44 
JOURNAL  OP  tiORPTCtlLTURP  AND  UOTfAGE  GARDEN  PPL 
Jiily  IS,  1887 
the  difference  between  our  specimens  and  those  illastrating  the 
pages  of  old  Gerarde’s  “  Herbal,”  published  300  years  ago,  but 
greater  still  is  the  difference  in  that  quaint  volume  and  the  modern 
work,  which  under  the  modest  title  of  “  The  Flower  Grower’s 
Guide,”  comes  so  opportunely  to  leave  its  impress  as  a  lasting 
record  of  what  has  been  done — to  show  all  practical  gardeners  what 
they  can  do— in  this  the  sixtieth  year  of  the  Queen-Empress’s  reign. 
— Invicta, 
COMMEMORATIVE  TREE  PLANTING  IN  1897. 
This  subject,  in  this  memorable  year,  has  worthily  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  many  more  or  hsi  interested  in  it,  but  whether 
the  work  already  carried  out  is  sufficiently  pronounced  to  warrant 
the  assumption  that  the  far-reaching  object  may  reasonably  be 
expected  to  obtain  is  a  matter  for  conjecture.  There  is,  in  fact, 
a  combination  of  circumstances  militating  directly  or  indirectly 
against  it,  tending  to  the  conclusion,  which  many  upon  reflection 
may  arrive  at,  that  the  outlook  is  not  one  of  unqualified  satisfac¬ 
tion  ;  whereas,  per  contra,  there  are  no  reasons  why  it  should  not  be 
made  one  of  the  most  pleasing  features  of  the  present,  that  is  so 
far  as  the  contemplation  of  future  effect  is  concerned.  Upon  this 
year’s  work  is,  of  course,  binged  the  door  of  prospective  possi 
bilities.  That  this  particular  planting  should — must — take  place 
in  this  particular  year  goes  witnout  saying,  and  that  we  have  yet 
before  us  the  most  suitable  time  in  late  autumnal  or  early  winter 
planting  to  accomplish  the  most  important  part  of  it  may  be 
admitted. 
Much  has  probably  been  done  even  with  our  noble  deciduous 
trees  by  special  preparation  of  them  in  some  instances  to  undergo 
the  ordeal  of  summer  planting,  as  well  as  spring  planting  in  the 
natural  way  ;  yet  in  the  latter  case,  from  various  reasons,  it  may 
have,  as  in  some  cases  I  know  it  has,  been  too  long  deferred  to 
expect  the  best  results,  and  the  former  has  been  far  too  desultory 
to  fully  attain  the  end  in  view  when  viewing  it  under  its  most 
comprehensive  aspect.  Therefore  much  that  has  been  done  was 
probably  done  at  an  unsuitable  time,  and  a  great  deal  of  that  with, 
possibly,  more  or  less  unsuitable  subjects — trees.  If  we  could 
reasonably  hope  that  the  coming  planting  season  would  in  this 
direction  be  met  with  the  same  zeal  practically  demonstrated  in 
other  ways,  any  present  comment  upon  the  matter  would  be 
needless,  but  there  is  more  than  a  slight  danger  of  a  too  rapid 
evaporation,  not  of  our  loyalty,  but  of  that  jubilance  which  finds 
with  it  a  ready  outlet  of  ways  and  means  to  the  end — comme¬ 
moration. 
In  the  normal  course  of  things  thousands  of  suitable  trees  will 
doubtless  this  year  be  planted  in  permanent  positions,  many  of 
which  will  eventually  become  interesting  objects  so  far  as  tree  life 
is  concerned  ;  but  that  dots  not  affect  the  question.  Keeping  our 
special  object  in  view,  it  is  obvious  that  some  kind  of  identification, 
which  must  be  both  simple  and  reliable  for  the  benefit  of  genera¬ 
tions  to  come,  is  both  desirable  and  necessary,  and  those  planters 
who  yet  intend  to  take  advantage  of  the  best  opportunities,  which 
are  yet  ahead,  will,  by  bearing  this  in  mind,  be  governed  more  by 
reason  than  led  by  inclination  to  plant  new  or  untried  varieties, 
which  planting  must  be  more  or  less  experimental,  and  for  which 
properly  our  subject  has  no  margin.  Considering  first  the  methods 
which  best  suggest  themselves  to  the  end  of  permanent  identifi¬ 
cation,  we  need  only  consider  that  phase  of  it  which  directly 
concerns  the  general  public,  taking  it  for  granted  that  in  private 
places,  demesnes,  or  what  not,  such  matters  will  be  well  considered. 
Hypothetically  considering  that  every  parish  in  the  kingdom 
which  has  not  done  anything  in  this  direction,  or  as  much  as  might 
have  been  done,  intends  doing  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time — 
the  coming  planting  season,  and  further  supposing  that  the  good, 
yet  inexpensive,  work  will  be  judiciously  done,  the  question  of 
future  identification  should  present  but  little  or  no  difficulty.  One 
parish  may,  possibly,  devote  a  suitably  enclosed  space  for  its  grove 
of  a  dozen  “  Victoria  ”  Oaks,  and  grave  on  stone  the  why  and 
wherefore  of  its  being  ;  whilst  to  others  various  methods  may 
commend  themselves  which  do  not  admit  of  labelling  in  perpetuo. 
In  the  latter  cases,  which  would,  probably,  embrace  the  majority, 
correct  data  inscribed  upon  the  parish  records  might  be  expected, 
so  far  as  one  can  see,  to  fulfil  all  requirements.  In  this  case 
particulars  might  include  the  correct  measurement  of  distances 
from  the  nearest  permanent  landmarks  available  for  the  purpose. 
Relative  to  suitable  varieties  for  memorial  planting  amongst  the 
large  number  now  available,  or  supposed  to  be,  for  the  purpose,  a 
little  serious  consideration  of  the  matter  will  show  that  all  desire 
for  novelty  should  give  place  to  the  trusty  and  tried  over  long 
periods,  as  proved  in  the  annals  of  arboricultural  history.  More¬ 
over,  that  local  conditions  of  soil,  situation,  and  general  suitability 
will  be  duly  recognised.  Probably  here  the  simplest  plan  would 
prove  the  safest,  and  those  giants  of  the  tribe  who  stand  as  silent 
witnesses  of  long  endurance  under  the  vicissitudes  of  our  climate 
are  the  best  kinds  for  the  purpose.  With  these  it  is  but  reasonable 
to  expect  that  history  will  repeat  itself. 
Turning  up  the  pages  of  an  historical  work  of  this  kind — viz., 
“  Sylva  Britannica,”  a  handsome  old  folio  volume  of  plates  drawn 
from  nature  of  trees  remarkable  for  their  antiquity,  magnitude,  or 
beauty,  also  etched  and  published  by  Jacob  George  Strutt  in  1826, 
data  are  furnished  which  should  be  both  of  interest  and  service  to 
us  now.  Of  the  forty  plates  and  descriptive  letterpress  relative  to 
England  (eight  plates  of  remarkable  Scottish  trees  conclude  this 
work),  we  find  the  author  visiting  at  least  fifteen  different  counties 
for  his  purpose,  without  a  doubt  drawn  to  each  particular  spot  by 
the  name  and  fame  of  some  particular  tree.  Predilection  inay  in 
some  measare  account,  perhaps,  for  Strutt’s  honourable  mention  of 
so  many  famous  Oaks,  but  judging  by  his  enthasiastic  description 
of  other  species  illustrated,  that  alone  cannot  be  answerable 
for  the  pre-eminence  given  to  them,  exactly  half  of  the  forty 
fine  plates  being  those  of  famous  Oaks.  The  remaining  twenty 
consist  of  six  Elms,  three  Chestnuts,  two  Limes,  two  Yews,  and 
one  each  of  Maple,  Sycamore,  Pop’ar,  Willow,  Ash,  Beech,  and 
Cedar. 
Where  we  require  on  the  larger  scale  grandeur  and  endurance 
we  may  from  the  data  adduced,  coupled  with  personal  knowledge 
of  the  kingly  tree  and  various  associations  linking  it  with  English 
history,  acknowledge  its  supremacy  for  the  object  in  question. 
Dwarfed  as  is  the  English  Yew  by  comparison  with  the  Oak,  it 
holds,  we  may  allow,  the  same  prominent  position  on  the  smaller 
scale,  and  its  adaptability  to  various  positions  from  which  the 
former  might  be  precluded  no  less  commends  it  to  our  notice.  For 
longevity  the  Yew,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  takes  the  highest  rank. 
Details  of  other  suitable  species  need  not  detain,  for  in  this  case 
variety  will,  doubtless,  charm  future  generations  if  a  judicious 
selection  guides  our  efforts  in  this  phase  of  commemoration.  These 
lines  are  penned  by  a  lover  of  our  noble  indigenous  trees  in  the 
hope  that  ere  this  year  of  Jubilee  has  fled  that  in  every  village  and 
in  every  hamlet  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  Old  England  some¬ 
thing  will  be  done  in  this  direction,  and  well  done,  and  that  means 
will  also  be  taken  to  attest  the  fact  for  the  benefit  of  posterity. 
May  I  also  suggest  that  brief  particulars  might  be  forwarded  to  our 
Editor,  that  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  coald  also  tell  the  tale  to 
tree  lovers  yet  to  come  ?— Sylva. 
MARGUERITE  CARNATIONS. 
Since  the  introduction  of  Marguerite  Carnations  it  is  possible 
to  sow  seed,  raise  good  plants,  and  obtain  useful  sweet-scented 
flowers  for  cutting  in  autumn.  A  period  of  seven  months’  culti¬ 
vation  suffices  to  obtain  the  first  results.  It  is  true  the  plants  are 
not  so  fioriferons  the  first  year  as  the  second,  but  this  is  simply 
owing  to  their  being  less  in  size.  However,  the  blooms,  if  good, 
whether  produced  in  quantity  or  not,  prove  very  welcome,  either 
as  buttonhole  flowers  or  for  adding  to  a  miscellaneous  collection. 
An  additional  advantage  gained  in  their  flowering  the  first  season 
is  that  of  ascertaining  the  quality  of  the  blooms.  Few  if  any 
strains  of  seed  furnish  plants  having  all  double  and  no  single- 
flowered  plants.  The  latter,  therefore,  being  discovered  when  the 
seedlings  bloom  may  promptly  be  discarded  and  the  best  retained. 
A  packet  of  seeds  of  a  good  strain,  either  of  mixed  colours  or 
all  white,  may  be  sown  at  the  end  of  February  or  early  in  March. 
White  varieties  are  usually  kept  separate,  so  if  white  Marguerites 
are  in  demand  include  a  special  sowing,  which  may  be  cultivated 
separately. 
Employ  well  drained  pots  or  pans  and  a  light  open  compost. 
The  seed  will  germinate  in  a  temperature  of  55°.  Keep  the  seed¬ 
lings  from  their  first  appearance  near  the  light  so  as  to  avoid  their 
becoming  drawn,  watering  lightly  but  sufficiently.  As  soon  as  the 
young  seedlings  attain  strength  and  soon  would  be  crowded  it  will 
be  best  to  separate  them,  pricking  them  out  2  inches  apart  in 
boxes  drained  and  filled  with  a  similar  compost.  They  may 
remain  there  for  some  time,  say  until  the  end  of  May,  when  they 
can  be  finally  planted.  Light  is  very  essential  to  their  steady 
progress,  and  a  cooler  position  with  a  moderate  amount  of  air 
given,  but  freely  on  favourable  occasions,  favours  development 
while  in  the  boxes.  The  waterings  must  be  applied  lightly  during 
the  first  few  weeks,  so  that  the  plants  can  easily  form  rootlets, 
which  they  will  do  more  freely  in  a  healthfully  moist  medium 
rather  than  a  wet  one.  No  place  is  more  suitable  ffian  a  cold  frame. 
The  lights  may  be  removed  and  the  plants  fully  exposed  prior  to 
planting. 
Though  the  Carnation  prefers  a  fairly  moist  and  rich  soil,  yet 
it  will  succeed  in  a  somewhat  dry  position,  such  as  a  sloping  bank, 
when  once  the  roots  have  taken  deep  hold.  The  plants  winter 
well  in  a  position  of  that  kind,  not  being  subject  to  damp.  A  fiat 
