December 31, 1892. 
273 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
HARDY ORNAMENTAL 
TREES AND SHRUBS* 
So far as my own observation goes a good many 
young gardeners do not give the amount of attention 
to this branch of their business which its importance 
and interest demands and requires. In some places 
the management of the trees and shrubs is deemed 
of more consequence than even the kitchen garden, 
and that is saying a good deal, for we all know the 
dire results of not keeping the pot boiling ; and as no 
young man can with certainty forecast what or to 
where the changes and chances of life may bring 
him, it is incumbent upon him that he should fortify 
himself with a store of knowledge upon every branch 
of his business if possible, but more especially upon 
one of such universal inrerest as the subject of this 
paper. The furnishing of glass-houses with plants 
was in former times very different to the fashion of 
to-day as regards the number of species and varieties 
cultivated. People then seemed to try to have one 
or two plants of everything they could get hold of ; 
but the prevailing custom now-a-days 
appears to be to cultivate some favourite 
plant or class of plants in quantity to the 
exclusion of many interesting sub¬ 
jects that are rarely seen outside of 
botanic gardens and are not always easy 
to find even there. But if the field of 
interest be narrowed in our greenhouses 
by the prevalent custom of special cul¬ 
ture on a more or less extended scale, 
the same cannot be said concerning out¬ 
door plants, for never have we been 
richer in hardy trees and shrubs than we 
are at the present time. , The first step 
towards gaining a knowledge of plants 
is to get to know their names 
accurately, both Latin and English, 
so far as that can be done, as well as 
the synonyms of such as happen to be 
hampered with more names than one. 
This can be done through the help of 
friends who already possess such know¬ 
ledge, through visits of observation to 
botanical gardens, arboretums, and 
public parks, as well as by the consulta¬ 
tion of books, nurserymen’s catalogues, 
etc. ; and, as a last resource, the 
editors of our garden papers are always 
willing to help in such matters on cer¬ 
tain specified conditions. Gardeners, as 
a rule, are not easily deterred from 
attaining their ends. They are often face 
to face with some difficulty, and so be¬ 
come as it were inured to efforts of per¬ 
severance, and we have on record some 
noble and encouraging examples of men 
among them who pursued knowledge 
under most adverse circumstances, but 
who ultimately gained success by dint of 
unflagging application. If it be true 
that love laughs at locksmiths, the love 
of plants may be included, for it is 
almost impossible to keep knowledge 
away from a person who is bent upon ac¬ 
quiring it. So if at first you do not 
succeed, why try, try again ! I need hardly remind 
you that this is not intended to be a treatise 
upon the management of trees and shrubs, but merely 
an attempt to stir up an interest in them amongst 
the class of men into whose hands their manage¬ 
ment will in the course of time largely fall. In this 
country we have never far to go ere we find some 
specimen of tree life to contemplate, for in field, 
forest, and city, trees and shrubs meet us and greet 
us everywhere. We are fascinated by the infinite 
variety of form in individual as well as in the 
different species, by the endless variety and beauty 
of shape and colour in the foliage, and also by the 
changes induced in them by the progress of the 
seasons, the action of the wind upon their movements, 
their shadows in the water, etc., while the uses 
to which they may be put and their adaptation (some 
of them to nearly all manner of positions that are 
natural) are of the greatest benefit to mankind and 
to animal life generally. 
In trade catalogues we find certain things classed 
as forest trees, while others are placed under the 
heading of ornamental trees and shrubs. This 
* A paper read by Mr. Harrison, Knowsley, at a meeting of 
the Liverpool Horticultural Association, on December 17. 
arrangement is without doubt quite convenient and 
proper for trade purposes, but no injustice would be 
done to the trees if they were all placed under one 
heading, for I hold that all trees and shrubs are 
ornamental when seen under favourable conditions ; 
and as regards favourable conditions we may often 
make notes by the way, mentally and otherwise, as 
to the suitability or unfitness of certain things for a 
given purpose. Knowledge gained in this way is 
most useful and can be turned to good account as 
opportunities for so doing occur. 
A few short lists of plants for special purposes or 
having special qualities, with some incidental 
remarks, is as much as I can put within the limits of 
this paper. Conifers are a very large and interest¬ 
ing class of trees of first-rate importance both as 
stately ornaments in the landscape and as yielding 
perhaps more timber than any other class or family 
of trees. In size they range from Pinus Mughus and 
Picea excelsa Clanbrasiliana, which are rarely seen 
more than a few feet high, up to the trees of the 
most gigantic stature. Members of the genera 
Mr. H. J. Jones (See page 276). 
Cupressus, Juniperus, Retinospora, Thuja, Sequoia, 
Taxus, Cryptomeria and others are commonly made 
use of as shrubs in a young state, and fine sentinel¬ 
like figures many of them make when not planted 
too thickly, or crowded or overtopped by other 
things ; but the bulk of them grow into trees of 
timber size in their native habitats and some of them 
even in this country. Our common Yew (Taxus 
baccata,) is one of the hardiest of trees and lives to 
a more than patriarchal age, some say as much as a 
thousand years, but this would perhaps be difficult 
to verify. The Irish Yew (Taxus baccata fastigiata) 
is most frequently seen in an upright form, but that 
is not by any means its universal natural shape and 
character, but one imposed upon it by training, tying, 
and the knife. When left unmolested the Irish Yew 
has mostly a peculiar spreading and sprawling habit 
which makes it very interesting in aged specimens. 
The Japan Yew (Taxus baccata adpressa) makes 
a dense hardy bush or small tree and is useful 
in a mixed shrubbery as well as ornamental as a 
single specimen on a lawn. The Hemlock Spruce 
(Abies canadensis) is one of the finest objects that 
can be planted on a lawn in a sheltered place ; its 
lower branches dip down and touch the ground, 
and then curving upwards give the tree a most nove 
and striking appearance. The Cedar of Lebanon 
(Cedrus Libani) when fully developed stands out as 
a very king among trees by reason of its majestic 
appearance. 
Among deciduous trees may be noted the Tree of 
Heaven (Ailantus glandulosa), which in foliage some¬ 
what resembles the Walnut, but botanically is quite 
distinct from that species, I have read somewhere 
that in China and Japan silkworms are fed and 
reared on the young foliage of this tree, but its chief 
value in this country is as a quick growing nurse in 
young shrubbery plantations. The Horse Chestnut, 
GLsculus Hippocastanum, is one of the best known 
and most admired trees, and its pink variety is at 
least equally charming. The Tulip Tree (Lirioden- 
dron tulipifera) is an object of great beauty when in 
flower, its yellow cup-like blossoms being borne in 
great profusion. The bark is said to be a powerful 
tonic, and the imported timber is, they say, used by 
coach builders for panel work. The common Lime 
Tree (Tilia vulgaris) is a well-known tree throughout 
Europe, as well for its beauty as a tree 
as for its economic value, and from 
about the end of July to the middle of 
August the Linden trees are a source 
of food, or at least of honey, to bees 
generally, while our common garden 
mats are made of the inner bark of 
some of the species. 
The Plane tree (Platanus orientalis 
acerifolia), about which at one time 
there was a little bstanical confusion, 
is another well-known tree, having 
within the memory of man been very 
extensively planted and reared in towns 
and cities, as it bears smoke and dust 
better than most trees. A peculi¬ 
arity of trees of this species is that 
they cast a portion of their bark off in 
flakes every year, but they wisely 
provide themselves with a new jacket 
underneath first. Another remarkable 
thing about the Plane tree is that the 
incipient leaf-buds are not exposed in the 
axils of the leaves, as in most other 
trees, but are completely enveloped 
by the base of the leaf-stalk, like an 
extinguisher on a candle. Among smaller 
growing trees may be noted the 
Mountain Ash, the Manna Ash, various 
Thorns, Acacias, Ilexes, the Deciduous 
Cypress, the Almond tree, many mem¬ 
bers of the genera Pyrus, Mespilus 
Cerasus, Laburnum, Hollies, Tilia 
heterophylla, Fagus sylvatica aspleni- 
folii, and the cut-leaved Alders should 
not be left out. Large-growing shrubs 
are represented by Cornus mas, 
which is one of the earliest to flower, 
by Laurels, Rhododendrons, English, 
Spanish, and Portuguese Brooms, double 
Gorse, Lilacs, Tamarisks, Azaleas, 
Deutzias, Prunuses, Kalmias, Androme- 
das, Ligustrums, Ribes, Pernettyas, 
Barberries, Laurustinus, Daphnes, 
Syringas, Daphniphyllum glaucescens, 
Cotoneasters, Philadelphus, Roses, Clethras, Olearias 
the Judas Tree, etc. 
Berry-bearing plants include Hollies, Aucubas, 
Skimmias, Pernettyas, Crataegus, Pyracanthas, 
Barberries, Cotoneasters, Mountain Oak, and some 
Roses and Thorns, etc. Among plants remarkable 
for the beauty of their variegated foliage are Hollies 
of sorts, two of the best being Golden Queen and 
Milkmaid, Golden Yews, Aucubas, Euonymus, 
Eleagnus, Osmanthus, etc. Weeping trees have 
notable representatives in the Weeping Ash, the 
Birch, the Elm, Sophora japonica pendula, and the 
Yew, (Taxus Dovastoni), etc. Trees with coloured 
foliage are seen in the purple Beech, the purple 
Hazel, purple Oak, the Concord Oak, Prunus 
Pissardi, some of the Japanese Maples, the white 
Beam, Firs, white Poplar, Shepherdia, etc. Trees 
whose foliage dies cff a bright colour -are the 
scarlet Oak, Liquidamber, Plum-leaved Thorn, 
Snowy Mespilus, Rhus Cotinus, Ghent Azaleas, etc. 
For covering the ground or filling up among other 
things the following are suitable, Polygala Chama- 
buxus, Hypericums, Periwinkles, Gaultherias, 
Epigseas, Ivies, Berberis dulcis nana, Butcher's 
Broom, Heaths, Sun Roses, etc. The following 
