Oct. 18th, 1884. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
103 
group of the large-flowered Plantain Lily (Funkia), 
with its important leaves and pure white flowers. 
The border has been arranged with some care in 
such a way as to get the plants in picturesque masses, 
both as to form and colour; for form’s sake, in masses 
of varying heights, not a regular shelving upward 
from front to back, but rather like a mountain range, 
with occasional spurs coming towards the front, and 
valleys of lower growth running well back among the 
taller groups. As to colour, the main feature is a 
treatment in broad masses and simple harmonies, 
with the occasional variety of a striking contrast, 
avoiding, above all things, the usual spotty speckling 
■of the same single plant often repeated. They are 
put in good groups of, say, six or eight together, either 
*lose or straggling, as their nature requires. 
The early Chrysanthemums are useful September 
flowers : a bright yellow one about two feet high is 
now very effective. We make careful use of grey and 
silvery-foliaged plants, grouping them with purple and 
lilac flowers; among the larger flowers, the silvery- 
leaved Cineraria of the Mediterranean shores, and 
with the smaller, neat carpets of the Alpine Cud¬ 
weeds, Wormwoods, and Yarrows. 
The great autumn Stonecrop is in full beauty, with 
its large heads of flower 6 ins. across, always covered 
with humble bees and butterflies, a special resort of 
red-admirals and painted-ladies. Dahlias, single and 
double, are in profusion. We find them by no means 
easy to place picturesquely; there is a want of interest 
in their foliage which makes them unsatisfactory in 
large masses alone. We like them best either two or 
three of a colour, or one alone, among young or low 
shrubs. The late drought has suited the handsome 
scarlet Cactus Dahlias, for, whereas the flowers are 
usually overgrown by the foliage, this year, the latter 
being stunted, the blooms rise clear above it. There 
is a heavy crop of Sweetbriar berries, now rapidly 
colouring, and making an important effect of garden 
decoration. White Japan Anemones are so complete 
a feast of flower beauty by themselves that we like best 
to isolate them (though they also group finely with 
other flowers), and have them in quiet nooks, where 
they reign alone, only accompanied by dark foliage. 
One such group is at the foot of a large Holly, whose 
deep-green foliage is a good ground for the pure white 
flowers. Another group is backed by a dark bay, and 
rises from a bed of Plantain Lily and broad-leaved 
Saxifrage. These large-leaved Saxifrages are most 
important plants, seldom used as thoughtfully as they 
deserve ; for grouping round the base of steps or other 
masonry they are excellent, and their grand massive 
foliage is in beauty all the year round. 
The warm late autumn sun brings out in profusion 
the clear white flowers of the Peruvian Swamp Lily 
(Zephyranthes Candida), one of the loveliest of 
garden plants, but only suitable for warm soils in 
the southern parts of England. Near it, a clump of 
Belladonna Lilies throws up its large flowers of love¬ 
liest pink and white on purple-crimson stalks, covered 
with a delicate bloom. South European Cyclamens 
are in full beauty ; a little later we shall be consoled 
for losing their flowers by the development of their 
delicately marbled leaves, that will endure throughout 
the winter. The later-planted Gladiola are now out, 
and the tiger-flowers give a daily-renew r ed crop of 
gorgeousness. Of plants of large foliage, Cannas and 
Maize are our favourites, besides the permanent 
groups of Bamboos and the great reed (Arundo). 
Meadow Saffrons gape wide open in the bright 
sunny mornings. They have a queer old name, 
now obselete but interesting—the Son before the 
Father—so called because the pods of seed come 
in early summer with the handsome broad 
leaves, apparently before the flowers, which are 
due in autumn. We are gathering the first flowers of 
Czar violets, and shall have them in all open weather 
during the winter and until March. 
These are only a few out of our many points of 
flower interest. Those whose chief idea of a garden 
is a gaudy glare of bedding “ stuff ” of some ten 
weeks’ duration (which, by the way, needs all the rest 
of the year for its preparation), know very little of 
what a garden really is, or of the healthful happiness 
that rewards practical workers among hardy flowers.— 
Pall Mall Gazette. 
Mb. Elliot Stock has arranged to publish a book 
on Roses, upon which “ E. V, B.” is engaged. 
TOWN AND SUBURBAN 
PLANTING. 
In the first portion of these notes, published last 
week at p. 87, it was stated that trees and shrubs 
could not be transplanted with safety while the dry 
weather continued. Since then rain has fallen, but 
not in such quantity as we could desire, still the 
weather has so entirely changed that more rain may 
soon be expected. It now remains for me to give the 
promised selection of a few trees and shrubs suitable 
for town and suburban planting, but before doing so 
I should like to make a few remarks on the present 
appearance of some of the trees seen in London and 
the London parks. The most verdant are the Plane, 
Poplar, common Acacia, Ash, the Elm, Ailantbus, and 
the Mulberry. The latter, although of slower growth, 
is a fit companion to the above, for it thrives in the 
most densely populated parts of London, and quite a 
grove of them may be seen near to Nine Elms. The 
Plane (Platanus accidentalis) is the London tree, par 
excellence, but it does not follow from this that it is 
the best tree everywhere, not even in the suburbs of 
London. Can this arise because soot is essential to 
its health, and that it gets more of it in London than 
anywhere else ? Many persons have a notion that they 
must plant a variety when they plant at all, but while 
variety is no doubt charming, I consider it preferable 
in town planting to have a quantity of handsome trees 
like the Piane, rather than a variety of things which 
will thrive only for a few years. 
The Canadian Poplar has been previously mentioned 
as the tree best suited for planting to hide unsightly 
objects, and it is also in my opinion the one tree, next 
to the Plane, that is best suited for general planting in 
London. There are but few trees -which one dare 
recommend for the purpose. Possibly there are more 
Elm trees of a large size in and around London than 
specimens of any other tree, yet it would be unwise to 
say that it is a good London tree. The majority have 
been planted many years—a century or more'—but 
those planted at a more recent date are not in so satis¬ 
factory a condition, and every day are getting less so. 
The Horse Chestnut (iEsculus Hippocastanum) is 
looked upon as next in usefulness to the Plane, and it 
is so for general planting, but not as a London tree, 
except where variety is insisted upon. We know that 
it is the admiration of everyone who visits Bushy 
Park while it is in flower, but the avenue of Horse 
Chestnuts planted in Regent’s Park cannot be looked 
upon as a success, and if we may judge from their 
present appearance they do not seem to improve until 
age. The Scarlet Chestnut will be found useful for 
general planting, especially in small enclosures where 
the common Horse Chestnut might be thought to grow 
too large. 
The Lime (Tilia europiea) is a very handsome tree, 
and is extensively planted in town gardens. When in 
flower its perfume is delightful, but the great draw¬ 
back to planting the Lime as a street tree in the 
suburbs is the early period at which it loses its 
leaves. In a hot summer like the past, when shade 
was so desirable, the Lime, in many places, was no 
sooner in leaf than it began to drop them. 
In Robinia Pseud-Acacia we have one of the most 
useful of deciduous trees for town and suburban 
planting, it does not grow too large, and can be 
planted in front gardens, as heat and dust do not 
appear to affect it. The varieties R. Bessoniana, 
R. umbraeulifera, and R. monophylla, are also de¬ 
serving of extensive use. 
The Acers (Maple) are very interesting trees, 
and many of them only require to be known to be 
appreciated. Acer Negundo and A. Negundo varie- 
gata are both useful trees for small shrubberies, 
particularly the latter, the silver variegation of which 
mixes so well with evergreen shrubs. It is a plant 
that can be kept within bounds as easily as a 
Standard Rose, indeed it is improved by annual 
pruning. Acer dasycarpum is one of the most 
ornamental trees grown, and some good specimens of 
it may be seen in Regent’s Park. There are also 
some newer varieties which deserve the attention of 
of planters—viz., A. Reitenbachi, a fine purple variety 
of the Norway Maple, and A. Schwedlerii and A. Wor- 
leyi are each very striking. 
Some of the Oaks may be planted with advantage 
in suburban gardens. Quercus rubra, the Scarlet 
Oak, is very handsome, having large leaves, which 
turn to a bright red in autumn. The Golden 
Oak, Q. eoncordia, and the Purple Oak, Q. nigra, 
contrast well with the green of other trees and 
shrubs. 
It has been mentioned above that Elms cannot be 
looked upon as a satisfactory tree for city or town 
planting, neither can they be recommended as suited 
for small enclosures in the suburbs. Still there are 
a few \aneties that may be selected with advantage. 
The Golden-leaved Elm, Ulmus Dampieri aurea, is a 
fine new variety; the Purple Elm, U. montana pur¬ 
purea ; U. myrtifolia purpurea, and the Silver-leaved 
Elm, U. glabra microphylla variegata, are each 
deserving of a place. 
Thorns are indispensable subjects as town and subur¬ 
ban trees. The Single White and Pink are both useful, 
but are not to be compared with the double kinds, such 
as Paul’s Double Scarlet, the Double White and Pink, 
as they last so much longer in flower than the single 
varieties. 
The Birch is a handsome-growing tree that will 
grow well in the suburbs, and the Silver Birch, Betula 
alba, the Purple Birch, and Betula fastigiata are very 
effective varieties. 
The weeping, flowering, and berry-bearing trees, 
with the flowering shrubs, must be the subject of a 
paper for next week.— G. T. 
•--- 
THE FORESTRY EXHIBITION. 
The International Forestry Exhibition in Edinburgh 
was brought to a close on Saturday. Throughout the 
day and during the evening the attendance was very 
large, the buildings and the grounds outside being 
crowded. It is estimated, says The Scotsman, that 
nearly 500,000 people have visited the Exhibition. 
As to the financial results, it is believed that there is 
likely to be a deficit of not less than, in all probability, 
between £500 and £1,000. The accounts have not 
yet been made up, and accordingly no exact statement 
can be given; but the above estimate is believed to be 
only too well grounded, and certainly not over the 
amount of the deficit that may be looked for when 
everything now due has been paid off. This deficit is 
attributed chiefly to the heavy expenditure that has 
been necessary to the carrying on of the Exhibition, 
with all its attractions. The buildings, in the first 
place, cost upwards of £7,000; that of the electric 
light has been, it is said, about £1,000 ; and £36 a 
night has been paid for other illuminations. The 
general expenses have been very heavy—heavier than 
was at first anticipated; and in the general expenses 
are included a vast number of important items for 
every-day requirements, which have run up into a 
formidable figure. 
The promoters of the proposed School and Museum 
of Forestry have now obtained from the Lawson Seed 
Company a place for the temporary accommodation of 
the exhibits that have been promised for the Museum ; 
and, accordingly, it is understood that they do not 
propose to acquire any considerable portion of the 
Exhibition buildings. These in the course of a short 
time will be taken down and removed. With the 
nucleus of a museum obtained, and with the promises 
of aid received, hopes are entertained of the estab¬ 
lishment of a School of Forestry in Edinburgh. 
Upwards of forty of the exhibitors have promised 
considerable and valuable jiortions of then- exhibits 
for the Museum, which will thus acquire specimens 
from Japan, British Guiana, India, and other countries 
abroad. The Maharajah of Travancore has promised 
some of his exhibits ; and specimens of wood pulp 
have also been promised. Her Majesty's Woods and 
Forests will also largely contribute to the Museum; 
and a great many tools and models from different 
parts of the country—illustrative of, and connected 
with, the science of forestry—have also been secured. 
Among the contributors at home are the Duke of 
Buccleuch, the Duke of Argyll, the Duke of Athole, 
Sir James Richardson, Mr. Owen, Mr. Oscar Dickson, 
and other gentlemen. For the establishment of the 
School and Museum of Forestry, the Committee, at 
the head of -which are Mr. Hutchinson of Carlowrie, 
Colonel Dodds, Dr. Cleghorn, and other gentle¬ 
men, are about to make an appeal to gentlemen 
interested in the subject for their financial require¬ 
ments. 
