944 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
Becembek 13,1913. 
JAPANESE MAPLES. 
V 
♦> 
Among tlio changes which taste in gar¬ 
dening has undergone during the past 
quaiter of a century, that which has had 
the effect of obtaining for the more beau¬ 
tiful hardy trees a degree of popularity 
more oommensurate with their merits than 
was formerly the case stands pre-eminent. 
Especially is., it gratifying to observe, in 
visiting gardens and nurseries in various 
parts of the country, that the many beau¬ 
tiful deciduous trees which in the past were 
seldom seen beyond the boundaries of 
crowding. Consequently, the practice which 
in bygone years so generally obtained 
of planting in gardens, of even quite mode¬ 
rate size, trees that properly belong to the 
park and woodland is fast dying out^ and 
not a few giant elms and chestnuts, etc., 
are annually felled to provide space for 
kinds of more moderate development, and 
in other respects better adapted to the. 
adornment of gardens wherein the space 
is limited. 
Prominent among the deciduous trees 
immaturity of the new growth than to the 
low temperature. A considerable number 
of specimens have come under my notice 
during the past two decades that have b^n 
subjected to a temperature several degrees 
below zero without receiving any harm. A 
few also have been met with that have 
been damaged by a frost of less severitv. 
although growing in gardens within a few 
miles of those in which the specimens that 
had pasised through the winters uns<athe<l 
had their home. 
While it is of importance to regard these 
Japanese maples as much hardier than they 
are generally supposed to be, it will li 
advisable to recognise the fact that they 
may suffer* from very severe frosts if the 
conditions under which they are grown are 
unfavourable to the completion and ripen¬ 
ing of growth before the autumn is far ad¬ 
vanced. If this fact obtains due recogni- 
JAPANESE MAPLES GROUPED ROUND THE LILT POND AND FOUNTAIN AT CASTLEWELLAN, CO. DOWN. 
botanic gardens and long-established nur- 
serie.s are being extensively planted, and 
that the r'ecent introductions are also being 
taken full advantage of by planters. 
As the result of this change in public 
taste gardens are being rapidly made more 
interesting and attractive, and the lalK)ur 
involved in their maintenanc<> somewhat re 
duced, for if trees and shrubs are unable to 
take care of themselves, they do not r<Hjuire 
such close and constant attention as do 
many rock plants and some of the hardy 
perennials that are grown in the mixed 
border. 
Not only is increased attention being 
given to trees remarkable for the l>eauty 
of their flowers or leavas, or for their ele¬ 
gant aspect, ))ut greater care is taken in 
making selc^ctioiis to pay due attention to 
the consideration of the dimensions of the 
garden, so that it may be possible to have 
a considerable diversity in the arborescent 
vegetation without the semblance of over- 
with ornamental leafage are the Japanese 
maples, which include some of the most dis¬ 
tinct and effective of trees of moderate 
stature. Hitherto owners of gardens, and 
indeed, plants generally^ have l>een some¬ 
what chary of planting them otherw ise than 
in small numl>ers, owing to the mistaken 
impression that there is a considerable risk 
of their l>eing seriously damaged, if not 
killed outright, in a severe winter. Con¬ 
stitutionally they may not be sufficiently 
robust to bear the rigours of a wdnter of 
exceptional severity over the whole of the 
United Kingdom, but they caii do so over 
a large area^ as exemplified by the many 
fine specimens that may be met with in a 
wndely-extended tour. 
Acer pa.linatuin. 
When the forms of Acer palmatum, with 
which alone we are now* concerned, are 
injured in a severe winter, as sometimes 
hap|>ens, the damage is due more to the 
Dion it will be readily 
alante should have a sunny, 
don assigned them, and that soil 
rrom stagnant moisture. ,v«+lv 
It is essential the positions be ^ffieien . 
trained, and in the majority r- 
vill be so, but if this be not tlie case ar^ 
rangements for carrying off 
noisture must be made befoie p 
rith planting operations. In all c^ 
K)il should he broken up to * french- 
two feet by ordinary or bastaul trenc^^ 
ng, and in the process such ‘ 
w added as may be ^ 
his being, in a Je mapl^ 
w the character of the soil. T ^ 
require for their full developni 
paratively light, open, and ^ 
Fore, if the staple is and 
:etxure, add light soil, l^^f' f]ie 
3oarse grit in liberal •„,prove<l 
ither hand, light soils will , 
)y moderate additions oi o 
