August  25,  1898. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
141 
petal,  growing  regularly  fainter  to  the  tip,  which  is  almost  white. 
It  is  of  moderate  growth,  and  is  usually  in  flower  during  the  season, 
though  never  profusely. 
Let  this  suffice  as  a  survey  of  the  Water  Lilies  available  for 
outdoor  culture  before  M.  Latour-Marliac  began  his  experiments  in 
hybridising,  which  have  been  crowned  with  such  remarkable  success. 
— James  Hudson,  Gunnersbury  House  Gardens. 
(To  be  continued ) 
TREATMENT  OF  HEDGES. 
Where  evergreen  or  deciduous  hedges  exist  in  gardens  regular  and 
systematic  attention  ought  to  be  given  in  order  to  maintain  them  in 
the  best  possible  form  and  condition.  Good  hedges  in  many  cases  take 
the  place  of  walls  or  other  fences,  and  if  so  employed  the  necessary 
trimming  must  be  annually  carried  out,  not  only  for  their  appearance, 
but  for  the  subsequent  benefit  of  the  plants  or  shrubs.  A  long- 
neglected  or  unkempt  hedge  may,  in  certain  circumstances  and 
positions,  be  picturesque;  but  such  a  condition  of  things  could  not  be 
tolerated  within  the  confiues  of  a  well-tended  garden.  Besides  hedges 
cease  to  be  hedges  when  they  are  not  clipped  and  trimmed  at  least 
once  annually. 
Holly,  Barberry,  Privet,  and  Thorn  hedges  are  frequently  clipped 
twice  or  three  times  during  the  season.  It  is  an  excellent  practice,  as 
it  tends  to  maintain  a  compact,  thick  growth.  When  hedges  are  only 
clipped  once  in  the  season  the  best  time  is  from  the  middle  to  the  end 
of  August.  Growth  has  then  so  far  advanced  for  the  season  that  after 
the  trimming  no  further  growth  will  take  place  that  year,  and  the 
closely  cropped  appearance,  whether  the  hedge  is  evergreen  or 
deciduous,  will  be  maintained  until  next  year’s  shoots  push  forth. 
When  earlier  clipping  is  practised  the  first  operation  may  be  performed 
when  the  shoots  have  advanced  4  to  6  inches  and  are  quite  soft,  the 
next  when  the  tresh  shoots  which  push  have  attained  to  a  similar 
length,  and  the  last  in  September. 
For  all  hedges  which  produce  close  growing  shoots,  such  as  Holly, 
Yew,  Furze,  Hawthorn,  Privet,  Barberry,  Tree  Box,  the  trimming 
may  be  done  with  hand  shears,  this  toM  performing  the  work  in  a 
neat,  expeditious  manner.  Hedges  formed  of  Laurel,  Bay,  Laurustinus, 
and  Beech,  which  do  not  send  out  shoots  so  numerousiy,  having  larger 
leaves,  must  have  the  strongest  growths  shortened  with  the  knife. 
This  will  insure  a  close,  even  surface  of  foliage,  if  all  the  strong  shoots 
are  dealt  with  immediately  they  become  prominent. 
Late  autumn  clipping  is  more  difficult,  by  reason  of  the  shoots 
becoming  thoroughly  ripe.  It  also  entails  a  waste  of  force,  which 
might  have  been  concentrated  on  smaller  and  more  numerous  growths. 
Clipping  should  be  carried  out  very  close  to  the  points  where  the  last 
trimming  took  place.  Frequently  in  the  case  of  pruning  with  the 
knife  it  is  possible  to  go  further  back,  more  especially  when  the  shoots 
proceed  from  a  good  base  of  leaves.  In  preventing  the  upper  shoots 
becoming  long  and  strong,  the  growths  near  the  base  have  a  better 
chance  of  developing  and  furnishing  the  bottom,  which  is  liable  to 
become  bare. 
Cut  all  the  most  important  hedges  with  exact  care  and  precision 
so  that  both  sides  and  top  present  an  even  surface.  Hedges,  as  a  rule, 
ought  to  have  a  broad  base  and  a  narrow  top.  Some  of  the  best 
formed  examples  have  tops  tapering  to  a  point,  while  in  others  the 
tops  may  be  nearly  or  quite  as  wide  as  ihe  base,  but  it  is  never 
desirable  that  the  upper  parts  of  a  hedge  should  exceed  the  base  in 
width. 
Hedges  unsightly  and  cut  of  shape  ought  to  be  pruned  into  form  if 
a  permanent  improvement  can  be  effected,  even  at  the  risk  of  causing 
a  patchy  appearance  for  a  time.  This  will  not  be  very  apparent  in 
winter  with  deciduous  hedges,  hut  it  may  with  evergreen.  The  best 
time,  therefore,  to  prune  the  latter  into  shape  is  in  spring,  when  fresh 
growths  will  soon  push.  Those  that  do  so  strongly  may  be  shortened 
back  early,  so  that  weaker  and  more  numerous  shoots  may  be 
encouraged,  for  the  better  furnishing  and  filling-up  of  the  gaps 
made. 
Well  managed  hedges  are  not  only  ornamental,  but  eminently 
useful  as  screens  of  a  pleasing  permanent  character  from  undesirable 
objects  or  structures  which  may  overlook  the  quieter  and  artistic 
portion  of  a  garden.  They  act  as  natural  protectors  and  barriers 
against  the  onrush  of  rough  winds  from  exposed  quarters,  and  they 
give  an  air  of  dignity,  refinement,  and  grace  when  they  have  been 
established  in  just  such  positions  that  nothing  could  have  taken  their 
place  better. 
In  my  opinion  one  thing  should  be  guarded  against  in  the  treat¬ 
ment  of  hedges — that  is,  the  establishment  of  fanciful  growths  here 
and  there,  rising  above  the  hedge  proper.  Such  detract  from  rather 
than  add  to  the  effect. — E.  D.  S. 
Rosa  Wichuraiana. 
Five  years  ago  this  pretty  little  species  was  practically  unknown 
in  English  gardens ;  since  that  time,  however,  it  has  gained  a  good 
share  of  well-deserved  attention  from  lovers  of  the  genus.  It  is  of 
Chinese  and  Japanese  origin,  and  was  introduced  to  English  gardens 
through  the  United  States.  It  is  quite  distinct  from  any  other  Rose, 
and  is  readily  recognised  by  its  dwarf  spreading  habit,  and  also  by  its 
bright  glossy  green  leaves.  It  grows  quickly,  shoots  12  feet  long 
often  being  made  in  one  season.  These  are  quite  prostrate,  and  from 
them  upright  flowering  shoots  are  borne  from  July  to  September. 
When  covered  with  clusters  of  pure  white,  sweetly  scented  flowers 
a  charming  picture  is  made,  especially  where  a  large  group  has  been 
planted  on  a  bank  or  hill  side.  For  such  positions  it  is  particularly 
well  adapted,  both  from  its  free-floweriDg  qualities,  neat  habit — rarely 
exceeding  1  foot  in  height  when  in  flower— and  almost  evergreen 
foliage.  It  is  now  being  crossed  with  other  species  to  endeavour  to 
obtain  a  variety  of  colour  with  the  dwarf  habit  of  this  species.  If  the 
hybridist  is  successful  a  distinct  break  from  all  existing  classes  of  Roses 
will  be  obtained.  Several  groups  are  to  be  seen  in  flower  at  Ivew, 
a  large  mass  near  the  Oak  collection  being  particulai  ly  fine. — D.  K. 
COMIESSE  DE  NADAILLAC. 
I  think  this  fine  old  Rose  has  a  much  more  robust  constitution 
and  habit  than  it  is  generally  credited  with.  I  send  a  bit  of  wood 
cut  6  feet  from  the  ground  from  an  old  plant  over  ten  years  old, 
which  shows  that  Nadaillac  can  grow  when  she  likes.  I  have 
eight  or  nine  more  plants  with  this  one  on  a  west  wall,  all  over  seven 
years  old,  and  I  look  upon  them  as  the  most  reliable  'Teas  I  have. — 
J.  T.  Strange,  Aldermaston. 
[The  growth  sent  was  excellent — far  better,  indeed,  than  is  often 
seen  on  varieties  that  have  the  reputation  of  being  superior  growers  to 
Comtesse  de  Nadaillac.] 
Visit  to  Uplands. 
On  Friday,  August  12th,  I  made  my  long  promised  visit  to  Messrs. 
Alex.  Dickson  &  Sons’  branch  nurseries  at  Uplands,  two  miles  distant 
from  the  picturesque  town  of  Ledbury,  which  I  reached  after  an 
almost  gradual  ascent.  The  district  devoted  to  Rose  culture  (about 
17  acres)  is  situated  on  an  undulating  high  table-land  facing  N.  to  S.,  and 
although  open  and  quite  exposed  is  admirably  sheltered  from  mildew¬ 
ing  fogs  or  biting  frosts ;  indeed,  I  may  say  I  never  saw  a  Rose  plan¬ 
tation  so  late  in  the  season  with  so  little  mildew.  The  H.T.’s  were 
absolutely  free  from  even  a  suspicion  of  this  universal  pest,  while  the 
height  of  the  surface-rooting  Elms  and  deep-rooting  corn  (the  latter 
sadly  laid  by  late  storms)  showed  that  a  wise  choice  had  been  made 
of  a  nursery  for  Roses. 
This  branch  establishment  has  been  only  carried  on  by  its  present  * 
manager  for  about  four  years,  so,  as  may  be  supposed,  only  a  part  of 
the  ground  is  under  Roses,  but  quite  enough  meets  the  eye  at  the 
first  glance  to  show  that  not  only  a  pleasing  picture  faces  you,  but  an 
instructive  book  lies  open  for  your  inspection,  full  of  valuable  stores  of 
information,  to  be  again  and  again  profitably  referred  to — all  before 
you  is  clean  and  in  the  highest  state  of  cultivation. 
The  Pedicree  Seedling  Roses,  to  which  Messrs.  Alex.  Dickson  and 
Sons  have  for  the  last  twenty  years  so  successfully  given  their  atten¬ 
tion-nine  go'd  medals  have  been  awarded  to  the  firm  in  as  many 
years — were  thoroughly  well  represented  at  Uplands  on  the  occasion  of 
my  visit.  The  Hybrid  Teas,  Teas,  and  a  comparatively  small  number 
of  their  new  H.P.s,  notably  the  grand  Ulster,  gold  medalist  of 
1897-8,  were  planted  in  long  rows  each  180  yards,  which  presented  a 
striking  effect  directly  the  grounds  were  entered.  The  contrast  with 
a  large  plantation  of  the  leading  exhibition  varieties  being  at  once 
apparent — the  former  carrying  an  abundance  of  bloom,  freshness  of 
foliage,  and  wealth  of  colour  -  a  coup  (Tail  difficult  to  describe,  through 
the  entire  length  of  the  rows;  while  the  latter  were — well,  as  Rose 
gardens  generally  are  at  this  time  of  the  year — unsightly  in  foliage 
and  only  here  and  there  in  flower.  Still  more  was  the  contrast 
marked  when  a  close  inspection  revealed  the  symmetry  and  luxuriance 
of  the  plants  and  flowers,  many  of  the  varieties  pleasing  acquaintances 
one  made  at  the  leading  Rose  shows. 
I  conress,  with  so  many  paragons  of  perfection  before  me,  most  of 
them  blooming  so  profusely,  to  a  feeling  of  apprehension  how  I  could 
do  justice  to  the  raisers,  and  in  a  short  description  be  any  help  to  the 
public,  who  had  not  the  opportunity  I  was  having  of  seeing  their 
favourites  “a  growing  and  a  blowing”  by  the  hundred  in  their  home 
quarters. 
