522 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
April 15, 1899. 
TREES AND SHRUBS AT EXETER. 
Exeter has long been noted for its collections of 
ornamental trees and shrubs, many of which have 
originated there, and are now spread over the length 
and breadth of the land. This applies as much to 
Conifers and other evergreen subjects, whose beauty 
depends chiefly upon their foliage, as to flowering 
subjects, whether evergreen or otherwise. Some 
time ago we had the pleasure of looking through the 
collection gathered together by Messrs. R. Veitch 
& Son, Exeter, who provide for the wants of gardens 
generally, but give particular attention to everything 
that may be required for the adornment of the out¬ 
door garden. 
The old Camellia alba plena was planted against a 
wall about five or six years ago, and during the past 
winter was laden with buds and flowers, the first of 
which expanded on December 10th last. Magnolia 
Campbelli, a rare Himalayan species, is planted in 
the open and flowers in spring, the large and showy 
blooms of which are larger and darker than those of 
M. conspicua or the hybrid M. Lenne. The red 
shoots, and small, ovate leaves of Prunus lusitanica 
myrtifolia are very pretty. Ribes speciosum almost 
resembles a Fuchsia when in bloom. The new 
Ligustrum Walkeri is expected to prove hardy. 
Jasminum peruvianum is a yellow flowered species 
not unlike some of the Old World species. Here 
we beheld a fine lot of the true Exeter Magnolia (M. 
grandiflora exoniensis) with the under-surface of 
the leaves varying from rusty-brown to green. 
The twigs and stems of Amygdalus orientalis are 
white or gray, and quite conspicuous in that respect, 
a character we did not expect to find in an Almond. 
Hydrangeas do well here, and amongst others we 
noted H. Otaksa monstrosa which produces large 
trusses of flowers. H. Shirozaku is a new Japanese 
form which is not yet well known. Stephanandra 
Tanakae is another Japanese shrub resembling a 
Spiraea in form and habit, the foliage being orna¬ 
mental in summer and the reddish-brown twigs very 
conspicuous in winter. Amorphacanescens produces 
purple flowers late in the season. Syringa pekinensis 
pendula is an uncommon Lilac from China. Fuchsia 
americana elegans produces purple and red flowers 
during summer. One of the neater of the St. John’s 
Worts is Hypericum densiflorum. The beauty and 
utility of Deutzia Lemoinei was pretty well demon¬ 
strated in public during the past season, and is sure 
to be largely planted by those who take pleasure in 
furnishing their gardens with choice and showy 
subjects. Atriplex canescens has narrow, hoary 
leaves, and is a shrubby species of Orache very 
suitable for planting in dry, sandy situations, 
particularly near the sea. The American Oak (Ilex 
opaca) is not nearly so spiny as our European species. 
Later in the season, say about June, Stuartia penta- 
gyna produces its large white flowers, which are 
closely related to those of the Camellia. Halesia 
diptera is one of the Snowdrop trees, and is so 
named from the shape of its drooping white 
flowers. 
Many of the Barberries are highly ornamental and 
all too rare in gardens. Berberis aristata was highly 
ornamental here in mid-winter with its clusters of 
long, curved and shining, berries, varying in intensity 
from brown to black. The white flowered Exochorda 
grandiflora always bursts into leaf amongst the 
earliest of the shrubs, and the mild climate of Devon 
sets the buds moving in December. Coloured foliage 
is none too plentiful in autumn, in private establish¬ 
ments,notwithstanding the wealth of trees and shrubs 
at command. Parrotia persica is one of these, and 
has leaves resembling the Beech in form, but which 
assume a bright red hue in autumn. The tree is a 
small one and belongs to the Witch Hazel family. 
The Glastonbury Thorn was consistent in being in 
flower at Christmas, and though the buds were more 
numerous than expanded flowers, the tree, neverthe¬ 
less maintained its traditions. Drimys aromatica 
(also known as Tasmania aromatica) is liable to get 
cut in severe frost, yet in ordinary winters it is a 
pretty, dwarf subject, with evergreen leaves and red 
stems. The berries of Elaeagnus edulis are freely 
produced in summer, and edible. The foliage of the 
Osage Orange (Maclura aurantiaca) is of a distinct 
pale green in summer. 
Bamboos are quite at home in Devon, so that we 
are not surprised to find the hardy species well re¬ 
presented here A number of them have, indeed, 
been grown at Exeter for a number of years, and 
are found useful for decorative purposes in tubs 
and pots, as well as planted out in the open. 
Amongst them we noted the broad-leaved and very 
hardy Bambusa palmata. Arundinaria anceps, 
though usually a small-growing species, stands ioft. 
high. A. Simoni is a tall and very vigorous species 
of upright habit. A. nitida is much more slender in 
growth, and drooping in habit, while the leaves are 
of a glossy rich green, making it one of the choicest 
of the hardy Bamboos. The species ot Phyllos- 
tachys are represented by P. viridi-glaucescens, P. 
Quilioi, P. Castillonis, and others. The golden 
stems of the last-named are very conspicuous in 
winter. All or nearly all of the species ot this 
genus are well worthy of cultivation. 
Japanese Maples are grown in great variety, large 
plants of them being healthy and well proportioned. 
They may be regarded as shrubs or miniature trees 
of most graceful habit, the finely dissected leaves of 
many of them being highly coloured. They do 
splendidly even as far north as Yorkshire. Hymen- 
anthera crassifolia is a dwarf, twiggy shrub, with 
narrow leaves and white berries that remain on all 
the winter, and though remarkably distinct and 
different in appearance, it belongs to the same family 
as the Pansy or Heartsease. Cotoneaster horizon- 
talis is of very distinct habit, and handsome in 
appearance, but particularly when laden with its 
scarlet or red berries. C. thymifolia and C. con- 
gesta are much smaller-growing forms, and highly 
suitable for planting on rockeries where they can 
grow over the stones. The double Gorse (Ulex 
europaea fl. pi), the Irish Gorse (U. stricta), and the 
Spanish Gorse (Genista hispanica) are all hand¬ 
some subjects in their season. Other choice sub¬ 
jects here are Escallonia rubra, Cassinia fulvida, 
Viburnum plicatum, Choisya ternata, Olearia stellu- 
lata, Cytisus nigricans, Laurus Benzoin, and 
Hypericum patulum. 
Privets are well represented, and besides one 
already mentioned,include Ligustrum macrophyllum, 
L. japonicum, L. latifolium, L. coriaceum, &c. The 
male and female forms of Garrya elliptica afford an 
opportunity for the production of fruit. G. Thuretti 
is a taller-growing species, with longer leaves. 
Many of the species of Genista flower in spring, 
but G. aetnensis flowers quite late in summer. 
Swammerdamia antennaria produces light blue 
flowers, and fragrant, spathulate, evergreen leaves. 
There are many forms of the Beech, but the Weep¬ 
ing Purple Beech is a rare subject in gardens as yet. 
Taxus japonica aurea resembles a golden Irish 
Yew. 
A collection of Himalayan Rhododendrons in 
pots was housed for the winter in a shed with a 
glass roof and open at the sides. They consisted of 
such bold and handsome species as R. Hodgsoni, R. 
Aucklandi, R. Thomsoni, R. Falconeri (with its 
great, rusty, woolly leaves), R. ' decorum, R. 
arboreum and R. glaucum, the leaves of the latter 
beiDg white beneath. In a greenhouse close by was 
a variety of Camellia, having single white flowers, 
and a great brush of yellow stamens in the centre. 
It was picked up in Cornwall growing in the open 
air. 
Fruit Room. 
On the occasion of our visit the fruit room con¬ 
tained a considerable variety of Apples grown upon 
the nursery stock of trees. Alongside of the more 
recent acquisitions are some of the old favourites of 
the southern and western counties. Newton Won¬ 
der becomes quite red here as it reaches maturity, 
and the same may be said of that handsome late 
keeping Apple, Annie Elizabeth. Tibbett’s Pear- 
main is a large Apple of a rich bronzy hue on the 
sunny side. Cornish Aromatic is one of the richly 
flavoured old Apples that are not much to look at 
but a great deal to the eater. It is small, but dark 
red, and the yellow flesh has a rich aromatic smack 
about it. The Melon Apple is yellow with a red 
cheek, and the flesh is tender and melting. D’Arcy 
Spice is a small greenish-yellow Apple, much 
suffused with russet, but the white flesh is tender 
and of fine flavour. Cornish Gilliflower would 
come into the same category, and is a conical, five- 
ribbed, yellow Apple, flushed with red on the ex¬ 
posed side. Cox’s Orange Pippin does well here, 
taking on a dark red colour. King of Tomkins 
County is an American Apple that does well at 
Exeter, and is one of a few from America that 
succeed in this country. The glossy skin is yellow, 
suffused with red, and the yellow flesh is juicy and 
highly flavoured. 
NOTICE OF BOOK. 
Forestry. 
The Strength t and Decay of Nations.— i., 
Forestry; ii*., British Forestry. Being two 
Essays with Notes. By Giles Andrew Daubeny, 
of the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law. &c. 
Timber News Offices: Liverpool, 19, South 
John St. London, 30, Fleet St., E.C. London : 
Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, & Co., Ltd. 
Price is. 1899. 
This pamphlet consists of two essays on forestry not 
originally intended to appear together. The first 
appeared in "Nature Notes,” the organ of the 
Selborne Society, last autumn, and the author has 
now thought fit to print them together. The burden 
of both papers is the destruction of natural forests, 
which are not replaced by planting, and the evil 
effects that ensue from the uncovering of the earth’s 
surface. The rainfall in time becomes lessened, 
while the immediate effects are that heavy rains 
denude the rocky crust of the earth of its thin 
covering of soil in which alone trees or vegetation 
generally can grow. The ultimate effects are that 
the land is rendered barreD, and the nations impover¬ 
ished whose lands have thus been denuded. The 
finger of warning is more particularly pointed to 
Russia as a forest and wealth destroying power; 
though various ether nations are also mentioned 
whose lands were practically at one time “ flowing 
with milk and honey,” but now sterile rocks or 
desert waste to a great extent. The author even 
goes as far as to suggest that the vast desert of 
Sahara was once a fertile region covered by forests 
and well watered, but reduced to desert by the 
agency of man’s destructive work. 
In dealing with British forestry Mr. Daubeny 
speaks of the relatively treeless condition of the British 
Isles, much of the surface of which, though incapable 
of being turned to agricultural purposes, might be 
profitably planted with timber to the advantage 
of climate, increased agricultural fertility, and 
increased population as a corollary to the former, 
and by reason of the work that such forests would 
create. The area of the British Isles is 77,000,000 
acres, of which only 3,000,000 acres are covered with 
forest. Our insular position alone prevents the 
country from being dried up and reduced to an arid 
waste. 
The author nevertheless advocates the establish¬ 
ment of a school or schools entirely devoted to 
forestry,not merely for the training of foresters for the 
British Isles, but for India and the various colonies, 
the Soudan and Rhodesia, which should largely be 
re-afforested to restore the rainfall and restore the vol¬ 
ume of the rivers,which are gradually becoming dried 
up. A head forester, he says,should have a competent 
knowledge of botany, zoology, mathematies, natural 
history, chemistry, geology, physics, entomology and 
other kindred sciences,besides practical work. Should 
the forester be put on this footing, the gardener 
must needs see to his laurels. Forestry as a science 
is young, being only 200 years old, so that there is 
still room for experiments. At present we import 
something like /18,000,000 worth of timber annually, 
while much of this might be grown at home without 
diminishing agricultural products. A good deal of 
planting in England must have been effected between 
1775 and 1823, judging from the age of existing 
plantations. When the re-afforestation of this 
country takes place it will give labour to thousands 
of prosperous and contented people. First the plant¬ 
ing, then the thinning, and lastly the cutting of the 
mature wood will furnish work for many. 
Forestry is much better understood and carried out 
in Scotland than in England, the many great private 
forests being in the hands of practical men who have 
spent their lives in the woods. The author is afraid 
of suggesting much about the planting of the Sister 
Isle for fear of offending the “sensibility” of the 
Irish Members ; but he thinks that extensive planting 
of waste land would restore lasting prosperity to 
Ireland. Wales is even in a more nude condition 
with regard to forests than any other part of the 
British Isles. 
A careful perusal of Mr. Daubeny’s pages will 
reveal much that will have to engage the serious 
attention of the legislature and the nation at large, 
if we are to economise and improve our existing 
resources in many respects. Indifference as to the 
value of land will have to give place to earnest 
endeavour if we are to hold our own amongst the 
nations. 
