192 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
November 23, 1895. 
HINTS FOR AMATEURS. 
Shrubberies. 
That a well-arraDged and properly cared for 
shrubbery is an ornament to any garden, no one, we 
think, will deny. We may, however, go a little 
further than this, look on the other side of the ques¬ 
tion, and say that a badly-managed shrubbery is 
anything but an ornament to a garden, and certainly 
not a credit to the gardener who looks after it, 
whether he be professional or amateur. Here we 
have an instance where the latter is able to crow at 
the former and say that he’s not so much better than 
him after all, despite his boasted professional training 
and his wondrous accomplishments. This may be 
seen at the outset to be a rather sweeping statement 
to make, but it will bear looking into. To judge from 
the number of ugly ill-managed shrubberies we see 
in various gardens at different times the gardener in 
many cases evidently considers that they are of 
second-rate importance, and turns his attention to 
something else, with the result that they are allowed 
to lapse into a deplorable state of chaotic confusion, 
one spoiling the other, and the whole collection any¬ 
thing but beautiful or effective. 
When making a shrubbery close to the house, as a 
rule an immediate effect is desired, and planting is 
done pretty thickly, but little room being left for 
subsequent growth. Now we would not say a word 
against planting for immediate effect. By all means 
do so if this is required, but do not placidly go to 
sleep afterwards with the idea that the shrubbery is 
finished and that no further care need be taken. In 
the ordinary course of events, trees and shrubs will 
grow— at least they ought to do if they are properly 
planted - and if no room, or at least but very little, is 
allowed for expansion, mischief is sure to result. 
Thinning out must therefore be resorted to if a few 
good, handsome specimens are desired in preference 
to a larger number of gouty, deformed and miserably- 
stunted objects that nobody will look at, and 
certainly no sane person admire. 
The precise plan upon which thinning-out is to be 
conducted will, of course, rest entirely with the 
operator himself. If the spaces between the more 
valuable plants have been filled up with commoner 
subjects, the task is easy, for the latter maybe pulled 
out and thrown away, or transplanted, if it is con¬ 
sidered to be worth the while, to another spot. In 
many instances, however, particularly in mixed 
shrubberies, two valuable plants may be placed so 
close together as to endanger each other’s welfare; or 
it may be that the shrubbery itself is filled entirely 
with the better class of plants. In this case a great 
deal more work will be necessary, which may even 
amount to the entire re-modelling of the whole. A 
great deal of care will need to be exercised in trans¬ 
planting, where much of it has to be done ; every 
precaution must be taken to avoid injuring the tender 
rootlets. Of course it stands to reason that very few 
amateurs are able to boast of gardens of sufficient 
size to contain very large shrubberies, which would, 
indeed, be out of place, but there are very few, how¬ 
ever small, but what hold a few small trees and 
shrubs of some kind. A few words of advice in 
season may therefore prevent the owners of small 
gardens from making the same mistake in dealing 
with their tiny plantations that so many professional 
gardeners make with their larger ones. A man who 
is only able to get a little food naturally wants that 
little as good as possible. So, in like manner, those 
lovers of plants who are only able to indulge in a 
few should try and have these in as good condition 
as possible. 
When lookiog round suburban gardens the 
observant eye can scarcely fail to be struck with the 
very limited number of kinds of shrubs that find a 
place in them. In some establishments this want of 
variety is almost painful to view ; for banks of the 
common Laurel appear to be most in evidence, as if 
the planter’s ideas reached so far and no farther. 
Now, while we would not for a moment say anything 
against the common Laurel, it is, to say the least of 
it, exceedingly bad taste to plant it here, there and 
everywhere without thought or reason of any such 
thing. A good Laurel hedge, kept in proper order 
by regular and skilful pruning doubtless possesses 
manifold attractions, whilst a Laurel hedge that is 
not well looked after is about the ugliest object that 
one's eyes could wish to rest upon, for it usually 
appears to consist mainly of long, gaunt, straggling 
stems, destitute alike of foliage and of beauty. 
What we should like to see in our small villa 
gardens is a greater variety of subjects. Surely 
there are plenty to pick and choose from, and from 
our nurserymen throughout the country some really 
fine plants can be obtained at a very small cost. In 
fact, the expense of obtaining a reasonable quantity 
of different kinds of suitable trees is but little greater 
than that involved in ordering a large quantity of 
one or two, whilst the effect resulting is immeasur¬ 
ably superior. 
Pines are not suitable for small gardens, wi th a 
few exceptions, as they grow so fast and soon reach 
proportions that render it needful for the axe to be 
applied to the root of the tree. P. contorta, P. 
parviflora, P. koraiensis and P. bungeana may be 
cited as some of the most suitable for villa gardens, 
the two last named especially. P. bungeana, or the 
Lace Bark Pine, is comparatively rarely met with, 
certainly not so frequently as : ts merits would entitle 
it to. It was introduced from China about the year 
1846. P. contorta hails from California. In a 
young state it is of compact habit, densely branched 
and very attractive. P. parviflora is a very pretty 
plant. It is of comparatively dwarf habit and dense 
foliage and is certainly one of the best of the Pines 
for planting in small gardens. P. koraiensis was 
also brought from Japan to this country about the 
year 1861. In habit it is very distinct from the 
others, as it forms a thick, somewhat rounded 
head. 
The Cedars require plenty of 'space to grow in, and 
hence they do not usually find a place in the villa 
garden with the exception of C. Deodara. This 
beautiful tree is indeed a gem, and without any 
disparagement to other evergreens it may be placed 
at the head of the list for elegance and beauty. A 
shrubbery is not the place for it, however, as when 
closely hemmed in by other trees the lower branches 
invariably become somewhat shabby. As a speci¬ 
men tree for the lawn it is simply perfection, for in 
this position its graceful pendulous branches and 
top appear to the best advantage. A flower garden 
which is able to boast of two or three Deodars can 
never appear unattractive. There are several forms 
or varieties that differ slightly from the type in colour 
of foliage that are enumerated in the nurserymen's 
catalogues. Of these C. D. viridis, C. D. argentea, 
and C. D. verticillata are some of the best. 
The expresses also play a most important part in 
the list of hardy evergreen subjects, and are without 
doubt exceedingly popular with all classes. 
Lawson's Cypress (Cupressus lawsoniana) is too 
well known to need description, for it figures con¬ 
spicuously in flower gardens of all sorts .and sizes, 
whilst in our cemeteries it may usually be seen, not 
in ones or twos, but in hundreds, both as specimen 
plants in groups and in hedges. This is not to be 
wondered at when we consider the numerous good 
qualities of which it is possessed ; perfect hardiness, 
a robust constitution, and adaptable nature that 
enable it to thrive in almost all kinds of soil, com¬ 
bined with no small share of beauty, are qualifica¬ 
tions not to be lightly passed over. Under cultivation 
it has assumed various forms, exhibiting not only 
some considerable differences in habit, but also com¬ 
prising numerous shades of green in the foliage, 
silver and gold variegations, etc. These latter, 
however, do not possess the same hardy constitution 
as does the type, and are not nearly so suitable on 
that account for planting in town gardens. C. 
nutkaensis is also well worthy of mention. It grows 
rather tall, and usually assumes a columnar form. 
It is frequently met with under the name of 
Thujopsis borealis. Numerous silver and gold 
variegated varieties of this are also to be had, and a 
few may well be planted, as they serve to lighten the 
more sombre beauty of the green ones. Chamae- 
cyparis (Retinospora) obtusa plumosa, although it 
rejoices in such a long and aristocratic name, is by 
no means a proud plant. It is of dense growth, 
nearly conical habit, and very hardy and beautiful. 
The Thujas, or Arbor Vitaes, must not be forgotten, 
and they are indeed a host in themselves. T. 
orientahs, or the Chinese Arbor Vitae, better known 
as Biota orientalis, is of sufficiently dwarf habit to 
entitle it to a place in the villa garden. Of the 
varieties of this which are now procurable, T. o. 
elegantissima is probably the most useful. It is of 
elegant habit and looks exceedingly bright during 
summer and autumn when the young shoots are 
prettily tipped with gold. 
In addition to the subjects which have been men¬ 
tioned we have green and variegated Yews, Box, 
Hollies, and Euonymus, all of which are hardy and 
exceedingly bright and useful. The planting of a 
judicious selection of these would have the effect of 
making the all-too-sombre and monotonous shrub- 
berries of our suburban gardens very much gayer 
than they are at present with a surprisingly small 
increase in expenditure.— Rex. 
-- 
Questions asked by amateurs on any subject pertaining 
to gardens or gardening will be answered on this page. 
A nyone may give additional or more explanatory answers 
to questions that have already appeared. 
Taking the bud of Chrysanthemums.— Xerxes, says 
he is not much of a Chrysanthemum grower himself, 
as he is restricted by the lack of conveniences to the 
cultivation of a few early-flowering varieties only, 
and thus is not bothered by having to do any dis¬ 
budding. Several of his friends, however, have 
ambitions that lie in the direction of growing a few 
plants to obtain big blooms for figuring at a local 
show. In chatting with them about their flowers at 
this time of the year he says they talk about nothing 
else. The phrase “ taking the buds ” has cropped up, 
and he wants to know just what it means, as it 
seems such a curious phrase to use. 
This is one very good example of the misleading 
character of some of the terms in vogue among 
gardeners for describing very simple operations, and 
this one phrase in particular has, without doubt, 
puzzled more than one aspiring amateur. "Taking 
the bud” is simply leaving the central bud (para¬ 
doxical as it may seem) and clearing away all those 
which surround it, together with the shoots that 
break away from its base. By this means all the 
strength and energy of the shoot is devoted to the 
development and perfecting of the bud left, and thus 
instead of getting a number of small or medium¬ 
sized flowers, one large one is obtained. The 
number of such flowers upon a plant varies of 
course, three being the usual number, although for 
smaller specimens one or two may be sufficient. 
Hyacinths in Glasses.— Tommy has a few Hyacinths 
which he would like to get to flower in his window 
if possible. He has some proper glasses, and wishes 
to know how he is to go on. To use his own 
language " he wants some advice that is not too 
technical for an ordinary mortal to understand.” 
Certainly, Tommy, you shall have it plain and un¬ 
varnished. See that your glasses are clean first of 
all. Put a small nodule of charcoal in each. We 
won’t attempt to tell you why, or you may per¬ 
chance accuse us of trying to puzzle you. Next, fill 
the glasses nearly full with soft water, and lastly, 
place the bulb so flat that its base nearly touches 
the water. The glasses may then be placed in a 
dark cupboard or cellar till the bulbs root; look 
at them now and again and replenish the water, 
which must always be kept at the same level, but 
not in direct contact with the bulb, or the latter 
will rot. 
Pruning Vines.— R.jf.P. has recently moved into a 
house which has a small vinery attached to it. He 
does not wish to call in a gardener to assist him, as 
he considers himself quite capable of managing the 
vines with the assistance of a little advice, now and 
then, from The Gardening World. The leaves 
have nearly all fallen from the canes, and he asks if 
it is too early to prune them now ? 
Pruning may be conducted any time after the 
leaves have fallen up to their time of starting into 
growth in the spring. If the leaves have all dropped 
it must be seen to at once, not otherwise. In un¬ 
heated houses the leaves often stay upon the canes 
for a long time, and it is not good policy to be in 
too much of a hurry with the pruning knife. On the 
other hand we should not advise deferring the 
pruning until very late. About the middle of 
December should prove a good time. 
Weekly subscriber asks for the names of twelve 
varieties of Japanese Chrysanthemums suitable for 
growing for exhibition. He is already in possession 
of Madame Carnot, Colosse Grenoblois, Mdlle. T. 
Rey, W. Seward, and Charles Davis. All these are 
good sorts and have more than sustained their 
reputation on the show boards this season. In 
addition to these, Pallanza, Viviand Morel, Col. W. 
B. Smith, Miss Rita Schroeter, Mrs. W. H. Lees, 
Mrs. C. H. Payne, Mdlle. M. A. de Galbert, Inter¬ 
national, G. C. Schwabe, Mutual Friend, and Edwin 
