October 29. 1904. 
THE GARDENING WORLD, 
863 
Round the Nurseries. 
Windlestrawlee Nursery, Edinburgh. 
Early one morning in September last we had a quiet' stroll 
through the nursery above named of Mr. David W. Thomson, 
113, George Street, Edinburgh. The nursery is situated on 
the Granlton Road, and may therefore be considered in the 
suburbs of Edinburgh, though beyond the areas densely 
covered with houses. 
This nursery is chiefly devoted to ornamental and forest 
trees, the latter being raised in great quantities from seeds. 
The ornamental subjects are meant for the planting of shrub¬ 
beries, pleasure grounds, gardens, parks and towns. By the 
latter we mean that trees are reared for street planting. The 
business is extending, and to meet the increased requirements 
an additional area of nursery ground has been acquired a short 
distance along the same road, and this- when completed will 
contain ten, acres. We found the nursery foreman busily 
engaged planting a portion of this newly acquired ground, in¬ 
cluding Hollies and English Yews, the latter to the number 
of 5,000. The Yews form fine plants about 2 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height. The day after our visit we were assured that about 
10,000 Laurels would have been jflanted. We refer, of course, 
to the Laurel Cherry, for which the ground was being liberally 
enriched with well-made farmyard manure. 
Retracing our steps to the old nursery, we proceeded to in¬ 
spect the various plantations of ornamental trees and shrubs. 
Here we noted a. fine lot of transplanted bushes of Rosa rugosa 
15 in. to 18. in. high. Spiraeas and Weigel a®. numbered some^ 
thing like: 20,000. S. Anthony Waterer is a great favourite 
here, a,si it isi everywhere in the north on account of the rich 
colour of itsi flowers and its continuous flowering. Some 
twenty-five years ago Olearia Haastii was being sparingly 
planted even in the south, under the impression that it was a 
tender subject. There is now no more popular shrub about 
Edinburgh amongst those who have added it to their collec¬ 
tion. It is a splendid town shrub, and continues' flowering for 
a long period. The purple-leaved Barberry 1 ft. to 3 ft. in 
height was notable for the rich colour of its foliage. Cotour 
easier Simon si i seems to thrive better about Edinburgh than 
London, judging from the rich dark green colour of its foliage. 
Several species and varieties of Dogwood are grown, including 
green and variegated ones. 
At this point we came upon a, plantation of Scotch Firs two 
years old, 'twice transplanted and forming fine healthy trees. 
Something like 10,000 Sycamores 6 ft. to 10 ft. high are grown 
for street "planting, including the ordinary and the variegated 
ones'. Two specie's of Poplar are in. favour—namely,, the 
Canadian and the Black, but the former is the most highly 
esteemed, on account of the vigour of its growth and suitability 
for town planting. The trees were 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height, and 
the two species together numbered something like' 30,000 trees 1 . 
The Gean is a favourite tree in the north, and its beauty cannot 
be gainsaid when in bloom. Fine healthy plantations' of trees 
were 2 ft. to 3 ft. in height. The golden Mountain As'h is held 
in considerable' favour because it maintains its yellow colour 
all through the season. Many fine tree® of it range from 
6 ft', to 10 ft., in height. _ 
A plantation of Larch numbering some 400,000 would gr e 
some idea of the demand for this timber tree. The trees vei e 
two years old, once transplanted, and were notable for theii 
healthy appearance and good leaders. A large plantation of 
Thorns, one, two, and four years old, would meet, the require¬ 
ments of many planters. One set. of trees only one year old 
stood 3 ft. and 4 ft', high. Paul's Double Scarlet Thom was 
present only in the form of standards, being puiely planted 
for decorative purposes'. Rhododendrons', including thet ordinary 
R. ponticum. and named sorts, numbered something like 
50,000. These were of various sizes, and though planted! In 
spring had made good growths, some of them two. There is 
a large stock of green Hollies forming a clean and vigorous 
sto'ck°about 1 ft, to 2 ft. in height. Ten thousand of them are 
intended for the new nursery, the planting of which had com¬ 
menced by the middle of September. Oval-leaved Priveit is 
also of great service chiefly for covert planting. About 220,000 
of them included bushes of various ages and 11,- ft, to 2| ft. in 
height. 
Within the last few years the broad-leaved Laurel (Prunus 
LaurO'Cerasusi rotundifolia) has comei into great favour, and 
a big stock of various sizes passed under our notice. This 
particular variety is notable for the shortness and breadth of 
its leaves, which makes it hardier and more resistant, of wind 
than the longer-leaved ones. The Golden Queen Holly 1 ft, 
to. 11, ft. in height formed an interesting plantation on account 
of the bright and clean character of its foliage. 
Fruit trees and bushes are also largely grown in this nursery, 
and we passed through several fine plantation® of maiden Apple 
trees 3 ft, to. 4 ft, in height. Some three-year-cld trees varied 
from 4 ft, to 6 ft, in height, and were well furnished with clean 
wood. Norfolk Beauty is a new variety of considerable repute, 
and here we noted three fine rows of it, the trees of which had 
made fine healthy growth. Mr. Thomson has great faith in 
the Red Currant Ayrshire Beauty, which lie considers one of 
the best in cultivation. A plantation of it numbered about 
5,000 bushes. Amongst Black Currants, Boskoop Giant is 
considered one of the best, and we are aware that some cul¬ 
tivators consider it more resistant than, any other variety to 
the bud mite in districts where that is troublesome. The 
Victoria Black Currant is also an excellent variety, with rich, 
dark green foliage and a healthy appearance. Last year some- 
tliing like 10,000 of it were disposed of. 
Amongst Conifers, the species, and varieties of Cupres'sus are 
great favourites, particularly C. lawsoniana, which lias given 
rise to such a large number of varieties, the beauty of'which 
can only be appreciated when cultivated or seen, by those who 
have not yet, given much attention to Conifers. We. only noted 
a, few of 'the finer varieties in the nursery, but, these included 
C. 1. Allumi and C. 1. Triomphe. de Boskoop, both of which are 
noted for the rich dark sea-green colour of their foliage and 
striking habit. Another beautiful variety was, C. 1. wester- 
manniana, with yellow variegation. Two silvery varieties 
would be C. 1. argentea nova, and C. 1. Silver Queen. C. 1. 
versicolor may be compared to westermannianai above de¬ 
scribed, but. the twigs are much More slender. Two. decidedly 
blue varieties are C. 1. caerulea and C. 1. intertext,a. Long 
whip-cord like shoots are characteristic of C. 1. filifera., while 
C. 1. argentea robust® isi notable for its robust, upright growth, 
pyramidal habit and creamy foliage. Several other varieties 
equally well worthy of cultivation are grown here. 
One large sowing of Larch which we noted included some¬ 
thing like 1,500,000 one-year-old trees which will require a 
considerable amount of labour to transplant them presently. 
Other forest trees included older Larches', seedling Spruce®, 
and a bio- lot of Austrian Pines of various sizes. There was 
also a, break of Beeches 2 ft. to 3 ft. high. Scotch Firs are 
also largely grown. Further on we, came upon forty long beds 
of one-year-old 1 Larches numbering about 2,000,000 seedlings. 
Amongst ornamental subjects' we noted fine stock of Portugal 
Laurels: 2| ft. high, Handsworth Weeping Silver Holly, as 
well as large stocks, of other variegated Hollies. Iviesi are 
grown in, pots, including choice varieties to the number of 
2,000 a year. The purple-leaved Plum (Prunus Pissardi) 
colours up. splendidly here, and a fine plantation of the douhle- 
flowering Cherry consisted of trees 5 ft. to 6 ft,, in height. 
The white Broom is largely cultivated here. A large stock 
of seedling Scarlet. Oak 6 in. to 8 in. high was in a. fine healthy 
condition. The out-leaved' golden Elder had made fine growth 
and was. beautifully coloured. We refer to Sambucus raoemora 
laciniata a,urea, wliich does well whether in 'the north or the 
south. Weeping trees are; well represented, including a, large 
stock of the Kilmarnock and American Weeping Willows, Elms 
and Ashes. 
A great variety of trees are grown for the purpose of street 
planting; these would, of course, be described as standards, 
having a clean stem surmounted by a bead, and 7 ft. to 9 ft. 
in height. In Scotland the Wych or Scotch Elm is considered 
