42 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
September IS, 189?. 
The Goldei-rayed Lily of Japan (L. auratum) is 
the largest and grandest of all Lilies, and is in great 
request for pot culture for conservatory decoration, 
and for outdoor beds, especially amongst Rhododen¬ 
drons. The flowers vary from 6 in. to 12 in. in 
diameter, but in the latter case they are few. In 
beds of peaty sod in the open garden the stems are 
often fasciated, bearing from 30 to 132 flowers, which 
are of coarse relatively small. Grand varieties are L. 
a. Wittei, creamy white ; L. a virginale, white, with 
a pale yello w band ; L. a. rubro vittatum, with a 
heavy crimson bind; and L. a. platyphyllum, with 
very broad and massive segments. 
Very choic > are L. speciosum and its numerous 
varieties. L s. album is pure white,but L. s. Kraetzeri 
is the better of the two white forms, as the flowers 
are of good substance with a pale green band down 
the centre of each segment. The most handsome of 
the coloured varieties is L s. Melpomene, having rich 
crimson flowers, heavily spotted and edged white. 
Others are indicated by such names as L. s. roseum, 
L. s. rubrum. L. s. purpureum and L. s. cruentum. 
For conservatory work L. speciosum and its varieties 
stand unrivalled. 
The White Lily (L candidum, see illustration) is the 
type of the genus, both names implying that the 
flowers are white. They, indeed, require neither 
painting nor gilding. It is par excellence the garden 
Lily, floweriog in June, and extensively cultivated for 
garden decoration as well as for cut flower purposes. 
Its popularity is indicated by the several names 
applied to it, including Madonna Lily, common 
White Lily, Bourbon Lily and St. Joseph's Lily. The 
double variety is much less ornamental. As the 
species develops its winter foliage in the autumn it 
should be planted as soon as received ; and the bulbs 
when intended to be transplanted should be lifted as 
soon as the foliage dies down in July or August. For 
the illustrations of L. candidum and L. longiflorum 
Harrisu we are indebted to Messrs. J. Carter & Co., 
High Holborn, London. They should have appeared 
in our bulb number a fortnight ago, but some delay 
in procuring electros obliged us reluctantly to go to 
press without them. 
-- --- «e«-- 
MONIFIETH NURSERY. 
The nursery of Messrs. Laird & Sinclair, at Moni- 
fietb, on the sloping ground overlooking the Firth of 
Tay, is situated a little to the north of Dundee, and 
was established here about forty years ago. The 
nursery at Monikie belonging to the same firm is 
being broken up, as an eighteen acre field has been 
secured contiguous to the MoDifieth nursery to 
accommodate the nursery stock, which is being 
rapidly transferred to its new quarters during the 
planting season. Mr. James W. Laird resides at 
Monifietb, and takes charge of the nursery there, 
while Mr. William P. Laird controls affairs at the 
seed shop in the Nethergate, Dundee. 
On the old lawn in front of Mr. James W. Laird’s 
residence at Monifieth, are some old and interesting 
trees and shrubs, including a fine bush of Acer poly- 
morphum atropurpureum, 6 ft. high and 8 ft wide. 
On the house itself is the finest piece of Desfont- 
ainea spinosa we have seen, measuring 8 ft. 
high and 6 ft. wide. It has been here for many 
years, and has been in bloom for weeks past. The 
scarlet tubular flowers are tipped with yellow at 
first, but soon change entirely to scarlet. A large 
plant of Bridgesia spicata is thriving well on the end 
of the house, and Phlomis fruticosa blooms in this 
mild northern clime. A fine piece of Fabiana imbri- 
cata, 8 ft. bisth, was killed by the severe winter two 
years ago. The Camperdown Weeping Elm, raised 
at Camperdown, near Dundee, overhangs the pathway 
at the gate, and is notable for its fine drooping habit, 
and its leaves, which are broader than those of the 
ordinary Ulmus montana pendula. 
Ornamental Conifers. 
The two leading features of Monifieth are forest 
trees and ornamental trees and shrubs, in great 
variety, which find their way all over the United 
Kingdom. Every part of Jhe nursery is kept in clean 
and perfect order by a large staff of workers, and 
good management. The choice, ornamental Coni¬ 
fers constitute the bulk of the occupants of wide 
borders on either side of a broad walk, but many of 
the more popular are grown in quantity elsewhere in 
the nursery. Cupressus lawsoniana is represented by 
a large number of varieties of the best colour and 
habit, including the charming C. 1 . Allumii, of pyra¬ 
midal habit and deep sea-green hue, C. 1 . nana, C. 1 . 
erecta viridis, and the silvery C. 1 . albo-spica, all of 
them being well represented. Beautiful and useful 
also are Thuya vervaeneana, T. Lobbii (8 ft. high), 
Cupressus sphaeroidea variegata, Juniperus sinensis 
aurea and Cedrus atlantica glauca. The two latter 
stand well on the Firth of Tay. The same may be said 
of Thujopsis dolobrata and its variegated variety. 
The Retiriosporas are equally as weil-represented 
as the forms of Cupressus lawsoniana, and include 
R. obtusa, R c. nana aurea (twenty years old, and 
forming spreading, dense tufts only 6 in. high), R. 0. 
aurea, and R. 0. albo-variegata, golden, and 
variegated, respectively. R. tetragona aurea is 
always very compact, and golden, and R. filifera is 
like whipcord. Hardy and useful are R. squarrosa, 
R. plumosa aurea, R. p. argentea and R. p. albo- 
variegata, the names of which indicate the colours or 
peculiarites of the same. R. leptoclada is always a 
dwarf and characteristic plant, suitable for borders 
and lawns. There are some handsome plants of the 
Golden Arbor-Vitae (Thuya occidentalis aure3, 5 ft.- 
high. A curious and ornamental shrub is Retinospora 
lycopodioides, the branches of which are often 
fasciated and always dense in habit. The small 
shoots of Cupressus nutkaensis albo-variegata are 
white, giving the bush a highly ornamental 
appearance. 
In various parts of the nursery we noted some 
healthy batches of Podocarpus koraianus, resembling 
a strong Irish Yew. Healthy trees of Picea nobilis 
and P. grandis are to be met with in different parts 
of the grounds. Pseudo'tsuga Douglasii glauca is the 
Colorado variety of the Douglas Fir, having glaucous 
foliage. There are some fine trees of Sequoia 
gigantea, and the weeping variety, S. g. pendula, 
also finds a place. A handsome and ornamental sub¬ 
ject is Abies Enegelmanni glauca ; and the same 
might be said of Picea concolor violacea (a fine tree 
of which has been lifted recently and is fit to trans¬ 
plant, though 10 ft. high), Picea magnifies, and 
Abies Morinda, 6 ft. high. A strange looking plant is 
Cryptomeria japonica spiralis, of dense habit, and 
having branches like thick cord. Juniperus japonica 
is also of dense habit. A very uncommou tree is 
Arthrotaxus cupressoides. Cupressus lawsoniana 
albo-variegata is covered all over with small white 
branches, making it a useful subject for window 
boxes. Fitzroya patagonica, not often met with in 
collections, thrives satisfactorily here. Nor can we 
omit mention of the Deciduous Cypress. Picea 
webbiana, a beautiful Silver Fir is represented by a 
tree 30 ft. high. It is very far from being common in 
collections. There is also a beautiful specimen of 
the Golden Wellingtonia, 15 ft. high. Pinus insignis 
is a handsome Conifer that thrives on our sea coast 
up to a high latitude. 
Flowering Trees and Shrubs. 
Even as far north as Monifieth, the evergreen 
Phillyraea vilmoriniana proves quite hardy and 
happy. Olearia Haastii is also valued as a flowering 
evergreen bush. Prunus Pissardii runs up 6 ft. the 
first year from the bud and carries foliage of a rich 
dark purple. The purple-leaved Oak is valued for 
mixing with table decorations, as the foliage shows 
up well by contrast with a white cloth. Finely cut 
are the leaves of Acer polymorphum dissecium. The 
rich blue flowers of Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles 
are always serviceable. 
Grisehnia littoralis, Laurus nobilis and Dipplo- 
pappus chrysophylla are evergreens that seem quite 
as hardy and ornamental in the north as in the south 
Berberis Aquifolium assumes a rich red hue in 
autumn, retaining it all the winter, and is much 
prized for decorations. The fact that bees puncture 
the base of the corolla of Menziesia polifolia and M. 
p. alba is evidence that they are not the desired 
visitors. The red berried Cotoneaster Simonsii is 
much valued for making ornamental hedges. Several 
species of Privet are grown in the collection, 
including the variegated Ligustrum argenteo- 
marginatum and the golden L. ovalifolium aureum. 
The round-leaved Cotoneaster nummularia grows 
well against a wall, and would probably do so in the 
open. Rhododendrons are grown in quantity in 
plantations 1 ft. to 2 ft. high, and well set with buds. 
The cut-leaved form of the Norway Apple is known 
as the Eagle’s Claw, in allusion to the shape of the 
leaves. The variegated Mountain Ash, being laden 
with red berries, is highly ornamental. Here we 
noted a grand specimen of the Portugal Laurel in 
standard form, about 12 ft. high and as far through. 
Cytisus scoparius andreanus grows and flowers well 
in this nursery. 
Ouly two stocks are employed at Monifieth for 
the budding of Rases, namely—the Sweet Brier and 
the Dag-rose. The former is employed as a stock 
for Gloire de D jon and other Tea Roses, while the 
Dog-rose is used for all the hybrid perpetuals. The 
latter is raised from seed, and we noted a large 
quantity of healty stocks recently budded, as well as 
Tea Roses in a more advanced siagein the open, and 
full of vigour. Myrobalan stocks have just been 
budded with Plums. Fine bushes of Veronica Tra- 
vensii are grown ia some quantity, and Rhododen¬ 
dron ferrugineum is also grown in quantity. Spiraea 
bullata and S. Bumalda form bushy tufts about 6 in. 
high, and are still flowering freely. Aralia Sieboldi 
has survived many winters in sheltered positions. 
The leaves of Prunus lusitanicus azoricus take on a 
beautiful red tint in autumn and spring Abelia 
rupestris, after being established for some years, is 
now about to flower in this northern latitude. It 
receives no protection whatever. Ampelopsis Veitchi 
is a popular but variable climber in the north. 
Weigela Looymansii aurea takes on a beautiful 
golden colour, and is well adapted for the front of 
shrubbery borders, or in beds on the lawn in almost 
any part of this country. 
Herbaceous plants are grown to some extent, but 
they are an adjunct to rather than a feature of the 
place. Gypsophila paniculata is grown in quantity 
for the sake of mixing with cut flowers, of which 
there is a demand for decorative work of various 
kinds. The steel blue stems and bracts of Eryngium 
amethystinum and E. oliverianum are highly orna¬ 
mental, and the plants are very easily managed—in 
fact they require only to be kept free from weeds, 
but otherwise to be left alone. Arundo conspicua 
flowers in the open ground quite as freely as the 
Pampas Grass. The Edelweiss is still flowering in 
the open ground. Equally if not more rare is 
Xerophyllum asphodeloides, here known as Turkey's 
Beard. The ordinary run of herbaceous plants is 
also flowering. As might be expected, Chrysanthe¬ 
mums receive their due share of attention. They 
are grown in pots partly plunged in an open situa¬ 
tion. Dahlias are represented by plantations of 
show, fancy, Cactus and decorative varieties. Those 
who have not seen Dahlias growing north of the 
Cheviots would be surprised to note the dwarf and 
busby character of the plants and their sturdy 
appearance. About 18 ins. to 2 ft. is a very 
common average height of Dahlias in the north. 
Sweet Peas are still in their summer garb, growing 
and flowering freely. 
Forest Trees. 
The larger portion of the nursery is devoted to the 
culture of Conifers and deciduous trees for the 
planting of woods and forests. They constitute, in 
fact, the principal feature of Monifieth, and needless 
to say they receive the best of attention. Weeds are 
thriving luxuriantly in Scotland just now, but the 
beds and plantations here are kept scrupulously 
clean by a diligent staff of workers. Shelter is 
afforded by hedges of Holly, Beech and Hawthorn, 
kept in close and trim order. Ornamental Hollies 
are also grown in quantity, independently of the 
typical green form 
As the various plantations, according to age and 
convenience, are scattered about the nursery, we 
shall endeavour to mention them as we found them 
during a rapid survey of the place. All the trees of 
any size have been recently transplanted. We 
passed fine plantations of Scotch Fir, 12 ins. to iS 
ins. high ; Hazel used by planters to obtain rods for 
crate making ; two-year old Douglas Fir in fine con¬ 
dition ; one-year old Larch and two-year old Scotch 
Fir. The two latter Conifers were raised from 
native or home grown seed^ about half a ton of 
Larch seed being sown. We noted healthy and 
clean trees of Larch 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. These plan¬ 
tations are repeated in other quarters, and amongst 
_them one-year transplanted Larches are 18 ins. to 24 
ins. high. Large plantations of Spruce have been 
once and twice transplanted. Pinus Laricio has 
been taken in hand in earnest, many plantations 
already existing. Those that have been two years 
transplanted are healthy and vigorous. The 
Austrian Pine of the same age also grows in grand 
form, and no better will be got of the same age 
during the coming planting season. A plantation 
one year transplanted is also good. Sycamores 
raised from home and Continental seed show a 
