G8 
JOURNAL  OP  EORTl CULTERE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
^httary  28,  189?. 
plant  more  Cedars  in  suitable  positions.  This  was  done  several 
years  in  succession,  but  ill  done,  all  but  total  failure  resulting.  The 
cause  was  not  far  to  seek,  for  although  good  plants  were  procured 
(too  good  in  fact),  and  in  good  time,  they  were  “  heeled  in  ”  to  be 
at  the  last  moment  stuck,  not  planted,  in  their  positions  and  stuck 
there  to  die.  I  was  present  when  the  matter  was  broached  between 
the  two  most  interested  persons,  and  standing  within  50  yards  of 
one  of  those  superb  specimens  previously  mentioned  ;  the  reply  to 
the  query  as  to  the  failure  of  the  young  trees  was,  “  Oh,  the  soil 
is  not  suitable.”  One  could  not  but  pity  the  man  whose  only 
resource  to  excuse  shiftless  planting  was  so  palpably  absurd,  and 
the  rapid  look  of  his  employer  from  the  grand  old  Cedar  to 
me  revealed  the  thought,  not  otherwise  expressed,  which  was  in 
his  mind. 
Thriving  trees  must  ever  be  a  source  of  pride  to  the  planter,  as 
they  may  eventually  prove  to  be  the  most  enduring  monuments  of 
his  forethought  and  good  work.  One  fails  to  see  how  anyone 
whose  cultivated  taste  begets  the  full  enjoyment  of  noble  trees 
can  overlook  the  duty  of  one  generation  to  another,  either  in 
judicious  planting  or  in  the  preservation  of  venerable  relics  of  the 
past.  I  could  point  to  a  dozen  places,  of  some  pretensions  too, 
where  future  arboreal  effect  is  entirely  ignored  in  the  passive  enjoy¬ 
ment  of  the  present,  or  the  question  is  indefinitely  postponed  under 
the  compound  pressure  so  few  places  have  escaped.  Others  there  are 
in  which  a  desire  for  novelty  has  led  to  the  planting  of  many  of 
the  more  recently  introduced  Conifer®,  which  must  be  regarded  to 
more  or  less  extent  as  experimental,  but  which  have  monopolised 
attention  to  the  exclusion  of  equally  worthy  and  more  reliable 
objects  of  our  solicitude. 
Some  trees  in  their  infancy  resemble  children,  in  so  far  as  that 
character  is  concerned  with  which  we  imbue  the  latter  when 
remarking  that  plain  features  often  develop  later  charms,  or 
vice  versa.  Many  who  admit  this  so  far  as  our  own  species  are 
concerned  appear  to  be  led  astray  by  the  infantile  beauty 
characterising  some  trees  of  modern  introduction.  What  a  gay 
deceiver  is  Cedrus  Deodara  in  its  graceful  ard  elegant  youth  !  It 
is  and  has  been  planted  in  prominent  situations  with  the  object  of 
becoming  a  permanent  feature  when  its  noble  cousin,  0.  Libani, 
would  under  normal  conditions  yield  unqualified  satisfaction.  As 
an  ornarjental  plant,  up  to  a  certain  stage  the  Deodar  has  few 
equals,  and  probably  none  that  can  surpass  it  in  beauty  ;  but  after 
a  certain  stage  (not  age,  of  that  more  anon)  its  glory  has  departed, 
and  there  is  not,  I  fear,  anything  remaining  to  make  it  worthy  of 
our  consideration  as  a  permanent  object.  From  a  timber  point  of 
view  its  commercial  value  is  not,  probably,  great,  and  its  character 
as  a  factor  on  this  account  is  doubtful.  It  was,  I  am  aware, 
awarded  high  meed  of  praise  some  few  decades  ago  by  very 
competent  authorities  on  Conifer®,  but  I.  do  not  know  of  any 
instance  in  which  those  expectations  have'  been,  or  are  likely  to 
be,  realised. 
In  a  sheltered  glen  where  a  collection  of  choice  Conifer®  have 
developed  into  good  specimens  (a  good  specimen  is  not  necessarily 
a  thing  of  beauty)  a  Deodar  which  has  thri  ven  remarkably  well  so 
far  as  thriving  goes  is  in  its  appearance  the  one  black  sheep  of  the 
flock.  Lately  a  gentleman,  certainly  uniniti  ated  in  woodcraft,  and 
to  whom  I  was  expatiating  on  the  subject  vi  hilst  pointing  out  the 
specimens,  admired  them  very  much,  but  said,  “  Why  did  they 
plant  that  ugly  Fir  tree  in  so  prominent  a  p  lace  ?  ”  Alas  !  for  the 
departed  glory  of  Cedrus  Deodara,  which  w  as  the  tree  in  question. 
Very  probably  admirable  specimens  of  this  Cedar  exist  that  I  am 
unaware  of,  and  very  probably,  too,  if  such  is  the  case,  they  are  to 
be  found  where  unremitting  attention  to  top-dressing  has  contri¬ 
buted  to  the  preservation  of  that  unique  feathery  gracefulness 
marking  their  distinguished  youth.  Biennis  1  pruning  to  keep  the 
Deodar  within  limited  bounds  will,  I  be  lieve,  accomplish  the 
object  of  retaining  it  as  an  ornamental  trc©  practically  irrespective 
of  age. 
Noting  the  splendid  effects  that  are  Obtained  by  liberal  and 
f 
frequent  top-dressing  and  other  extraordinary  attentions  paid 
(and  worthily  paid)  to  various  trees,  we  can  only  conclude  that  the 
practice  is  highly  commendable.  Yet  this  is  but  a  side-light  of 
that  broad  view  the  subject  demands.  There  are  but  few,  if  any, 
places  where  the  practice  obtains  beyond  the  pinetum  or  other 
limited  area,  and  it  would  be  presumptuous  to  predict  in  the 
mutable  conditions  under  which  we  live  that  such  benefits  may  be 
continued  far  enough  to  reach  another  generation.  All  honour  to 
a  generous-hearted  patroness  of  horticulture  and  arboriculture  of  a 
past  generation,  who  gathered  about  her  delightful  home  the  good 
and  beautiful  of  tree  life  from  many  lands  ;  yet  her  estimable 
qualities  were  rather  those  of  the  heart  than  of  the  head  is  now 
sadly  in  evidence.  It  is  painful  to  see  where  so  much  was 
attempted  the  many  silent  witnesses  still  standing  to  point  a  moral, 
obvious  enough  to  the  most  casual  observer,  of  mistaken  enterprise 
and  enthusiasm  ;  and  in  looking  at  what  is,  the  context  of  what 
might  have  been  is  not  less  apparent.  For  instance,  the  well- 
formed  sweeping  avenue  of  Araucarias,  many  sickly,  struggling 
survivors,  of  which  more  pitif tally  tell  the  tale  than  any  words  of 
mine  could,  force  such  invidious  comparisons  upon  one’s  mind. 
Probably  if  a  little  more  thought  was  given  to  the  matter  the 
somewhat  narrow  view  of  our  own  allotted  span  would  be  merged 
into  the  subject  of  our  text — -the  life  of  a  noble  tree  from  infancy 
to  prime  and  on  to  its  undimmed  glory  of  venerable  age. 
It  is  for  gardeners  to  consider  this  phase  of  the  subject.  On 
the  larger  scale,  or  in  its  commercial  aspect,  it  may  well  be  left  to 
the  skilled  forester.  Gardeners,  too,  are  in  this  matter  a  power 
for  good  if  they  will  give  the  subject  a  place  in  their  hearts  among 
their  pet  Chrysanthemums,  Boses,  or  other  deserving  if  often  all- 
engrossing  objects  of  their  care.  And  gardeners,  too,  are  a  power 
for  evil  if,  when  compelled  by  duty  to  give  some  attention  to  the 
matter,  they  only  give  as  little  as  possible  ere  hurrying  back  to 
their  hobbies  for  fear  of  some  coveted  trophy  in  competition  going 
astray.  The  subject  is  a  noble  one,  and  provides  a  theme  which 
might  well  be  extended.  It  is  not  intended  to  do  so  now  ;  later 
on  some  thoughts  on  tree  pruning  may  be  expressed.  In  com* 
mencing  this  paper  its  object  was  specified  ;  in  concluding  it  I  may 
be  permitted  to  lay  down  a  few  broad  lines  capable  of  being 
stretched  to  suit  all  cases,  but  which  Bhould  never  be  lost  sight  of. 
Consider  why  you  should  plant,  what  you  will  plant,  how  you 
will  plant,  and  where  you  will  plant.  These  simple  points  are 
worth  all  the  consideration  that  can  possibly  be  given  to  them.  In 
handling  the  infant  tree  grasp  all  the  possibilities  of  futurity  as  a 
guide  to  ultimate  space  required.  If  as  a  single  specimen,  think  of 
“  The  grandeur  of  the  lonely  tree  that  wrestles  singly  with  the 
gale.”  In  grouping,  how  many  incongruities  have  been  perpe¬ 
trated  by  the  planter  in  his  desire  for  unlimited  variety  within 
limited  space  1  There  may  be  beautiful  and  desirable  trees  among 
them, 
“  Bat  more  majestic  far  they  stand  when  side  by  side  their  ranks  they  form, 
To  wave  on  high  their  plumes  of  greeD,  and  fight  their  battles  with  the 
storm.” 
— Sylva. 
ZygocolaIc  Yeitchi. 
This,  “Junior/’  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  bigeneric  hybrids, 
and  it  was  introduced  in  1893.  It  is  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
Colax  jugosus  and  Zogopetalum  Mackayi  var.  crinitum,  the  former 
being  the  pollen  and  the  latter  the  seed  parent.  It  is  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  happiest  of  the  Yeitchian  hybridiser’s  efforts  in  the 
inter-crossing  ot  Orchids,  the  blending  of  the  characters  of  the  two 
plants  being  effected  in  a  most  pleasing  and  harmonious  manner. 
The  form  of  the  flower  is  accurately  portrayed  by  the  engraving 
(fig.  19)  ;  it  will  suffice,  therefore,  to  describe  the  colouring.  The. 
