December  12,  1901.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
531 
Seaside  Planting. 
The  difficulties  to  be  encountered  in  the  formation  of  shrub¬ 
beries,  plantations,  and  woods  on  seaside  ground  are,  as  might 
be  expected,  variable.  In  some  localities  all  that  is  required  is 
simply  to  prepare  the  ground,  select  trees  and  shrubs  suited  to 
the  soil  and  situation,  and  properly  plant  them  in  due  season. 
These  districts  imply  natural  shelter,  or,  at  least,  non-exposure 
to  wide  stretches  of  open  seaboard  whence  the  wind  sweeps  with 
hurricane  force.  Where  wind-swept  seaside  ground  has  to  be 
dealt  with  a  shelter  screen  is  imperative.  It  may  be  of  a  tem¬ 
porary  kind,  such  as  faggots  of  brushwood  securely  kept  in  place 
by  posts  and  rails,  the  post  firmly  set  in  the  ground  and  about 
6ft  out  of  the  soil,  9ft  to  12ft  apart,  the  rails  1ft  and  5ft  from 
the  ground  respectively,  being  securely  nailed  to  the  posts  on 
the  seaward  side.  Against  this  fence,  Thorn,  Gorse,  or  Spruce, 
or  other  trimmings,  6ft  long  preferably,  should  be  placed,  and 
firmly  tied  to  the  rails  by  means  of  binding  wire  or  strong  tarred 
rope.  If  faggots  are  employed  they  should  be  placed  on  and 
against  the  paling-rails  on  the  seaward  side,  and  be  secured  with 
binding  wire  to  them. 
This  dead  fence  is  better  than  a  solid  wall,  and  even  superior 
to  throwing  up  a  mound  of  earth  along  the  coast,  as  is  some¬ 
times  done  where  the  shore  is  almost  destitute  of  sand  and  where 
some  vegetation  exists.  The  screen-fence  shifts  the  wind, 
beyond  for  a  little  distance 
breaking  its  force  in  passing 
through  it,  and  gathering  the 
salty  spray,  relieves  the  space 
of  the  saline  particles  other¬ 
wise  driven  and  deposited  on 
the  trees  and  shrubs  that  may 
be  planted,  and  giving  the 
appearance  of  having  been  4 
reached  by  untimely  frost.  It  >q| 
also  lessens  wind-shaking  to  (| 
a  great  extent,  which  it  is  | 
necessary  to  guard  against, 
preferably  by  planting  trees 
and  shrubs  whilst  small, 
though  sturdy  for  their  age,  or 
by  securely  staking  and  tying. 
Where  the  embankment 
mode  of  shelter  is  adopted  its 
height  should  not  be  less  than 
4ft  6in,  better  6ft,  and  the 
top  should  be  at  least  as  wide 
as  the  height.  The  slope  sea¬ 
ward  and  landward  should 
have  a  base  equal  to  the  per¬ 
pendicular,  or  at  an  angle  of 
45deg.  On  the  top  of  this 
seaside-earthwork  plant  a 
double  line  of  the  “  hard  as 
nails  ”  Sea  Buckthorn  (Hip- 
pophae  rhannoides),  or  Tama¬ 
risk  (Tamarix  gallica),  or 
common  Elder  (Sambucus  nigra),  or  Goat  Willow  (Salix 
Caprea),  with  the  Rose  Willow  (S.  rubra  helix),  and  the 
White  Willow  (S.  alba).  The  Willows  make  a  capital  fence 
on  wind-swept  shore  when  well  cut  in ;  so  also  does  the 
Myrobalan  Plum  (Prunus  cerasifera)  and  the  Wild  Pear 
(Pyrus  communis). 
With  the  screen-fence  or  the  earthwork  shelter  planting  may 
be  proceeded  with  during  March  if  showery,  or  during  April,  as 
the  start  is  then  all  in  favour  of  the  trees  and  shrubs  that  are 
commonly  transferred  from  inland  to  the  seacoast.  The  planting 
must  commence  immediately  behind  the  screen,  making  pits  or 
holes  of  not  less  than  2ft  in  diameter  and  15in  to  18in  in  depth. 
If  thrown  out  some  time  previous  to  planting  all  the  better.  If 
firm  soil,  the  bottom  and  sides  of  each  hole  should  be  loosened 
with  a  pick,  and  where  of  an  inferior  quality  it  is  very  desirable 
to  add  a  spadeful  or  two  of  good  mould  to  each  pit,  always  placing 
good  soil  about  the  roots. 
The  plants  should  be  dwarf,  not  exceeding  18in  or  2ft  in 
height,  sturdy  in  growth  for  their  size,  for  only  the  propor¬ 
tionately  strong  have  a  chance,  the  thin,  drawn,  and  weakly 
plants  taking  a  long  time  to  recover,  even  if  they  do,  the  seaside 
not  being  favourable  to  their  recuperation.  Recently  trans¬ 
planted  plants  have  abundance  of  fibrous  sorts,  and  these  are 
only  suitable  for  seaside,  indeed,  planting  anywhere,  especially 
in  exposed  situations,  and  they  will  have  been  grown  thinly, 
at  least  lanky,  ill-grown,  coddled  trees  and  shrubs  are  hardly 
worth  planting. 
Having  arranged  so  that  the  plants  will  be  as  short  a  time 
out  of  the  ground  as  possible,  and  thei?  coming  to  hand  without 
the  roots  being  more  dried  than,  can  possibly  be  prevented,  plant 
them  with  the  strongest  and  most  roots  seaward,  and  not 
deeper  than  they  have  been  whilst  in  the  nursery.  Place  next 
the  screen-fence  or  the  raised  earthwork  such  subjects  as  the 
well-tried  Sycamore  (Acer  Pseudo-Platanus),  Winged  Elm  (Ulmus 
alata),  and  White  Willow  (Salix  albat.  while  of  Conifers  the 
Austrian  Pine  (Pinus  austriaca)  and  Cluster  Pine  (P.  Pinaster) 
are  trustworthy  against  hard-blowing  and  long-continued  sea- 
coast  storms.  As  a  small  growing  tree  the  common  Elder  (Sam¬ 
bucus  nigra)  yields  to  no  other  for  endurance  of  saline-laden 
storms,  and  may,  with  Sea  Buckthorn  (Hippophae  rhamnoides), 
be  associated  with  the  deciduous  trees  before-named  for  with¬ 
standing  the  fierce  brunt  of  the  sea-storm,  whilst  the  Mountain 
Pine  (Pinus  Mughus  or  Pumilio  or  montana),  as  a  low-growing 
Conifer,  may  be  introduced  with  the  Conifers  recently  noted,  as 
it  is  of  undoubted  hardihood  and  withstands  fierce  and  cutting 
winds.  Natural  pruning  by  saline-laden  spray  occurs  when  the 
Buckthorn  is  subjected  to  such  spray, as  on  the  Haddington  coast. 
Inside  the  belt  or  plantation,  which  should  be  several  lines  in 
breadth,  many  other  trees  and  shrubs  may  be  planted,  but  those 
thriving  near  the  sea  should  be  selected  and  in  measure  of  their 
endurance.  In  many  districts,  however,  the  trees  and  shrubs 
are  not  required,  or  even  need  be,  in  belts  or  plantations  behind 
a  fence-screen  or  an  earthwork  barrier,  they  being  required  in 
more  open  order,  and  for  the  embellishment  of  pleasure  grounds, 
and  for  general  purposes  of  ornament  and  shelter,  therefore  the 
various  subjects  may  be  usefully  referred  to  separately,  and  in 
order  of  merit. 
Deciduous  Trees. 
Sycamore  (Acer  Pseudo- 
Platanus).  —  As  the  most 
valuable  tree  for  its  shelter, 
this  is  entitled  to  first  rank, 
for  it  sends  its  sturdy,  twiggy 
branches  in  the  “  teeth  ”  of 
the  blast,  even  at  high-water 
mark,  and  in  winter  affords 
considerable  shelter.  It  will 
grow  in  almost  any  soil.  It 
bears  cutting-in  well,  and  for 
forming  a  tall  screen  has  no 
equal,  the  plants  being 
planted  about  a  yard  apart 
and  cut  over  when  well  estab¬ 
lished  about  a  foot  from  the 
ground. 
Huntingdon,  or  White 
Willow  (Salix  alba). — For 
windy  shores  this  is  an  excel¬ 
lent  tree  of  quick  growth,  and 
succeeds  well  in  almost  any 
kind  of  soil.  The  Bedford 
or  Green  Willow  (S.  viridis 
syn.  Russelliana)  also  succeeds 
well,  and,  as  before  men¬ 
tioned,  makes,  as  does  the 
White  Willow,  a  capital  fence 
or  screen  when  well  cut  in. 
Abele,  or  White  Poplar 
(Populus  alba).  As  a  breakwind  this  silvery  aspected  tree  is 
first-rate  on  the  east  coast,  and  when  well  pruned  in  it  forms  a 
dense  bushy  specimen,  thriving  well  in  almost  any  soil. 
Norway  Maple  (Acer  platanoides). — This  grows  rapidly,  and 
soon  forms  excellent  shelter  on  very  exposed  and  wind-swrept 
shores,  being  very  hardy  and  valuable  for  withstanding  the  first 
1  brunt  of  the  sea-breeze.  It  thrives  best  in  good  soil,  not  liking 
heavy  and  cold  land,  though  not  very  particular  as  to  soil. 
Wahoo,  or  Winged  Elm  (Ulmus  alata). — The  Winged  Elm  was 
first  brought  to  notice  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Webster,  as  one  of  the  most 
valuable  for  planting  in  cold,  wind-tortured,  and  maritime  dis¬ 
tricts,  as  it  does  not  bend  and  shrink  from  the  blast,  but  stands 
boldly  out  and  defies  both  wind  and  storm. 
Aspen  Poplar  (Populus  tremula). — A  fast  growing  and  excel¬ 
lent  shore  tree,  hardy,  and  withstanding  a  great  amount  of  rough 
usage.  The  Necklace,  or  Canadian  Poplar,  equals,  if  not  rivals, 
the  Aspen,  it  (P.  monilifera  syn.  canadensis),  standing  the  sea 
breeze  well,  being  perfectly  hardy,  and  affords  a  great  amount 
of  shelter.  The  Black  Poplar  (P.  nigra)  also  does  well,  and  the 
Lombardy  Poplar  (P.  n.  pyramidalis)  is  first-rate,  and  will  endure 
almost  any  amount  of  cutting  in,  beheading  when  growing  too 
tall. 
Scotch  or  Wych  Elm  (Ulmus  montana). — This  tree  affords  good 
shelter,  sending  up  suckers  from  the  rootstock,  and  is  very 
hardy  and  proof  against  damage  from  storm,  but  it  is  not  in  any¬ 
wise  worthy  of  front  rank. 
Common  Alder  (Alnus  glutinosa)  and  Hoary  Alder  (A.  incana) 
I  are  charming  for  planting  in  wet  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
I  sea,  and  stand  the  full  force  of  the  blast  from  it  in  a  wonderful 
