October 17, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
103 
merias of Japan, the Cedars of the Himalayas, and 
the Sequoias of California, all reach a great height, 
which they can never do in this country. The 
northern islands of the Japan group are sparsely 
inhabited, but are covered with forests of Conifers of 
the Siberian type. The English climate induces 
premature growth, and that of Scotland would pro¬ 
bably prove more suitable for Conifers from thence. 
Several kinds he mentioned as attaining a great 
height in Niphon, including Abies brachyphylla, 
150 ft., were suitable for cultivation in England. He 
attributed the difficulty of distinguishing some 
Japanese conifers to the cones of one Pine being pol¬ 
linated from another tree. 
Conifers for Landscape Gardening. 
A paper on “ Conifers as Specimens for Landscape 
Gardening" was read by Mr. Geo. Nicholson, A.L.S. 
Some grow in wet places and others on dry, stony 
land, and in planting those things had to be taken 
into consideration. A good effect was produced in 
the landscape by massing in groups according to 
form and tints of a colour. He advocated limiting 
the selection to the more effective kinds, and men¬ 
tioned the following as suitable, namely, Norway 
Spruce, Abies polita, Picea ajanensis, Tsuga cana¬ 
densis, Abies brachyphylla, Cupressus Lawsoniana, 
Thuya occidentalis, Retinospora obtusa, R. pisifera, 
Thuyopsis dolobrata, Juniperus chinensis, J. c. 
variegata, Cupressus arizonica, Juniperus Oxy- 
cedrus, Sciadopitys, Pinus muricata, P. sylvestris 
fastigiata, P. s aurea, P. Bunglana, and others. 
Conifers suitable for chalk were Norway Spruce, 
Abies cephalonica, A. nobilis, Pinus austriaca, P. 
Pinaster, P. insignis, P. sylvestris, Larix leptolepis, 
Picea orientalis, the Wellingtonia, and Deodar 
Cedar. Suitable for seaside planting were Cu¬ 
pressus macrocarpa, Pinus insignis, P. haleppensis, 
and probably P. muricata. Mr. M. Dunn said that 
a distinction should be made between decorative and 
landscape Conifers. He also related that Cupressus 
macrocarpa and Pinus insignis did well exposed to 
the sea blast on the coast of Connemara, and that 
Araucaria imbricata overtopped Larch and Scotch 
Fir under similar conditions on the west coast of 
Scotland. Mr. W. Goldring said that only about 
thirty-six Conifers were suitable for landscape gar¬ 
dening. The difference in form and colour were the 
principal points. Gardens were overdone with varie¬ 
gated Conifers, and Araucarias and Sequoias were 
planted in unsuitable positions. Mr. Watt objected 
to the remarks of the last speaker as applied to villa 
gardens, and said that Conifers for timber planting 
were more important. The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod 
remarked that his clay soil was unsuitable for many 
Conifers, and that Abies Nordmanniana had died 
out where planted. 
Conifers for Timber. 
A paper on " Conifers for Timber and in Planta¬ 
tions " was read by Mr. A. D. Webster. He said 
that Larch was largely used for mining and railway 
purposes on account of its durability and light weight, 
but that plantations had suffered greatly from canker 
and blight. The large demand for seeds induced 
people to collect the cones in autumn, and a large 
proportion of them were unsuitable for propagation 
purposes. The question at present was to consider 
the best substitutes, and he gave about sixteen 
species. The Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio) he con¬ 
sidered the best substitute on account of its strong, 
tough, but elastic and durable wood. It will grow at 
an altitude of 1,000 ft. The Silver Fir took the 
second place. The Douglas Fir grew very rapidly- 
in sheltered valleys but would not stand exposure. 
Pinus sylvestris was very suitable for poor land, and 
under those conditions the wood was of the best 
quality. Thuya gigantea he stated was a valuable 
addition to trees, because it grew rapidly, was hardy 
at an altitude of 1,000 ft., and easily accommodated. 
The wood of Pinus austriaca was of fairly good 
quality, but knotty and hard to work. Other but less 
important substitutes were Pinus Pinaster, Abies 
Nordmanniana, Sequoia sempervirens, Pinus rigida, 
and Cupressus Lawsoniana. The last named was of 
rapid growth, but liked a fair amount of shelter. 
The newer introductions were less suitable except 
for ornamental purposes. A gentleman present said 
that the leading shoots of the Silver Fir- always got 
frosted in spring, and instead of placing it second ha 
would substitute Abies MenzsiesiJ by reason of jtt} 
it pid growth and hard wood, Mr, M. Duns said that 
o^'gn timber was selected and gboijld not be com, 
pared with home-grown wood. Silver Firs planted 
in 1834-35 now girthed 13 ft. 9 ins., and he considered 
there was no tree quicker in growth. The Redwood 
was liable to lose its leader. Mr. Alex. Milne said 
that in the north of Scotland, the Scotch Fir was 
planted on some of the highest hills, but Larch would 
always be planted on good Larch soil. The Silver 
Fir in the young state was not liable to lose its 
leader when planted behind a north wall while yet in 
the nursery rows. 
Mr. Edmund J. Baillie, F.L.S., the Hon. Mark 
Rolle, and Mr. Charles Herrin were to have given 
papers, but not being present their papers were 
taken as read. 
Third Day. 
An opening address was to be given by Prof. Bayley 
Balfour, M.A., F.R.S., but being unable to be 
present, the chair was taken by Prof. W. T. Thistle- 
ton D}’er, C.M.G., F.R.S. Pie spoke of the suitability 
or otherwise of different parts of this country for 
Conifers. The climatic conditions in the north were 
highly suitable, but less favourable in the south-east 
of England. The south-western counties were, 
however, more highly suitable for Mexican Pineg 
and other Conifers which demand a warm climate. 
He then referred to the grand and welcome display 
brought from Scotland. 
Value of Introduced Conifers. 
Mr. Malcolm Dunn then read a paper on “ The 
Value in the British Islands of introduced Conifers,’’ 
and said that for shelter and ornamental purposes 
they had become immensely popular during the cen¬ 
tury now nearing a close. He also mentioned 
several collectors who had been instrumental in 
introducing many of the finer kinds. His subject 
was dealt with under two headings, namely, Coni¬ 
ferous forest trees, and Ornamental trees and shrubs. 
Perth was par excellence the county for forest trees of 
large size, such as the Scotch Fir and Norway 
Spruce. About forty-five years ago some land that 
would scarcely grow anything was now covered with 
large specimens of Conifers. Aberdeenshire and 
Sutherland were also suitable for Conifers. I-fe' 
thought that forest trees would also grow as well 
in England if proprietors would give them the same 
attention they received in .the north. While in- 
Ireland for six years his experience gave him a 
great love for Conifers. He then gave a summary 1 
of facts and measurements he had made of numerous- 
trees in various parts of the country, and when such 1 
statistics are placed on record with the conditions' 
under which the trees are growing, it should prove 
a valuable addition to our knowledge concerning the 
value of introduced Conifers for timber. The fol¬ 
lowing are a few of the measurements given :—Abies 
Albertii, at Castle Menzies, 72 ft. high, 5 ft. 9 in. in 
girth ; Abies concolor, in Kent, 64 ft. high, and girth 
8 ft. 7 in. ; Douglas Fir, in Scotland, 91 ft. 9 in. high, 
and girth 12 ft., growing-at-an altitude of 340 ft.; 
and Pinus Daricio,' 50 ft. high, and 3 ft. n in. in 
girth. The Douglas Fir has done best of all out of 
thousands planted in Ireland. Abies Nordmanniana, 
introduced from the Crimea in 1848, had reached a 
height of 70 ft. to Soft, in various parts of Scotland, 
but was liable to be attacked by insects. Cupressus 
macrocarpa was one of the best for deer forests, 
Araucaria imbricata stood the sea blast well in the 
Orkney Islands, the west of Scotland, England, and 
Connemara in Ireland. Amongst ornamental trees 
and shrubs he mentioned the Retinosporas, Crypto- 
merias, Ginkgo, Thuya, Thuyopsis, Cupressus, etc. 
The colours of ornamental Conifers were very effec¬ 
tive for ornamental purposes. Conifers were also 
useful for making hedges, and planting as memorial 
trees, because showy and durable. Whoever planted 
Conifers should study their habits, soil and other 
things necessary for judicious planting. 
Diseases of Conifers. 
Professor Marshall Ward, M.A., F.L.S., gave an 
address on “ Fungoid and other Diseases of Conifers.’’ 
No plants, he said, increase faster or proved so des¬ 
tructive as fungi. Any one might know about soil, 
temperature or climate, but fungoid diseases were 
less known and more subtle. Drought, frost and. 
fungi were enemies of Conifers, but owing to the 
large quantities of resin in Coniferous trees, they 
were not subject to many of the coarser, or as he 
should term them, surgical diseases. He spoke of 
injury to the roots fine to a water-logged soil, almost 
phcric influcncaS on certain trees, and the 
destructive nrri’W- of fo.af. Toad 5tools represented 
one type of injurious fungi; and the Rust of Conifers 
another. The mycelium of the latter penetrated the 
wood in all directions, the vascular tissue got broken, 
and water being unable to travel by this tissue the 
tree died. A large number of fungi, in attacking the 
cells, reduced them to a jelly of different colours, 
according to the particular fungus. The rust of the 
Silver Fir passed one stage of its existence upon the 
W hortleberry. The disease of the Spruce was caused 
by a fungus belonging to the Ascomycetes, and the 
canker of the Larch was due to a Pezizo also belong¬ 
ing to that family. The disease was not epidemic in 
the Alps to the same extent as here. Wet soil and 
a continuously moist atmosphere in Britain has 
favoured the spread of the fungus, while inimical to 
the Larch. Sound trees were easily affected when 
wounded by hail, late spring frosts, heavy falls of 
snow, or by artificial means. A moth and a species 
of aphis were also credited with assisting the fungus. 
Prof. W. T. T. Dyer said that ft was necessary to 
make proper investigations before we can attempt to 
prevent or cure diseases. He proposed a vote of 
thanks to the readers of papers. A gentleman present 
proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and spoke 
of the immense importance of Conifers to the wealth 
of this country, especially in view of the failing agri¬ 
cultural interest. Papers promised by Dr. Wm- 
•Somerville, Mr. D. F. Mackenzie, and Mr. W. F. Hi 
Blandford, M.A., were taken as read, and will be 
printed in the Society's Journal. 
The following are the awards made to groups of 
Conifers exhibited :— 
Silver Gilt Banskian Medal to Mr. A. Waterer ( 
Woking ; Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, Chelsea. Silve? 
Banskian Medal to Messrs. Dickso-ns Limited, 
Chester; Messrs. Paul & Sox., Cheshunt; Messrs; 
Chas. Lee & Son, Hammersmith. Bronze Banskian 
-Medal to Messrs. Jefferies & Son, Cirencester ; 
Messrs. W. Barron & Son, Elvaston ; Messrs. Wm, 
Cutbush & Son, Highgate. 
Votes of thanks to Messrs. Little .& Ballantine, 
Carlisle; Messrs. Fisher, Son & Sibray, Sheffield; 
and the Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Hardening Miscellany. 
THE POTATO DISEASE AND 
THE SUPLHATE OF COPPER REMEDY. 
I have in common with most of your readers been 
much interested in the accounts appearing in your 
columns from time to time respecting the sulphate of 
copper remedy against the Potato disease, the ravages 
of which have this season hit many of us rather hard. 
I had brought under my notice this season a case 
in which at least one variety, Early Vermont, was 
badly affected in the tubers, while at the same time 
the foliage and stems were, to all appearances,perfectly 
healthy. This is riot the first time that I have 
noticed the : same phenomenon, but I never before 
made the same critical examination into the facts of 
the case. My friend had some six or eight kinds 
growing in his garden, most of which were examined, 
and we could not find the least trace of the blight 
above ground. In only the early varieties were the 
tubers affected, the Early Vermonts having at least 
one half of the crop quite rotten. Now if the disease 
comes in the air, how is a case of this kind to be ex¬ 
plained ? and would not any application to the foliage 
have been useless ? Our own Tomatoshave suffered 
badly outside! but the difference in the ravages of 
the disease is clearly traceable to the differences 
there are in the dryness of soil in varying positions. 
Those on the walls facing the east or where the 
ground has been kept dry by overhanging trees have 
stood out the longest, and I think had there been the 
means of keeping them dry at the roots, the major 
part of the crop would have been saved. We gave 
one advertised remedy a good fair trial, but after all 
have lost at least a ton of Tomatos, so you will see 
we have some reason to feel interested in anything 
connected with this subject. If you or any of youc 
readers can give an explanation of the phenomena 
referred to, it will, no doubt, be of interest to many.— 
tV. B. Glasscock. 
A MOUSE EATING MEALYBUG 
The ftoie respecting njic-o gating te-ala at p. 56, re¬ 
p-rinds me of an incident whists oaowrad one day iq 
Pits- stove. When engaged in looking over some; 
plants my attention wait drawn to a Thunber^ 
