216 
JOURNAL  OR  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
Mar.'h  12,  1903, 
and  healthy  in  our  national  life,  has  given  place  to  fleeting 
shadows,  which  leave  no  real  advantages  behind.  The 
young  man  who  starts  in  the  world  makes  all  possible  haste 
to  be  rich,  and  as  a  consequence  often  never  becomes 
wealthy.  The  man  who  plants  fruit  trees  must  have  fruit 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  with  that  object  in  view  will  look 
at  nothing  but  the  big  specimens  when  making  a  selection 
in  a  nursery,  entirely  ignoring  the  fact  that  a  moderate 
sized  tree  which  has  been  transplanted,  which  consequently 
has  plenty  of  fibrous  roots,  as  well  as  short  jointed  shoots, 
will  soon  outstrip  the  non-transplant6d  giants'  with  long 
strong  branches. 
In  some  cases,  in  order  to  get  the  work  quickly  and 
cheaply  done,  acres  of  fruit  trees  are  carelessly  stuck  into 
soil  which  has  only  been  surface  sci’atched,  and  for  years 
after  they  stand  as  .a  monument -to  the  so-called  unsuitable.- 
ness  of  the  soil  in  that  district  for  fruit  growing.  In  other 
cases  trees  are  planted  twice  as  thickly  as  they  should  be, 
with  the  object  of  getting  much  fruit  in  a  short  time,  and 
with  the  intention  of  removing  half  the  trees  after  a  few 
years.  This  is  seldom  done,  and  the  result  is  that  the 
orchard  or  plantation  becomes  a  thicket,  an  object  lesson 
in  bad  management,  and  in  the  production  of  rubbish. 
Matters  were  not  always  thus,-,,  for  some  of  our  very  old 
orchards  were  well  planted  and  tended  for  a  time  ;  then 
the  “  old  order  changed,”  and  gave  place  to  neglect,  followed 
again  by  an  awakening  during  recent  years,  which  needs 
yet  to  spread  and  raise  the  quality  of  the  work  done  in 
many  directions. 
In  regard  to  the  purchase  of  seeds,  plants,  fruit  trees, 
and  flowers,  the  old  order  has  changed  indeed,  as  they  are 
now  so  moderate  in  price  as  to  be  within  the  reach  of  all, 
and  yet  the  modern  craze  for  cheapness  tempts  hosts  of 
purchasers  to  be  led  away  by  glaring  advertisemeirts  to 
obtain  such  requisites  at  the  lowest  possible  prices,  or  to 
pick  them  up  at  sales,  only  to  find  out  to  their  cost  that 
“  the  lowest  in  price  ”  often  proves  the  dearest,  because 
there  is  no  reliability,  no  satisfaction  about  them.  In  one 
respect  it  may  be  said  with  truth  that  “  the  old  order 
changeth  ”  ;  viz.,  in  regard  to  the  present  day  facilities  for 
acquiring  knowledge.  This  is  indeed  a  bright  spot  upon 
the  passing  age,  which  must  have  a  remarkable  influence 
upon  succeeding  times.  Noymatter  in  what  station  of  life 
one’s  lot  may  be  cast,  there  are  numerous  ways  in  Avhich 
studies  may  be  seriously  pursued  with  the  object  of  im¬ 
proving  the  present  position.  The  great  thing  apparently 
required  of  the  individual  is  that  he  or  she  shall  first  make 
up  their  mind  as  to  what  subjects  shall  be  taken  up,  and 
then  study  them  thoroughly,  instead  of  dabbling  in  many 
and  ending  by  knowing  but  little  of  any. 
There  are  splendid  openings  to-day  for  men  and  women 
Avho  kiiow  some  things  thoroughly  well,  and  centre  their, 
whole  intei’est  in  their  work.  One  weak  point  about  the 
knowledge  gained  to-day  is  that  the  individual  in  far  too 
many  cases  attempts  too  many  subjects  ;  but  this  weakness 
should  in  time  become  less  pronounced.  In  commercial  life 
the  old  order  has  changed  in  a  way  almost  calculated  to 
make  some  of  the  old  captains  of  industry  turn  in  their 
graves.  The  comfortable  private  trader  is  gradually  dying 
out,  and  being  replaced  by  huge  companies,  having  the 
adyairtage  of  limited  liability.  The  introduction  of  this 
principle  has  undoubtedly  done  much  to  develop  trade 
and  enterprise,  and  also,  unfortunately,  to  create  fraud. 
The  joint  stock  companies  have  not  yet  made  much  progress 
in  regard  to  commercial  gardening,  fruit  growing,  or  farm¬ 
ing  ;  but  there  are  abundant  evidences  to  show  that  they 
are  likely  to  do  so  iii  the  near  future,  for  the  old  order  in 
this  respect  is  changing  surely. 
There  are  several  questions  of  the  hour,  but  among  them 
one  seems  to  stand  out  prominently,  one  Avhich  engages 
the  attention  of  rich  and  poor,  townsman  and  countryman 
alike.  This  is  readily  understood  wdien  the  well  worn 
phrase  is  mentioned,  “  Back  to  the  land.”  At  one  time  the 
efforts  of  the  majority  of  young  countrymen  were  directed 
t^  the  finding  of  opportunities  of  getting  into  the  towns. 
To-day  some  of  them,  at  least,  would  like  to  be  able  to  get 
back  to  the  country  under  anything  like  favourable  con¬ 
ditions.  If  those  conditions  are  provided,  or  perhaps  I 
should  say  arise,  hosts  of  willing  workers  would  soon  flock 
back  to  the  restive  influence  of  village  life.  Then  it  could 
be  written,  “  the  old  order  changeth” — in  the  right 
direction. 
This  question  is  indeed  a  serious  one,  because  with  alt 
our  added  knowledge,  with  all  our  increase  of  wealth,  the 
weaklings  are  ■  starving  in  the  cities,  and  spreading  the- 
seeds  of  disease  around,  while  the  derelict  land  cries  aloud 
for  the  tiller,  and  yet  there  is  time  to  snatch  it  from  ruin. 
But,  notwithstanding  all  this,  does  it  not  seem  incredible 
that  each  year  wc  become  more  and  more  dependent  oir 
foreign  lands  for  our  food  supplies,  and  know  not  how 
soon  a  great  nation  having  wealth  untold  may  be- brought 
to  her  knees  through  lack  of  daily  bread ‘1  All  these 
matters  are  capable  of  being^ solved  in  a  satisfactory  Avay 
by  men  of  intellect  and  strength,  if  they  are  taken  seriously 
in  hand.  Surely  the  nation  will  not  call  in  vain,  when  her 
needs  are  great,  even  though  her  great  men  be  few.  If  she 
does,  then  indeed  the  old  order  of  British  things  will  have 
changed — for  the  Avojst. — H.  D. 
Ornamental  Trees  and  Shrnbs. 
{Continued  from  page  197.) 
ATALPA  bignonioides  should  be  grown  in  all  good 
collections,  and  if  suited,  it  will  require  consider¬ 
able  space,  as  it  makes  a  large,  spreading  tree  s^rae 
40ft  high;  it  enjoys  a  moist  soil.  During  July  its. 
numerous  upright  panicles  of  flowers  speckled  with  purple 
and  yellow',  are  indeed  handsome.  Two  small  trees  seldom 
seen,  but  worthy  of  more  attention,  are  Fraxinus  Ornus, 
the  Manna  Ash,  and  F.  Mariesi ;  and  how  seldom  one  sees 
Farottia  persica,  Avith  its  brilliant  autumn  colouring. 
Cherries  might  also  be  grown  in  quantities,  and  one  of  the 
best  is  Cerasus  pseudocerasus,  and  its  variety  C.  Wateri, 
also  C.  serrulata  and  C.  Mahaleb  pendula,  a  beautiful 
AA-eeping  form.  Magnolia  conspicua  makes  an  excellent 
specimen  for  a  lawn,  and  is  one  of  our  earliest  trees  to 
floAver,  sometimes  as  early  as  February.  There  are  noAv 
several  varieties  in  cultivation,  such  as  M.  Soulangeana. 
Other  handsome  species  are  M.  acuminata  and  M.  Fraseri, 
Magnolia  stellata  is  so  good  that  it  is  worth  planting  in 
large  quantities,  its  pure  white  blossoms  opening  about  the 
same  time  as  M.  conspicua.  It  forces  well. 
Space  will  not. admit  of  more  than  a  passing  notice  of 
the  Spiraeas  and  Berberises,  which  are  especially  useful  for 
massing.  S.  Van  Houttei,  S.  Thunbergi,  and  S.  prunifolia 
fl-pl,  also  S.  Lindleyana  (which  is  the  largest  of  all  and  the 
latest  to  floAver),  Avith  S.  discolor  make  excellent  specimens 
for  a  laAvn.  S.  Anthony  Waterer  is  a  fine  dwarf  one,  being 
a  variety  of  S,  Bumalda. ;  it  is  an  excellent  subject  for  tlu> 
front  of  a  border.  In  the  genus  Berberis,  the  two  best  are 
B.  DarAvini  and  B.  stenophylla,  both  being  evergreens,  and 
are  very  effective  when  covered  with  their  orange  coloured 
flowers.  During  autumn  both  generally  give  a  few  sprays 
of  floAver.  B.  Thunbergi  is  deciduous,  bearing  small  white 
flow'ers,  and  in  the  rougher  parts  of  the  pleasure  ground  it 
should  be  largely  planted  for  the  sake  of  its  brilliant  autumn 
leaf  tint.  Or  again,  against  a  dark  background  of  Ycav  or 
Holly,  Avhat  is  more  effective  Avhen  in  fruit  than  B.  A-ulgaris,. 
the  common  Barberry  1 
Lilacs,  of  course,  should  be  planted  in  good  beds  or 
masses  in  the  shrubbery,  giving  preference  to  some  of  the 
good  garden  sorts.  By  no  means  forget  S.  persica  and  S. 
chinensis  for  the  front.  For  grouping,  or  growing  singly, 
there  are  feAV  subjects  more  effective  than  Viburnum 
Opulus  sterilis,  or  Guelder  Bose,  and  very  fine,  too,  is  V. 
plicatum,  although  somewhat  stiffen  in  habit.  Weigelas 
(of  Avhich  there  are  some  fine  A'arieties)  should  be  given  a 
good  position,  and  in  common  with  many  of  our  deciduou.s 
shrubs,  should  have  some  of  the  old  wood  cut  out  every 
year.  The  Fhiladelphuses  are  delightful  for  massing,  some 
of  Lemoine’s  hybrids  being  most  elegant.  P.  microphyllus, 
Avhich  only  grows  about  3ft  high,  should  have  a  good  posi¬ 
tion  in  the  front  of  the  shrubbery.  Deutzias  w'e  must  not 
forget,  nor  the  Pearl  Bush,  Exochorda  grandiflora,  and 
E.  Alberti. 
In  the  Brooms  Ave  have  a  very  accommodating  and  .^ise- 
ful  class  of  plants,  for  they  will  do  in  poor,  dry  soil,  where 
most  things  would  haA^e  a  struggle  to  live  ;  but,  of  ccmrse, 
like  everything  else,  they  pay  for  generous  treatment.  They 
are  most  effectHe  when  planted  in  good  beds  or  masses, 
especially  good  and  useful  being  Genista  prsecox,  G. 
cetnensis,  G.  capitata,  and  G.  hispanica,  the  latter  op'y 
growing  about  a  foot  high,  and  is  very  useful  for  clothing 
dry  banks  where  little  else  would  grow,  or  rockeries. — J.  C. 
