366 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  15;  1888J 
summer  they  never  fail  to  receive  a  large  share  of  admiration. 
The  variety  of  ways  in  which  they  may  be  effectively  arranged 
must  to  a  great  extent  be  determined  by  individual  taste  ;  but 
I  will  give  a  few  examples  which  may  perhaps  be  useful  to 
some  readers  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture.  A  single  plant  of 
Betinospora  plumosa  argentea  forms  a  capital  centre  for  a  imall 
bed,  or  a  number  of  them  for  a  large  one  ;  this  centre  being  sur¬ 
rounded  by  a  band  of  Eiionymus  japonicus  aureo-variegatus,  and 
finished  off  with  an  edging  of  E.  radicans  variegatns,  makes  a 
charming  bed,  which  is  attractive  at  all  seasons  ;  so  also  is  one 
formed  in  the  centre  with  plants  of  the  golden  Retinospora,  a  band 
of  the  silver  variety  and  an  edging  of  Golden  Thyme.  Thuia 
occidentalis  aurea  planted  in  a  mass,  and  edged  with  Euonymus 
radicans  variegatas,  forms  one  of  the  most  compact  beds  of  beautiful 
tints  to  be  met  with  among  shrubs  of  this  description.  Cupressus 
Lawsoniana  lutea  surrounded  with  Retinospora  plumosa,  having 
an  edging  of  Aueaba  japonica,  is  alio  good.  Then  there  are  the 
variegated  Hollies,  Golden  Yews,  other  forms  of  Cupressus,  Euony¬ 
mus  and  Juniperus,  as  well  as  the  Cotoneasters,  Pernettyas,  and 
Liguitrums,  all  of  which  may  be  asiociated  in  an  infinite  variety 
of  ways. 
The  dwarf  flowering  and  berried  shrubs  too  should  receive 
some  attention,  the  well  known  Laurustinus  being  one  of  the 
best  among  them,  flowering  as  it  does  in  the  depth  of  winter, 
unless  froit  of  exceptional  severity  prevail.  Andromeda 
floribunda  and  Kalmia  latifoiia  each  make  delightful  beds  when 
in  flower,  and  compact  masses  of  shining  green  foliage  at  all 
other  seasons.  Skimmia  japonica  with  its  brightly  coloured 
berries  ought  also  to  be  included  among  the  good  things  suitable 
for  outdoor  decoration  in  winter.  Veronica  Traversi  I  should  like 
to  draw  especial  attention  to,  as  it  grows  such  a  compact  and  well 
j  urnished  shrub,  suitable  alike  for  forming  large  bushel  or  for 
planting  in  masses.  Its  white  flowers  are  very  pretty,  and  the 
plant  seems  hardy  enough  if  not  placed  in  exposed  positions. 
Suitable  edgings  for  beds  of  this  description  are  supplied  by  the 
various  varieties  of  Ericas.  E.  herbacea  carnea,  E.  vagans  albs, 
and  E.  vulgaris  aurea  are  some  of  the  best. 
Another  way  in  which  shrubs  may  be  effectively  used  for  flower 
garden  embellishment  ii  to  plant  them  in  the  angles  of  beds  ;  this 
helps  to  give  variety,  and  adds  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  whole, 
for  no  matter  how  simple  a  bed  may  be  in  its  outline,  when  so 
treated  it  becomes  one  in  which  the  whole  beauty  is  not  seen  at  a 
glance.  To  illustrate  what  I  mean  let  me  pot  it  in  this  way,  and 
take  for  examples  a  bed  filled  with  one  variety  of  Viola,  or  another 
with  Silene  pend  ala  compacta.  When  in  flower  these  each  appear 
a  glowing  mass  of  colour  in  the  distance  ;  when  closely  examined 
that  one  feature  is  still  presented  to  the  eye — viz.,  a  brilliant  bit 
of  colour  forming  part  of  a  fixed  design  ;  but  insert  a  few  plants 
of  Retinospora  aurea,  or  Thuia  aurea,  and  we  at  once  get  additional 
interest  in  this  one  bed,  for  there  are  the  soft  pleasing  tints  of  their 
foliage  which  change  about  daily  in  spring  time,  and  a  second 
design  is  formed  by  the  way  these  shrubs  are  disposed,  each  of 
these  points  requiring  time  to  notice  ;  and  then  to  complete 
the  number  of  advantages  gained,  we  have  to  add  the  fact  that 
these  dot  plants  are  attractive  in  the  depth  of  winter  before 
the  other  occupants  of  flower  beds  have  begun  to  show  their 
charms. 
The  few  points  above  raised  will,  I  hope,  serve  to  show  to 
many  that  shrubs  when  judiciously  employed  will  render  yeoman’s 
service  to  the  flower  gardener,  although  they  may  not  figure 
largely  in  the  recognised  flower  garden  fashion  of  the  day.  It 
seems  to  me  that  all  fashions  have  their  good  points,  but  unfor¬ 
tunately  in  relinquishing  one  for  another  we  are  apt  to  go  to 
opposite  extremes,  and  thus  allow  a  weak  point  in  one  fashion 
to  drive  us  to  an  absurdity  in  another  direction  ;  but  I  take  it  that 
the  true  decorator  or  flower  gardener  is  the  one  who  succeeds  the 
best  in  sifting  out  the  good  points  of  all  styles,  and  in  arranging 
them  in  such  a  way  as  to  create  one  of  his  own. — H.  D. 
A  RESTING  TOUR. 
Mr.  Edwin  Molynetjx  is  an  authority  on  Chrysanthemums — 
and  hotels.  He  travels  far  in  November  in  search  of  the  best 
blooms — and  the  worst,  for  judges  look  for  what  is  faulty  as  well  as 
what  is  meritorious  m  exhibits,  and  seem  glad  sometimes  when  they 
discover  one  or  two  weaken  specimens  in  one  stand  than  another  in 
close  competition,  to  extricate  them  from  a  difficulty  when  they 
scarcely  know  how  to  decide.  His  judging  tours  naturally  bring 
him  in  contact  with  many  hotels,  and  he  judges  them  as  well  astho 
flowers.  He  is  rarely  caught  tripping  in  his  verdicts,  and  when  he 
ia  caught  the  circumstance  must  be  made  the  best  of— m  a  novelty. 
He  has  on  more  than  one  or  two  occasions  judged  the  chief  classes 
in  the  fine  Chrysanthemum  shows  at  Edinburgh  “single-handed”  — 
a  no  light  task — and  is  always  loud  in  his  praise  of  the  reception 
accorded  him  by  the  hospitable  Scots..  At  what  hotel?  he  was 
asked.  “  Oh  !  the  North  British,  close  to  the  Waverley  Station 
that  is  the  horticulturist’s  house,  and  quite  good  enough— try  it.” 
“  Fair  Edina,”  or  “  Auld  Reekie,”  according  to  taste  and  the 
weather,  was  duly  reached.  The  railway  porter  was  asked  the 
way  out  of  the  station  to  the  North  British  Hotel.  “  That’s  the 
way  oot,  sir,  but  I  dinna  ken  the  Hotel.”  A  second  inquiry,  and  a 
third  from  different  officials,  brought  substantially  the  same 
reply.  “When  in  doubt  take  a  cab — particularly  when  it  rains,”' 
is  not  a  bad  maxim,  and  a  cab  was  taken  accordingly.  “  North 
British  Hotel.”  “  Yes,  sir ;  but  where  is  it  ?”  Out  came  the 
letter — “Oh!  quite  near  the  station.”  “Don’t  know  it.  There’s 
the - ”  “  No,  the  North  British  is  what  we  want  ;  it  is  in  the- 
letter,  and  must  be  in  the  city.  Drive  till  you  find  it.”  He  drove 
-for  nearly  three  minutes,  and  then  stopped.  There  was  the  “North 
British,”  sure  enough,  in  letters  carved  over  the  entrance  to  a  large 
building  ;  but  it  was  the  North  British  Railway’s  parcels  office,  or 
something  of  that  kind.  “This  won’t  do,  try  again.’’  He  turned 
round,  and  in  less  than  a  minute  more  was  at  the  “  Royal  ”  British, 
“  Try  that,  sir.”  We  tried  it,  and  found  “  North  ”  and  “  Royal  ” 
synonymous  terms  in  this  case.  “  The  fare  ?”  “  Oh  !  two  shillings, 
sir.”  “  What !  two  shillings  for  three  minutes  ?  I  thought  the 
Edinburgh  fare  was  uniform — a  shilling  to  anywhere.”  “Y'es, 
sir  ;  but  I  call  this  tioo  journeys.”  “  So  it  seems,  and  I  call  these 
two  shillings.”  He  took  the  sixpences  without  a  murmur,  andl 
thus  ended  the  first,  as  well  as  the  last,  episode  of  its  kind  at 
Edinburgh,  also  the  first  and  last  experience  of  the  tripping  of 
our  excellent  friend — the  famous  Judge. 
A  postcard.  “I  shall  call  at  2.30,  and  be  at  your  service. — 
D,  T.  Fish.’’  The  address  on  the  card  was  not  observed,  but  it 
found  its  way  to  the  right  place,  and  so  did  the  writer  of  it,  to  the 
moment.  The  celebrated  horticulturist,  amateur’s  adviser,  facile 
writer,  and  eloquent  lecturer  has  lived  long  enough  to  acquire  the 
habit  of  punctuality  in  keeping  engagements.  A  most  valuable 
habit  it  is,  and  if  there  are  any  young  gardeners  readers  of  these 
lines,  who  do  not  think  it  matters  much  being  five  or  ten  minutes 
behind  time,  they  are  earnestly  counselled  to  change  their  views, 
or  they  may  find  out  too  late  that  it  matters  very  seriously.  Being 
behind  time  in  miscalled  small  things  is  the  root  cause  of  many  a 
failure  in  after  life.  Then  when  time  is  kept  make  the  most  of  it. 
“  Had  we  not  better,  now  the  weather  is  fine,  see  as  much  as  we 
can  at  once  of  Edinburgh — the  clouds  may  lead  to  more  rain,  and 
it  may  continue  over  the  morrow  ?  ”  Mr.  Fish’s  suggestive 
remarks  were  no  sooner  uttered  than  acted  upon,  and  in  a  trice  we 
were  driving  to  see  the  sights  of  the  then  “Fair  Edina.” 
The  famed  Prince’s  Street  was  busy  and  beautiful.  At  the  east 
end  the  gardens,  with  their  cheerful  beds,  borders,  and  vases  on 
the  top  of  the  Waverley  Market,  which  is  practically  on  a  level 
with  the  roadway  ;  stretching  westward,  about  a  mile  or  so,  on  the 
left  the  deep,  broad,  and  splendid  ravine,  with  its  far  reaching  lawns, 
terrace-like  walks  next  the  street,  and  serpentine  paths  winding 
their  course  between  the  trees  far  down  below,  and  at  the  greatest 
depth  the  railway ;  on  the  street  side  the  exquisitely  propor¬ 
tioned  Scott’s  monument,  the  library  and  museum,  with  their 
long  array  of  supporting  columns,  and  in  the  distance  the 
Cathedral ;  across  the  huge  chasm  modern  buildings  near  th& 
margin,  with  beyond  and  above  them  the  quaint  and  lofty 
structures  of  the  “  old  town,”  as  if  touching  the  clouds,  and  the 
ancient  Castle  on  its  rocky  eminence  frowning  over  all.  On  the- 
left,  then,  we  look  across  as  if  on  the  world  of  the  past ;  on  the 
right  of  Prince’s  Street,  with  its  fine  buildings  and  richly  furnished 
shops,  we  have  modern  life  and  wants  right  up  to  date,  with  the- 
great  bridged  gulf  between,  the  whole  forming  a  spectacle  the 
equal  of  which  cannot  be  seen  in  any  city  in  the  tlnited  Kingdom.- 
Such  is  Prince’s  Street,  Edinburgh,  looking  west  and  south  ;  turn. 
