226 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
March  17,  1904. 
tlie  sins  of  former  planters  for  which  we  have  to  suffer,  but 
sins  which  some  of  to-day  seem  to  have  inherited  and  intend 
to  perpetuate.  It  is  rarely  seen  what  art  is  able  to  accom¬ 
plish  in  graceful  outline  and  tasteful  planting,  but  fre¬ 
quently  in  evidence  what  error  is  able  to  achieve  in  con¬ 
tradistinction  to  it. 
One  of  the  happiest  expositions  we  ever  saw  was  in  a 
comparatively  small  place,  and  after  an  hour’s  walk  under 
the  guidance  of  an  old  gardener  we  could  not  but  express 
our  admiration  to  him  in  saying  that  art  had  done  wonders. 
'■  Hart!  ”  he  said.  “You  may  well  zay  that,  zurr.  It’s  the 
hartfullest  bit  o’  laying  out  ever  I  zeed.  Why,  you’d  think 
th’  place  was  ten  times  as  big.”  Without  going  further,  for 
every  situation  has  its  inherent  possibilities  to  be  stuclied, 
and  no  two  places  are  alike,  we  trust  the  above  is  an  apt 
illustration  of  what  can  be  done  in  one  direction. 
As  an  object  lesson  we  again  hark  back  to  the  long  ago, 
and  select  a  broad  shrubbery,  some  half-mile  long,  with  a 
good  depth  of  background  on  either  side,  in  which  timber 
trees  were  the  piece  de  resistance,  the  filling  in  being  done 
with  the  usual  complement  cf  coniferte,  evergreen  and 
flowering  shrubs  planted  well  up  to  the  verge. 
This  shrubbery,  which  was  the  chief  approach  to  the 
gardens  from  the  mansion,  we  will,  for  our  purpose,  strip 
to  the  bone,  and  reclothe  the  skeleton  in  rational  dress. 
With  the  general  outline  there  was  but  little  fault  to  find, 
as  bold  and  graceful  curves  relieved  any  monotony  or  stiff¬ 
ness  which  might  otherwise  have  obtained.  The  first 
consideration  is  that  planters  never  seem  to  look  far  enough 
into  the  future,  forgetting  that  “  mighty  Oaks  from  little 
aconis  spring.” 
In  this  case  fine  coniferje  had  in  various  places  been 
planted  so  close  to  the  verge  as  to  annually  enci’oach  on 
the  walk,  and  the  question  of  further  mutilation  with  the 
lopping  shears,  or  entire  removal,  was  the  question  of  the 
hour.  We  would  like  to  see  these  beautiful  trees  not 
only  planted  to  avoid  such  contingencies,  but  grouped 
instead  of  indiscriminately  dotted  over  the  whole  area, 
and  in  grouping  each  variety  kept  to  itself.  For  instance, 
Ficea  nobilis  to  itself,  in  groups  of  three  or  six,  according 
to  space ;  and  so  on  with  P.  Nordmanniana,  P.  grandis, 
the  various  Abies  and  Cupressus,  and  others  of  that  ilk  ; 
this,  of  course,  on  the  larger  scale. 
Insistence  diould  br  placed  ou  the  planter  making 
provision  for  eventual  thinning,  which,  if  not  required  for 
many  years,  is  a  possible  contingency  not  to  be  lost  sight 
cf.  If  a  group,  say,  of  s'x.  is  planted  to  form  a  triangle, 
three  in  the  background,  then  two,  and  one  tree  at  the 
apex,  it  will  be  readily  seen  how  easily  the  three  inner 
trees  can  be  removed  when  necessity  arises,  and  three  left 
permanent — the  three  which  form  the  points  of  the  triangle. 
We  do  not  lay  down  this  or  any  rule  empirically,  merely 
wishing  the  planter  to  mend  his  ways,  that  future  prospects 
should  not  be  sacrificed  to  present  effect. 
We  are  aware  that  all  this  requires  a  keen  eye  for  the 
prospective,  a  clear  head  to  plan,  and  an  able  hand  to 
execute  it ;  but  the  subject  is  wholly  worthy  of  it,  and  that 
few  will  deny.  As  wdth  the  trees,  so  wdth  the  shrubs,  and 
more  also,  for  with  the  former  the  sin  of  dotting  may  not 
be  so  much  in  evidence,  and  to  some  extent  disappear  wdth 
time  and  growth.  Not  so  wdth  the  shrubs ;  the  eternal 
dotting  and  mixing  is  a  perennial  disgrace  wm  would  fain 
wipe  off  our  landscapes. 
In  grouping,  say  evergreens,  let  a  dozen  Aucubas,  twenty 
Laurels,  half  a  dozen  scarlet  Rhododendrons,  half  a  dozen 
white  ones,  the  same  of  golden  Hollies,  or  silver  Hollies, 
or  a  score  of  sulphur  coloured  Azalea,  mollis,  and  so  on 
down  the  wdiole  gamut  of  flowering  shrubs,  foliaged  shrubs, 
or  w  hat  not,  occimv  each  its  own  position ;  and  we  beseech 
you  to  only  approach  the  verge  in  places  ;  let  deep,  open 
bays  be  left,  of  which  more  anon. 
The  above  forms  the  groundwork  of  our  ideal,  an  ideal 
so  high,  perhaps,  as  to  be  not  wholly  attainable  ;  but  wm 
must  have  one,  and  all  designers  and  planters  should  have 
one  too,  never  to  be  lost  sight  of.  and  those  w’ho  aim 
highest  will  nem'est  reach  their  goal.  We  have  now,  as 
delineated  in  this  sketch,  an  undulating  front  line  formed 
by  the  groups  of  shrubs,  care  being  taken  that  none  of  these 
groups,  seen  longitudinally  as  we  travel  the  walk,  obstruct 
the  view. 
To  this  end  the  bulk  of  the  groups,  but  not  necessarily 
all.  should  consist  of  things  siifficiently  low*  habited  to 
prevent  that,  for  clipping  and  trimming  is  an  abomination 
not  to  be  tolerated.  To  more  clearly  explain  what  is 
meant  by  the  undulating  margin,  its  formation  should 
leave  open  bays  of  from  10ft,  20ft,  or  even  30ft  in  depth, 
as  the  case  may  be,  wdth  the  object  still  before  us.  That 
object  is  the  introduction  of  bulbs  in  masses,  or  other 
hardy  plants  suitable  for  the  purpose.  But  still  no  mixing, 
w*e  pray  you.  The  one  bay  may  be  planted  with  Narcissus 
Barri  conspicuus,  another  w*ith  N.  incomparabilis  Sir 
Watkin,  N.  princeps,  and  so  on ;  whilst  Crocuses,  Bluebells, 
Snowdrops,  Winter  Aconites,  May-flowering  Tulips,  and 
sirnilar  things  commend  themselves  for  consideration. 
One  thing  above  all  others  is  delightful  for  the  shrubbery 
w’hen  grown  en  masse,  that  is,  Solomon’s  Seal ;  and  Lily 
of  the  Valley  under  the  shade  of  trees  will  not  be  forgotten. 
Hypericums,  Megaseas,  Veronicas,  and  Tritomas  are  merely 
suggestive  of  plants  to  be  used  ;  but  w*e  have  here,  in  this 
phase  of  the  question,  the  desirability  of  studying  each 
position  and  the  suitability  of  plants  to  it.  Our  ideal 
shrubbery  afi’ords  ample  variety  in  that  respect.  In  damp, 
shady  spots  Osmunda  regalis  or  Struthiopteris  germanica 
w*ill  be  quite  at  home,  w*hilst  drier  situations,  still  shady, 
may  suit  the  Lady  Fern  or  the  Male  Fern. 
In  sunny  sjDots  w*ith  a  w’et  bottom  (this  might  be  ex¬ 
cavated  for  the  purpose)  Iris  Ksempferi  will  be  happy,  and 
its  cousin  german,  I.  germanica.  will  thoroirghly  enjoy  a 
sun-baked,  arid  situation.  FaiTher  in  the  background  space 
might  possibly  be  found  for  the  Giant  Knotw-eeds  (Poly¬ 
gonum)  or  Bamboos,  all  of  which  we  again  dare  venture 
to  caution  planters  against  mixing,  even  wdth  lids  ;  con¬ 
fine  the  one  variety  to  the  one  place.  Can  our  readers 
now  imagine  what  our  ideal  shrubbery  is  like,  although 
so  imperfectly  sketched  1  If  so,  they  will  scarcely  assert 
that  imagination  is  a  vain  thing. 
Unfortunately  it  is  more  often  a  question  of  what  one  has 
than  wNat  they  would  have,  although  “  where  there’s  a 
w*ill  there’s  a  w*ay  ”  is  as  applicable  here  as  anywhere  else. 
We  grant  you  that  those  who  pay  the  piper  should  call 
the  tune,  but  there  are  a  dozen  w*ays  in  this  direction  in 
which  “the  piper”  can  introduce  grace  notes  sufficiently 
strong,  if  only  in  a  minor  key,  to  bring  things  somewhat 
nearer  concert  pitch.  In  old  shrubberies  w*here  bare-legged 
Laurels  and  similar  evergreens  can  be  drastically  dealt  with, 
this  is  the  time  to  do  it.  We  advise  the  bare-legged  ones 
to  be  cut  to  the  ground  instead  of  headed  off  breast  high, 
in  w*hich  operation  there  is  no  satisfaction,  and  twelve 
months  will  prove  it. 
To  avoid  wholesale  bareness  half  the  plants  might  be 
,  cut  down  at  once,  the  remainder  deferred  till  next  season, 
the  best  plan  of  doing  this  being  to  cut  down  bold  patches 
and  leave  intervening  groups.  “  Poverty  sharpens  the 
scythe  of  Time,’’  and  poverty  and  neglect  are  nowhere 
more  frequently  seen  than  in  the  shrubbery.  Even  a 
common  Laurel,  common  as  it  is,  can  be  starved  to  death, 
so  we  advise  the  cut  down  portion  to  receive  a  good  top- 
dressing  of  decayed  manure  and  rough  leaf-mould,  if 
obtainable,  without  delay. 
The  claims  of  space  are  ever  at  war  with  inclination, 
and  regretfully  we  conclude  Avhile  there  is  much  to  say. 
It  Avas  the  intention  to  dissert  on  all  sorts  and  conditions 
of  shrubberies,  and  treat  of  various  positions,  but  that 
must  be  shelved  in  saying  that  the  principle  laid  down 
applies  to  all  if  seasoned  with  common  sense,  for  the  sub¬ 
ject,  like  most  garden  subjects,  is  an  elastic  one,  and  in 
closing  may  Ave  repeat  a  very  important  one? — K.,  Dublin. 
The  Physiology  of  Yeast. 
Yeast,  as  eA'erybody  Avith  a  knoAvledge  of  elementary  botany 
understands,  is  a  microscopic  unicellular  plant  AA’hich  increases 
Avith  great  rapidity  by  a  process  of  budding  AA’hen  introduced 
to  a  fluid  containing  saccharine  and  other  food  materials.  Prof. 
S.  H.  Vines,  president  of  the  Linnsean  Society,  at  the  meeting  of 
that  body  I’ecently,  delivered  an  address  on  “  Researches 
in  the  Physiology'  of  Yeast,”  in  the  course  of  AAhich  he 
sought  to  shoAv  that  the  Yeast  cells  may  have  a  number  cf 
enzymes  or  ferments  that  have  not  hitherto  been  notetl,  and 
Avhose  purpose  is  to  act  definitely  Avithin  certain  limits  in  the 
process  of  food  elaboration.  Thus  one  enzyme  converted  albu¬ 
minoids  to  proteids  ;  another  broke  doAvn  the  proteids  to  different 
sugar  forms,  each  enzyme  doing  only  a  limited  share,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  A*arious  stages  of  digestion  are  carrieel  on  in 
the  animal  body.  The  tests  he  had  made  seemed  to  confirm  his 
theory. 
