154 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
February  25,  1897. 
shrubberies,  yet  there  is  not  the  slightest  reason  why  they  should 
not  be  included  in  every  large  collection  of  flowering  shrubs.  No 
one,  I  think,  will  deny  their  great  beauty  when  in  flower.  Some 
years  ago  I  saw  a  good  mass  of  D.  gracilis  flowering  grandly  in  the 
grounds  at  Linton  Park,  near  Maidstone  ;  *ince  that  time  I  have 
seen  it  growing  in  a  variety  of  situations,  and  in  each  instance  it 
appeared  to  be  quite  at  home.  A  sunny  position  should,  if 
possible,  be  selected  to  insure  well  ripened  wood.  A  mass  planted  on 
rising  ground,  with  a  few  dot  plants  of  D.  scabra,  D.  candidissima 
flore-pleno  (fig.  34,  page  153),  presents,  when  in  flower,  a  chaste 
combination  of  fresh  green  and  pure  white  ;  such  a  sight,  indeed, 
that  when  unexpectedly  encountered  it  invariably  elicits  a  spon¬ 
taneous  expression  of  admiration.  The  Forsythias  are  very  pretty 
yellow  flowering  shrubs,  which  display  their  charms  in  March  and 
April;  they  are  often  employed  for  covering  walls  or  fences,  but 
are  especially  valuable  for  planting  in  shrubberies  or  on  banks. 
Suspensa  and  intermedia  are  the  moit  showy  varieties. 
We  have  comparatively  few  shrubs  that  flower  during  July 
and  August  ;  one  is,  therefore,  tempted  to  wonder  why  Hibiscus 
syriacus  (Althaea  frutex)  is  not  more  frequently  planted.  They  are 
both  beautiful  and  uncommon  in  appearance,  grow  rapidly  and 
thrive  well  in  a  rather  light  soil.  A  few  years  ago  there  were 
several  fine  specimens  in  the  shrubberies  at  Preston  Hall  in  Kent. 
The  grounds  there  are  well  stocked  with  flowering  shrubs  generally, 
the  majority  of  them  having  imperishable  labels  attached,  a 
practice  which  might  with  advantage  be  followed  in  other  gardens. 
A  few  of  the  best  varieties  of  Hibiscus  are  albo-luteolus  plenus, 
albo  -  plenus,  bicolor  hybridus,  carneo  -  plenus,  elegantissimus, 
Rinunculiflorus,  violaceus  variegatus,  and  rubra  plena. 
The  culture  of  Hydrangeas  has  for  years  received  a  considerable 
amount  of  attention.  This  is  not  a  matter  for  surprise,  considering 
the  enormous  heads  of  showy  flowers  they  produce.  The  plants  are 
well  adapted  for  sunny  position  in  the  front  of  shrubberies,  for  the 
mixed  flower  border,  or  for  planting  in  beds.  The  latter  is  a  plan 
not  usually  followed,  but  it  is  well  worth  trying.  Hortensis, 
H.  japonica,  Thos.  Hogg,  and  paniculata  grandiflora  are  each  good 
varieties  to  grow.  The  last  named  is  the  most  recent  addition,  and 
one  of  the  best. 
I  have  often  thought  that  if  the  Hypericums  were  stove  plants 
which  required  a  great  amount  of  attention  their  good  qualities 
would  be  much  more  frequently  proclaimed,  but  by  a  peculiar 
process  of  reasoning — in  which  logic  plays  but  little  part — the 
majority  of  writers  seem  to  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  they  ought 
to  be  ignored  because  they  happen  to  be  easily  grown  hardy  plants, 
which  will  thrive  and  clothe  with  surpassing  beauty  odd  nooks 
when  other  things  refuse  to  grow.  H.  calycinum  is  one  of  the  very 
best  dwarf  shrubs  for  planting  on  dry  banks,  or  as  a  fringe  to 
shrubberies  bounded  by  walks  or  drives.  An  open  sunny  position 
suits  this  Rose  of  Sharon  the  best,  and  when  such  can  be  given  it 
the  plants  quickly  grow  into  a  dense  mass.  In  the  early  days  of 
summer  each  shoot  is  crowned  with  a  golden  starry  blossom,  and 
when  large  breadths  are  grown  the  scene  is  then  one  of  the  moit 
brilliant  to  be  met  with  in  a  garden.  H.  Moserianum,  H.  M.  tricolor, 
and  H.  pyramidatum  are  also  good  varieties,  not  so  well  known  as 
the  first  named  one. 
For  growing  against  a  wall  or  in  the  form  of  a  bush  Kerrias 
jiponica  and  flore-pleno  are  very  attractive  ghrubs.  The  orange 
yellow  colour  of  their  flowers  is  one  not  plentiful  in  other  hardy 
plants  during  March  and  April.  The  only  attention  necessary  in 
the  way  of  pruning  is  to  remove  dead  and  worn-out  shoots  each 
year. 
Of  the  charms  of  Laburnums  I  need  say  but  little,  as  they  are 
so  well  known  by  all,  or  perhaps  I  should  say,  by  all  who  live 
beyond  the  bounds  of  smoky  towns.  To  those  who  have  the 
management  of  large  shrubberies  I  should  like  to  suggest  that 
there  may  be  few  positions  where  Laburnums  may  yet  be  planted 
with  a  distinct  gain  in  regard  to  effect,  for  I  do  not  remember  to 
have  seen  a  garden  in  which  they  were  too  plentiful.  Some  of  the 
best  forms  of  Laburnum  are  alpinum  (Scotch),  vulgare,  v.  gigan- 
teum,  v.  Parkesi,  v.  Wateri.  The  last  named  is  an  exceedingly 
good  variety  of  vulgare,  bearing  flowers  in  very  long  racemes.  The 
colour  is  also  extra  bright. 
Magnolias  require  a  seperate  article  to  do  them  full  justice,  but 
for  the  benefit  of  intending  planters  I  will  enumerate  a  few  of  the 
best  varieties,  all  of  which  are  included  in  our  collection.  M.  con- 
spicua,  the  well  known  white  variety,  more  generally  gro  wn  than 
any  other  ;  c.  Soulangeana,  c.  S.  nigra,  glauca,  purpurea,  p.  Lenne 
and  stellata.  The  latter  has  small  flowers,  and  the  habit  of  shrub  is 
very  dwarf. 
The  old  variety  of  Philadelphus  coronarius  has  by  far  the 
■sweetest  scent  of  any,  and  is,  therefore,  still  worthy  of  being 
planted.  Many  of  the  newer  varieties,  however,  have  more  showy 
flowers.  Grandiflorus  is,  I  think,  the  best  among  the  taller-growing 
ones,  and  macrophyllu3  occupies  the  post  of  honour  among  the 
dwarf  bushy  ones. 
Although  the  number  of  species  and  varieties  of  Prunus  grown 
for  ornamental  purposes  is  not  large,  they  nevertheless  include 
several  which  may  be  termed  “gems”  among  flowering  shrubs. 
These  are  : — P.  Pissardi,  which  produces  a  profusion  of  white 
flowers  in  March,  and  the  leaves  when  fully  developed  are  of  a  rich 
reddish-purple  colour  ;  P.  sinensis  flore-pleno,  and  a  rose-coloured 
variety  of  it,  both  of  which  are  dwarf  in  habit  of  growth. 
P.  triloba  is  quite  worthy  of  the  protection  of  a  wall,  although  it 
succeeds  well  as  a  bush  ;  when  studded  with  flowers  of  various 
shades  of  rose  it  may  truly  be  described  as  perfectly  lovely. — 
H.  Dunkin,  Castle  Gardens,  Warwick. 
(To  be  continued.) 
THE  TURNING  TIDE. 
Slowly,  almost  imperceptibly  as  the  rippling  wave*  recede  on 
the  sandy  shore,  are  the  days  lengthening,  and  the  cheerful  February 
sunshine  reminds  us  that  winter  is  fast  losing  its  sting,  and  on  the 
horizon,  as  it  were,  we  can  see  the  gladsome  dawn  of  spring. 
Everyone  is  invigorated  by  the  first  bright  days  of  the  year,  and 
none  more  than  gardeners,  for  to  them  it  is  more  than  a  matter  of 
sentiment.  We  think  of  seasons  in  the  past  when  the  earth  has 
been  wrapped  in  the  grip  of  ice  and  snow  right  through  the  present 
month  and  the  early  part  of  the  next.  We  remember  how  we  chafed 
at  the  enforced  idleness,  as  we  knew  that  it  meant  a  rush  of  work 
when  the  weather  broke.  The  diary  told  the  dates  upon  which 
early  Peas  and  Beans  had  been  sown  on  previous  occasions,  but 
they  had  to  wait,  as  also  had  many  another  operation  ;  and  so  that 
law  of  rotation  so  necessary  to  the  harmonious  working  of  a  well- 
conducted  garden  was  for  the  time  being  thrown  out  of  order. 
But  why  ruminate  on  the  past,  just  as  we  are  entering  on  a  new 
era,  and  one,  too,  so  full  of  promise?  As  I  write  the  balmy  sun¬ 
shine  floods  the  earth,  warming  and  drying  with  its  cheerful  rays. 
Everything  seems  glad,  and  after  the  long  dreary  time  we  have 
passed  through  the  first  signs  of  reviving  animation  are  doubly 
welcome.  Though  the  winter  has  been  characteristic  on  account 
of  its  mildness,  it  has  not  been  altogether  favourable  from  a 
gardener’s  point  of  view.  So  continued  has  been  the  downfall  of 
rain  that  it  has  been  almost  imoossible  to  proceed  for  any  length 
of  time  with  outdoor  operations,  and  there  yet  remains  much  to 
be  done  in  the  way  of  planting  and  alterations.  On  the  other 
hand,  we  must  not  complain,  for  springs  were  empty,  and  many 
others  beside  water  companies  thought  apprehensively  of  the 
future.  Such  fears  have  now  vanished,  springs  are  full  to  over¬ 
flowing,  and  the  store  of  moisture  is  insured  for  some  time  to 
come. 
The  tide  is  turning,  and  though  we  are  yet  only  on  the  threshold 
of  the  busy  season,  the  bright  days  bring  their  duties.  No  oppor¬ 
tunity  should  be  missed  when  the  ground  is  in  working  condition 
of  proceeding  with  kitchen  garden  operations.  Most  gardeners  will 
already  have  sown  the  early  rows  of  Peas  and  Beans,  and  perhaps 
are  thinking  of  the  Onions.  So  closely  are  the  past  operations  of 
the  gardener  linked  with  the  present,  and  the  present  with  the 
future,  that  any  omission  tells  its  own  tale.  It  is  now  that  the 
benefits  of  rough  digging  and  ridging  in  the  autumn  and  early 
winter  are  felt.  To  some  such  work  appears  to  be  considered  of 
little  importance,  yet  why  this  is  so  it  is  difficult  to  explain,  for  we 
need  not  the  aid  of  science  to  tell  us  that  the  action  of  the  weather 
not  only  sweetens  and  pulverises  the  soil  but  renders  it  in  good 
condition  for  the  reception  of  the  seeds  in  the  spring.  The  question 
of  labour  is  sometimes  advanced  as  an  excuse,  but  that  is  only  a 
lame  one,  for  double  the  work  is  necessary  now  where  the  opera¬ 
tion  was  neglected,  without  the  benefits. 
Turn  to  the  flower  garden,  and  the  same  signs  of  activity 
present  themselves,  while  the  aspects  are  still  more  cheerful. 
There  are  the  clumps  of  Snowdrops,  so  pure  and  cha«te,  the  first 
emblems  of  spring.  Who  can  look  on  them  without  feeling 
cheered  and  invigorated  ?  One  day  we  see  nothing  but  the  green 
points  peeping  through  the  surface,  then  the  diminutive  flowers,  the 
stalks  of  which  lengthen  daily,  and  the  blooms  increase  in  size  till 
we  have  the  full-blown  Snowdrop.  One  of  the  most  charming 
pictures  I  know  at  the  present  time  is  a  large  kitchen  garden, 
intersected  in  the  usual  way  by  walks  at  right  angles.  Along  the 
verges  of  these  are  rows  of  Snowdrops  planted  close  to  the  edging 
tiles,  without  encroaching  on  space  required  for  other  crops.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  imagine  anything  more  pleasing  than  these 
unbroken  lines  of  pure  whiteness  in  the  February  sunshine,  and 
in  many  gardens  the  ever  popular  bulb  might  be  so  planted  to 
great  advantage. 
Crocuses,  too,  are  opening,  and  the  herbaceous  border  shows 
many  signs  of  floral  life.  The  other  day  I  came  across  the  bright 
blossoms  of  Omphalodes  verna,  and  several  of  the  Hepaticas  are 
