September 21, 1895. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
45 
TREE GROWTH ON THE 
ESSEX COAST. 
That certain species of trees succeed better than 
others when planted aloDg the coast line is a fact 
that is well known to everyone who is at all inter¬ 
ested in the matter, and particularly to those who 
have had opportunities of visitiDg various parts of 
the maritime districts of the British Isles. Curious 
as it may seem, it is nevertheless a fact that many 
species that actually revel on the milder western 
coast cannot survive for long when planted 
on the more exposed and colder eastern side, and 
considerable difficulties often face the planter when 
dealing with the counties and shires that are washed 
by the German Ocean; at least, when compared 
with the more favoured lands bordering on the Irish 
Sea. 
From time to time I have, as opportunity offered, 
given a description of the trees and shrubs that do 
best in several of the maritime English counties, 
and, having been spending a couple of weeks along 
the eastern coast, I noted down a few observations re¬ 
garding the arboreal vegetation that seemed to do 
best along its lovely but wind-tortured shore. At 
Southend-on-Sea, and on to Shoeburyness and 
Clacton, a good object lesson may be learnt of the 
particular kinds of trees that succeed best when ex¬ 
posed to the ozone-laden atmosphere blowing in from 
the North Sea, and it might also be added that such 
species as can do battle with the maritime winds of 
this particular part may be relied upon as well suited 
for probably most other of the sea-washed lands 
around the coast of Great Britain. Along the 
esplanade at Southend the Poplar and Sycamore 
certainly thrive best, closely following these being 
the Elder, Willow, Elm, and Plane amongst hard 
woods, and the Austrian and Cluster Pines (Pinus 
austriaca and P. Pinaster) among Conifers. 
The Victoria Avenue, which extends for nearly a 
mile in length, must be considered, in so far as tree 
growth is concerned, one of the finest in southern 
England, and is as skilfully managed, with a certain 
object in view, as any I have seen for a long time, 
though September pruning of the Plane tree is a 
course that I would hardly care to advocate. This 
avenue is mainly composed, in the town end at least, 
of the Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis), though 
the particular variety known as the London Plane 
(P. orientalis acerifolia) predominates, as rightly it 
should, in many parts. As is well exemplified by the 
amply-produced foliage of the healthiest hue, these 
trees are quite at home, and thriving luxuriantly. 
This is due in great measure, no doubt, to the care 
and attention they received at time of planting as 
well as to their management since. 
The European Tea tree (Lycium europaeum) and 
the far more ornamental and equally accommodating 
Box Thorn (L. barbarum) thrive amazingly in and 
around Southend, where many of the cottage walls 
are festooned by their lithe and drooping sprays of 
Wreath suspended without the Holder. 
Spray Bouquet (Showing Holder). 
the brightest and healthiest foliage. In the shrubbery 
I noticed some handsome specimens of the Sea 
Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), many of the 
branch tips being thickly beset with the ornamental 
orange fruit. The cut-leaved Elder, of which there 
are here several well-furnished shrubs, is a seaside 
plant of the first rank, it seeming to defy both wind 
and the salt-laden spray with impunity, and that 
even when growing at only a few feet above high- 
water mark. All along the parade the Euonymus 
latifolia grows with the greatest luxuriance, what 
may also be said of the Laurustinus, Butcher's 
Broom (Ruscus), Tritoma uvaria, and hosts of other 
showy species. 
Further along the coast the English Elm braves 
the hard-hitting ocean winds in a most commendable 
way, in many cases throwing out its stoutest 
branches into the very teeth of the blast, and 
wearing a head of foliage that is quite surprising 
when the inimical surroundings are taken into 
account.— A. D. Webster. 
PATENT BOUQUET AND WREATH 
HOLDER. 
Florists and exhibitors of floral decorations 
generally, have felt a want of something to display 
their bouquets, wreaths, and 11 shower ” bouquets, but 
especially the Jatter which have recently come into 
general use and are becoming more and more popular. 
The vases and other vessels, which fully answered the 
purpose of holding the ordinary hand and bridal 
bouquets, never gave entire satisfaction in properly 
displaying a "shower" bouquet of any size, on 
account of its one-sided character and its tendency 
to upset the vessel holding it. 
This want has been met by Messrs. Osman & Co., 
132, Commercial Street, who had the accompanying 
illustrations engraved to show the application of their 
somewhat ingenious invention, and which we repro¬ 
duce for the benefit of our numerous readers who 
have the preparation and management of floral 
decorations in private establishments. The holder 
in question is trumpet-shaped, split and furnished 
with a sliding ring, and can therefore be expanded or 
contracted to suit large or small stems. It can also 
be set to any angle by means of a thumb-screw. The 
stem is telescopic and can be raised or lowered by a 
set screw ; and the base, which is heavily weighted, 
serves to keep the holder secure and steady when 
supporting any of the floral devices for which it is 
intended. 
The holder itself can be removed and replaced by 
a hook when wreaths or other memorial devices are 
to be exhibited. The stem or supporting portion of 
the invention can therefore readily be put to a 
variety of purposes by the versatile specialist who is 
an adept at his business. The stand is made of 
brass, and polished or nickel plated according to 
taste and requirements, and is, therefore, neat and 
elegant for whatever purpose it may be used. The 
exposed portions of the same in the accompanying 
illustrations will give the reader an impression of its 
general character and appearance. 
-- 
EPACRISES. 
These excellent plants for greenhouse and conserva¬ 
tory decoration are most easily grown, and well 
worthy of the attention of those who prefer to see 
flowers on their plants rather than in a cut state ; 
for once in flower they remain so for a length of 
time. On the other hand some of the varieties form 
a capital addition during the winter months to the 
supply of cut flowers. They have at certain 
periods of growth a strong objection to fire heat, 
and at other times it is almost a necessity to their 
well-being. This is after the annual cutting back, 
when the flowering season is over, at which time a 
comparatively warm, moist atmosphere with a 
sprinkling of water from the syringe will throw 
them into vigorous growth. This ought not to be 
continued till the plants became drawn, but they 
should be gradually inured to a dryer and more 
airy atmosphere. 
Fibrous peat, with a portion of the earthy matter 
sifted out of it, and a plentiful admixture of sharp 
silver sand is the compost they delight in. Drainage 
should be well attended to, for nothing is worse for 
these plants than a water-logged soil. Pot firmly 
and leave plenty of space to allow for efficient 
watering. A too common mistake in potting these 
and other hard-wooded plants is the filling the pots 
too full, so that sufficient room is not left to hold 
water enough to soak the balls through. When 
watering is done it is always best to go over the 
plants twice; for unless a thorough soaking is given, 
the balls of earth which to all appearance on the sur¬ 
face are wet,will often become dust dry at the bottom; 
and it is impossible for these plants to thrive under 
such conditions. An inch below the rim is not too 
much space for water in the smallest pots, and in 
larger sizes two inches should be provided.— W.B.G. 
-- 
THE ALPINE ROSE. 
A friend of mine lately returned from Switzerland, 
although neither an amateur gardener nor a 
botanist, was nevertheless much enamoured of the 
flora of the Alps. Amongst the fine flowers which 
he elected to bring back was one which he designated 
the "Alpine Rose." Having no knowledge what¬ 
ever concerning plants, he consulted me, and I 
was fortunately in a position to state that the plant 
in question was not a "Rose” at all, but a Rhodo¬ 
dendron. 
Cross suspended without the Holder. 
