, but everyday subjects, those that may be seen 
growing in the immediate neighbourhood, with the 
hope that if not presenting anything novel or fresh 
to your notice we may find something of interest 
and matter for discussion, possibly, as to the sorts 
that thrive, and in that respect would seem to be the 
fittest for planting near towns or for withstanding our 
climate. 
To begin with, we will take the Cedar of Lebanon, 
introduced about 200 years ago from the temperate 
parts of Asia and Africa. This proved a great acqui¬ 
sition, having flourished so remarkably, and now 
forming majestic features in our large parks and 
gardens. Many very fine specimens are to be seen in 
various parts of the country, including our own locality. 
About fifty trees of this kind may be found growing in 
the grounds of Chiswick House, one group being very 
handsome, with their branches spreading over a great 
extent of the lawns. We read of their being slow in 
growth, but to me it is a matter for surprise how 
quickly the above must have developed into giant 
form, for upon looking to different writers we find the 
date of introduction generally stated as 1683, although 
Loudon seems to have had a doubt, and put it indefi¬ 
nitely as introduced prior to that date. The wood of 
Cedrus Libani is not of much value as timber, being 
coarse, spongy, and not lasting, differing in that 
respect to the Cedrus Deodara, this being fine in grain, 
resinous, and very durable. The Deodar has been in 
this countrv about 70 years. It is found on the 
Himalai Mountains and other parts of Asia. Loudon 
thought it to be as hardy, if not more so, than Cedrus 
Libani ; but this opinion has scarcely stood the test of 
time, for, although not killed, yet twice within the 
last twelve years the trees have been severely nipped and 
almost denuded of foliage by sharp frosts. At the 
present time in most gardens they look very bare, and 
appear (as far as my observations have gone)- to have 
felt the severe weather much more so than Cedrus 
Libani. A commemoration tree (Cedrus Deodara) 
planted by Garibaldi in 1S64 is very bare. After the 
winter of 1881 the same tree gave like signs of distress, 
and as the summer came the branches curled upward, 
and it then presented anything but its usual graceful 
habit. To remedy this, pegs were driven into 
A paper read by Mr. M. T. May, Chiswick House, at a meeting 
of the Chiswick Gardeners Mutual Improvement Association, 
February, 1S9I. 
