262 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 23, 1893. 
supply of cut flowers must be furnished every day, 
the best plan would be to have a border set apart 
for the purpose. The system of using suitable hardy 
perennials where formerly they had nothing but 
bedding plants was growing in favour; and it must 
be confessed that flower beds of all shapes and sizes 
might be most satisfactorily and permanently 
decorated by their aid. The number of possible 
combinations for flower beds was enormous, and he 
firmly believed that this branch of gardening had a 
great future before it, and would justly become more 
popular from year to year. Attention must also be 
called to the fitness of herbaceous plants for 
embellishing groups of other plants, such as shrubs. 
Striking effects could be produced by a variety of 
combinations. In conclusion, the lecturer hoped he 
had convinced some, at least, of his hearers that the 
class of plants of which he had been speaking offered 
one of the richest fields for horticultural research, 
and was well worthy the consideration of every 
gardener, and every lover of flowers throughout the 
land. 
- 
THE GROUPING OF TREES 
AND SHRUBS. 
The attainment of pleasing effects in the grouping 
and arrangement of trees and shrubs in gardens and 
pleasure grounds is best effected by planting a 
selection rather than a collection. There is such 
a wealth of material to be had now that there is a 
tendency to gather together a heterogeneous mass of 
things which cannot, in places of moderate dimen¬ 
sions, be arranged in a satisfactory manner. A few 
select subjects, the general characteristics of which 
will tend to produce a harmonious whole, and at 
the same time comprise in itself a diversity of form 
and colour, may be so planted as to gratify the most 
fastidious taste. A study should be made as to the 
size and form to which the subjects planted will 
ultimately attain, so that their several positions in 
the grounds may be decided upon with a view to 
their being displayed to the best advantage, which 
must be necessarily governed by the different points 
of view from which they will be seen, and the nature 
of the other occupants of the plantations. 
As far as possible anything approaching a con¬ 
tinuous belt should be avoided, a leading idea to be 
kept in mind being to have as many points of view 
provided in the formation of the various bays and 
indentations, where objects of especial interest may 
be planted and displayed to the best advantage. 
Large beds of shrubs with formal edgings should 
especially be avoided, and the turf should in all 
cases run up under the branches of the shrubs. The 
native of the soil must necessarily govern to some 
extent the selection of plants, because for instance 
there are Rhododendrons and other peat-loving 
subjects which cannot be persuaded except in 
isolated cases to grow freely in other than peaty 
soils, and there are localities where to make the 
necessary provision for their well-being would be a 
most expensive item. Yet who would not if possible 
secure a few of these, if only the common Rhodo¬ 
dendron ponticum, which is almost as accommoda¬ 
ting as the Laurel, and far hardier. Anywhere near 
the dwelling house evergreens should predominate, 
with a few of the free-flowering Lilacs, Thorns and 
Laburnums interspersed among them, especially 
Lilacs and Laburnums, and a few coloured foliaged 
trees, such as the purple Beech, Prunus cerasifera 
Pissardii, and the variegated Acer Negundo; but no 
more trees should be planted among shrubs than 
will leave ample room to admit a sufficiency of both 
light and air to the plants beneath them. 
To secure their well-being in the front of the 
borders, provision should be made for a fair admix¬ 
ture of deciduous flowering shrubs. For early 
flowering the Forsythias are admirable if planted 
against a background of evergreens. Some of the 
Spiraeas and the dwarfer forms of Berberis, Cytisus, 
Daphnes, and Ericas come in well for margins. 
One of our most beautiful of flowering shrubs is 
not so often seen in gardens as its merits warrant. 
I refer to Magnolia conspicua, which, when in 
flower, towering above a mass of evergreens, is a 
sight once seen seldom forgotten. Some of the 
choicer slow growing Conifers should have space 
allotted them in conspicuous positions, and I have 
sometimes found small groups of the Irish Yew 
standing out on the grass at short distances from the 
shrubbery have a marked and pleasing effect. There 
are also other well known subjects which might well 
have similar positions allotted to them. 
In looking over some beautiful gardens I have 
regretted at times the absence from them of Yuccas 
and Bamboos, which, properly placed, add much to 
the appearance of a place, and more use might often 
be made of weeping and flowering trees than is gener¬ 
ally done. Some, for instance the Tulip Tree and the 
Catalpa syringifolia, ultimately reach large dimen¬ 
sions, but there are many which are well adapted 
for small places, as, for instance, the snowy Mespilus 
and Circis Siliquastrum among flowering trees, 
the Golden Elms and Oaks, the Liquidamber and the 
Sophora japonica; but as the design of this paper 
is to give general ideas rather than a list of suitable 
subject, I must forbear the mention of any further 
names.— fV. B. G. 
-- 
SPRING GARDENING. 
(Concluded from p. 247.) 
Some of the berried plants, such as the Pernettyas 
and Skimmia Fortune!, make interesting beds ; but 
let us keep them on a carpet of a dwarf growing plant, 
so that we have no bare beds staring us in the face 
during the winter months. The above are only a 
few combinations that have occurred to my mind as 
what I have seen [pleasing and effective, but there 
are many combinations which will occur to most of 
you as suitable for this kind of work. 
Rock Garden. 
I now come to another system of spring gardening 
which I will call the rock garden. To the enthusiast 
and amateur taking an interest in this style of 
gardening this is perhaps the most interesting. 
Although the same gorgeous and extensive arrange¬ 
ments cannot be carried out in many places because 
of the difficulty and expense in the formation of such 
gardens, yet, if the space at command is limited, 
every nook and corner can be made a model flower 
bed, filled with Nature’s choicest gems. The 
specialist would tell you there is no comparison in 
true beauty in the different systems I have mentioned. 
Here we find a corner for every favourite, and the 
variety here displaying its beauty more than makes 
amends for the quantity massed together in the other 
styles I have referred to. Our rock garden may be 
an imitation of Nature in one of her most rugged 
aspects, or one of her grandest blending of rocks 
and valley, or it may be an outcrop of rocks form¬ 
ing numerous pockets with a border in front. What¬ 
ever the arrangement, make it as natural in appear¬ 
ance as possible. Many, I know, object to roots of 
trees in forming rough embankments, but where they 
are at hand they may be made useful, and by their 
use many sheltered corners can be formed. If left 
rough they make a suitable position for Honeysuckle, 
climbing Roses, or Clematis to trail over, and make 
a fine display in their season. Whatever form our 
rock garden may take, there can be no hesitation in 
the style of planting, for here as in the other forms 
I have mentioned, let us group as much as possible. 
If we have two plants of one species let us keep 
them together; if we have a dozen, let us have a 
group of them ; but where varieties of a species 
exist, as in Phlox subulata, I would not hesitate 
about a mixture of them in a large clump. The 
rock garden is, however, the home of the more 
choice of Nature’s wildings, and here every plant is 
admired for its true beauty, and not so much for 
the effect it produces en masse. Here we find room 
for all our choice bulbs, and where they can be 
judiciously mixed with dwarf growing Sedums, 
Saxifrages, or plants of dwarf growth, the effect is 
all the more pleasing when they are in flower. 
We note that spring gardening is finding so much 
favour in some quarters, that houses are being 
devoted to them so that their beauty may be seen 
at its best, and not as we too often see it tossed 
about with wind and rain and its fresh beauty gone; 
and although a house devoted to those hardy flowers 
will not compare for the rich effect produced by 
other exotics I could mention, yet the beauty to be 
found in a cool house during the early spring where 
a good collection of plants is grown is a most 
interesting feature in gardening. In making a 
reference—because time will allow of nothing more 
—to the species and varieties suitable for this 
system of gardening, I have a collection of coloured 
illustrations, which will be enough to show what 
wealth and beauty lie waiting the gardener to take 
in hand, and with the material make a model garden 
of harmonious effects. 
If we begin with the year the Christmas Rose is 
present to welcome and cheer us on our way ; the 
family of Hellebores is a rich one and varied in 
colour, as shown in the plate exhibited, which giv'es 
us variety on through the spring months. Following 
the Christmas Rose the Snowdrop and Winter 
Aconite take up their abode with us and claim 
notice. Here also we have variety, as there are 
eight kinds of Snowdrops grouped together. Tread¬ 
ing on their heels are the Crocuses, which have 
more colour and variety. From their time onwards 
the numerous good things crowd in, including Sciila 
sibirica, Chionodoxa sardensis, and the numerous 
varieties of Sciila biflora, which give us rich 
colours. Chionodoxa Luciliae and C. L. alba, the 
striped Squill (Puschkinia scilloides), and Triteleia 
uniflora give us additional variety. This class is 
followed up with the Grape Hyacinths (Muscaria) 
in variety. Another beautiful group is found in the 
Windflowers (Anemone nemorosa), the white and 
blue varieties, A. blanda, A. palmata alba, A. alpina 
sulphurea, and A. ranunculoides, and the Meadow- 
rue .\nemone (Thalictrum anemonoides), all of which 
are useful for massing. A. fulgens, single and 
double, and A. Pulsatilla (the Pasque Flower) must 
not be forgotten. The Sweet Violets will also find a 
nook, and the tufted Pansies will give us a choice of 
colour and bright effect. Mysotis dissitiflora grandi- 
flora is also useful, and the little Omphalodes verna 
and O. Luciliae should not be lost sight of. 
Ramondia pyrenaica, R. p. alba, where their roots 
can be built in amongst the rocks, form a beautiful 
sight. 
In the Hepaticas, red, white, and blue, we have 
plants not so often met with as they deserve. 
Sisyrinchium grandiflorum and its white form 
deserve a corner, and in the Doronicums we find 
material for a bold group. Primulas form another 
grand group for spring work; whether it be the 
common variety of our banks and hedgerows, or the 
lovely coloured hybrids in all shades of colour, they 
are worthy of extensive cultivation. Closely to this 
is the Polyanthus to be had in numerous fine forms. 
The double varieties of Primula vulgaris are worth 
looking after. In P. Sieboldii we have another beau¬ 
tiful plant, and in its varieties is found a wide range 
of shades. The Auricula will find a home here, and 
makiug a selection from seedlings alone will give an 
interesting collection; but to those who can afford it 
the named varieties of the florists’ type will do w'ell 
in a sheltered corner. P. rosea is another gem in 
this big family ; but on account of its flowering early 
it is sometimes caught with the frosts. P. viscosa 
nivalis, P. denticulata, P. Poissoni, P. lutea, and 
numerous others would all find a home on the 
rockery. 
Another large family is the Narcissus, and to do 
more than simply mention them would take up 
more time than I have this evening ; they would 
require an evening devoted to themselves to do 
justice to the species. I exhibit some coloured 
illustrations of forty of them, which show the 
beauty of this family ; they can be successfully 
grown in the grass or used by the thousand for 
wild gardening. Closely allied to the kinds shown 
are the Polyanthus Narcissi, all showy plants for 
spring gardening. In the Saxifrages we have also 
a family rich in variety. S. (Megasea) cordifolia is 
followed by a host of others too numerous to 
mention. Aubretias should find a place here; 
creeping over the rock in masses they give colouring 
to the whole. Another beautiful family is found in 
the varieties of Phlox subulata, a plant far too 
seldom seen in private places. Its showy flowers 
and free-growing habits should make it a favourite 
everywhere. Hardy Cyclamens should not be 
overlooked.' The Dog’s Tooth Violets will also find 
a home here. Iris reticulata is another good thing 
that should not be overlooked ; it is followed by 
other species which take us over spring gardening 
into the early summer, and they are possibly one of 
the most beautiful groups of hardy flowering plants 
we have. So much so, we have them put forward 
as a rival to the Orchid family, but the short time 
they last in flower is one of their defects. Tulips 
grown in masses, or the old garden Tulips in variety, 
will make the garden gay. Hyacinths in variety 
answer the same purpose, and although the rock 
garden may not be the best situated for them, still 
a few make it gay. Alyssum saxatile compactum 
and Alyssum montanum are also free-flowering. 
Draba is also another genus that should not be 
