Trees and Shrubs for English Gardens Part 21

_Prunus_ (_Cerasus_) _Mahaleb pendula_.--A very attractive little weeping tree, with small white flowers in spring.

_Pyrus._--The following do well here: _Pyrus floribunda_, _P.

coronaria_, _P. lobata_ (syn. _Mespilus grandiflora_), and, of course, the native Rowan tree (_P. Aucuparia_). The family of Apples enjoy a well-drained place, being impatient of too much wet at the roots; otherwise, their culture is of the simplest. They should be allowed to grow as they will, only cutting out any branches that would be obviously better away, and dead wood if any.

_Rhododendrons_ and _Azaleas_ luxuriate here. The common _R. pontic.u.m_ sows itself in the woods. I have not yet tried the Himalayan Rhododendrons, but from what I have seen of them in the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, which are much exposed to cold winds, I feel fairly certain I could grow them here, where I can give them more protection.

_Rhodotypus kerrioides._--A very pretty hardy shrub, flowering on and off all the summer. It has very clean white flowers, and from appearances looks as though a cross with Kerria might be successful. The Rhodotypus seeds freely here. It grows to a good size.

_Rhus Cotinus._--Another good shrub, attractive either in flower or foliage, and the latter turns to a good colour in autumn.

_Ribes._--No garden should be without a plant of the Common Ribes. I also grow _Aureum_ and a pale pinkish-white sort.

_Robinia hispida_ (Rose Acacia).--This is doing well in a corner sheltered from the north, east, and west by evergreens.

_Roses._--The best that I grow as shrubs (in the garden sense) are the Penzance Briars, _Rosa rugosa_ (j.a.panese Rose), Austrian Briars, _R.

spinosissima_, _Blairii II._, Charles Lawson, _R. macrantha_, _R.

alpina_, &c. These Roses stand up and make a good bush in a sheltered place, without staking or any other trouble. Very little pruning is needful, and that after the flowers are over, cutting out weak wood and shortening some of the old shoots back to where young ones are breaking vigorously.

_Rubus deliciosus._--Very pretty white flowers, large for a bramble. It appears to be quite hardy, but is not a very strong grower.

_Ruscus aculeatus_ (Butcher's Broom).--An inconspicuous little shrub that grows well under trees.

_Spartium junceum_ (Spanish Broom).--A good shrub for a sheltered bank; it has spikes of bright-yellow flowers in July.

_Spiraea._--Most of the Spiraeas do well here. The following are the best of those I grow: _S. canescens_, very pretty habit of growth and foliage; _S. discolor_ (_ariaefolia_), _S. j.a.ponica_ (vars. _alba_, _b.u.malda_, and Anthony Waterer), the last-mentioned very good. _S.

lindleyana_, a large grower, handsome both in flower and foliage. _S.

prunifolia fl. pl._ should be in all gardens; good both for flowers and autumnal foliage. _S. Van Houttei_, very good. _Exochorda grandiflora_, often known as _Spiraea grandiflora_, I have had since 1898, but though it is now a large bush and very healthy, it has not yet made any attempt to flower.

_Syringa_ (Lilacs).--These are indispensable. Some of the newer varieties are good, such as Charles X., rosy lilac; Marie Legraye, white; Souv. de L. Spath, reddish; Mme. Lemoine, double white. These should always be procured on their own roots. Grafted plants seldom live long.

_Veronica._--Several of the shrubby Veronicas do well. _V. Traversii_ is the hardiest of all. In the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens there is a good collection of these.

_Viburnum Opulus sterilis._--This, the well-known s...o...b..ll tree, and _V.

Tinus_ (_Laurustinus_), are the only two I have grown. Both do well, and I fancy _V. plicatum_ and some others would do also. I shall try them.

_Vitis Coignetiae._--I have this growing up the outer branches of a Spanish Chestnut. It does not grow very fast, but is making steady progress. It appears to be perfectly hardy, and its fine foliage turns to a magnificent colour in autumn.

TREES AND SHRUBS IN EDINBURGH

Trees and shrubs that will thrive near Edinburgh will do so in almost any exposed city or town similarly situated. Only those that have proved adaptable to this windswept district have been included, an asterisk being placed against the more beautiful and interesting species and varieties that are happy in cold and windy gardens.

ACERS.--_A. Pseudo-plata.n.u.s_ is the "Plane" of Scotland. Old trees form features of great beauty. It reaches a height of 60 to 70 feet, often less when isolated. _A. P. var. flavo-marginatum_*.--The original tree of this variety still remains at Corstorphine, near Edinburgh. It is very effective in spring, but the foliage becomes much duller during summer. _A. P. purpureum._ _A. campestre_ (Common Maple). _A.

circinatum_*.--This is the most beautifully-coloured tree we have in autumn. _A. platanoides_* (Norway Maple).--This is to be preferred to either the Sycamore or Common Maple for planting in pleasure-grounds and gardens. _A. dasycarpum._* _A. palmatum_*.--The varieties of this are excellent although slow growing. _A. rubrum._ _A. pictum._ _A.

opulifolium obtusatum_*.--A bright tree in early spring with its golden-green foliage and flowers. _A. saccharinum_ (Sugar Maple). _A.

j.a.ponic.u.m_ and varieties.

ACTINIDIA KOLOMIKTA.--Climber; grows quickly on south wall.

HORSE CHESTNUT (_aesculus Hippocastanum_) and others: _carnea_, _Pavia_, _parviflora_, _flava_.

AILANTUS GLANDULOSA (Tree of Heaven).

AMELANCHIER VULGARIS and _A. canadensis_.*--Very ornamental. Seldom seen, but as free-growing and flowering as the Hawthorn. The popular name for these beautiful trees is Snowy Mespilus.

ARALIA SPINOSA and _A. chinensis_.*

ARBUTUS ANDRACHNE.--Flowers in February and March.

ARCTOSTAPHYLOS ALPINA.--Plenty of this found in north of Scotland, but somewhat difficult to establish in gardens. _A. Uva-ursi._--Freer in growth than the preceding. Both species are low-creeping shrubs suitable for planting with Heaths in peat.

ARISTOLOCHIA SIPHO (Dutchman's Pipe).--Large effective climber.

ARTEMISIA ABROTANUM, _arborescens_, and _tridentata_.*--Useful shrubs of grey tone.

AUCUBA j.a.pONICA and varieties.*

AZARA MICROPHYLLA* and _A. dentata_.

BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM,* _Darwinii_, _vulgaris_, _nepalensis_. Single specimens of _B. Aquifolium_, the Mahonia, become very ornamental with age.

BETULA ALBA* (the Silver Birch).--A very hardy tree, beautiful both in summer and winter. The pendulous variety is the best. Its branches are proof against all winds. No tree is so well adapted for planting close up to houses in the city, for it is very graceful, and obscures little light. _B. utilis_, _B. papyrifera_, _B. populifolia_.

BOX* and varieties.

BRYANTHUS EMPETRIFORMIS.*--Very fine planted in broad ma.s.ses. _B.

erectus_--Very beautiful in small beds.

CALYCANTHUS FLORIDUS.--This is excellent on walls.

CAMELLIAS only flower here on walls in the open. They form large bushes in the grounds. _Camellia Thea_, the tea-plant, is also perfectly hardy.

CARMICHaeLIA FLAGELLIFORMIS.*--Very interesting, and flowering with great freedom.

CARPENTERIA CALIFORNICA.*--A splendid plant for south walls, large established specimens having a profusion of large white flowers.

CARPINUS BETULUS* (Hornbeam) and varieties.

CARYOPTERIS MASTACANTHUS.--A good wall plant.

Ca.s.sIOPE FASTIGIATA* and _C. tetragona_.*--Both are very choice subjects here and flower well.

CASTANEA SATIVA* (Sweet or Spanish Chestnut).--Ornamental, but does not ripen fruit here.

CEANOTHUS AMERICa.n.u.s and _veitchia.n.u.s_.*--Splendid.

CERCIS SILIQUASTRUM* (Judas tree).