HINTS

Minn 0f fnmwenM Slants

I RELAN D.

BY

JOHN ADAIR, ESQ., A.M.,

• I

BARRISTER- AT-LAW.

' Say nit thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these ?
for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning1 this."

THIRD EDITION.

DUBLIN:
E. PONSONBY, GRAFTON-ST. ; W. MCGEE, NASSAU-SI.

LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, & Co.
EDINBURGH: ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK.

1878.

A

DUHL1N I

VUTNTEl) AT THE UNIVERSITY 1'UHSS,
]>,Y I'ONSONl'.Y AND MVUTIfY,

TO
HER GRACE THE DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH.

Madam,

Knowing that your Grace feels deep interest and takes
active part in all that helps to the welfare and
happiness of the People of Ireland, and much
enjoys the subject about which I write, I gladly

avail myself of the privilege, very kindly given to
me, of

gjcMfirtwfl tjris §xrxrk

TO YOUR GRACE.

392894

PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.

THE kind reception by the Legal Professions of a
law book I published not long ago, on a very dry
subject, allows me to hope that a little work on a
fascinating one will experience equal kindness from
the larger body to whom it is addressed. If the
suggestions in the following pages meet public
approval, I will feel happy to add such further
information as limited experience and persevering
experiment may enable me to offer.

JOHN ADAIE.

May, 1870.

PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.

THE increasing interest which everywhere appears
about Ornamental Plants, and additional information
I have obtained since I published the last edition of
this little book — now some years out of print — lead
me to hope that a new edition may help many
readers in enjoyment of the loveliest of Ornamental
Arts. I think that, at the coming Meeting of the
British Association in Dublin, it may be useful to
visitors, and especially to ladies, lovers of horticulture,
and little aware how the various moist, mild climates
of Ireland suit different plants, native and exotic.
At one of the first of their meetings which I at-
tended, I was asked by the late Dr. Grray, of the
British Museum, and a few other eminent natural-
ists, to write for a contemplated British Fauna that
part relating to the conchology of Ireland; and feel-
ing it right to decline this tempting invitation, I

viii Preface.

"brought to their Meeting of 1840 a little book in
which in the interim I sketched about 400 varieties
of our choicest shells, and noted the habitats of many
of the rarest : and some of one little species which
I dredged in L. Strangford, and were the first that
were ever found in a living state in the kingdom, so
attracted the attention of Professor Edward Forbes,
and Sir William Jardine, that they, I believe with
others of kindred tastes, came to Ireland to search,
and were much pleased with what they found here.
From that time, engrossing engagements, professional
and domestic, for many years hindered me attending
the annual meetings : and now I find the subjects of
female education, and remunerative employment for
women, taking a prominent place in the considera-
tion of enlightened philanthropists ; and ornamen-
tal gardening in its various branches seems to present
a large field for such occupation.

At page 1161 refer to the special importance which
the first Napoleon attributed to Music, for the atten-
tion of statesmen and other leaders of the public
mind ; and other men of great eminence have ranked
a fine taste for gastronomy and culinary art amongst
the most valuable endowments of philosophers.

Henri on de Pensey, premier President of the

Preface. ix

Court of Cassation, and the magistrate of whom
lloger Collard said regenerated France had most
reason to be proud, expressed himself as follows to
three most distinguished men of science, Laplace,
Chaptal and Berthollet : " I regard the discovery of a
dish as a far more interesting event than the discovery
of a star, for we have always stars enough, but we can
never have too many dishes ; and I shall not regard
the sciences as sufficiently honoured or adequately
represented amongst us, until I see a cook in the
first class of the Institute." The Due d'Escar, grand
maitre d'hotel to Louis XVIII., who was a gastro-
nome of the first water, died inconsolable at not
having given his name to even one dish, whilst that
of Bechamel was decorated with glory for Veau d la
Bechamel, of which he was supposed to be, though
not really, the inventor.

A late accomplished Earl of Dudley, speaking of a
learned Baron of the Exchequer, says "He was a
good man, sir, an excellent man ; he had the best
melted butter I ever tasted in my life :" and we read
that liqueurs were invented to stimulate the appetite
of Louis XIV., when flagging in old age, having
been prodigious in his youth.

Ornaments for the dinner and supper table, otherwise

x Preface.

than as mere articles of food, have long commanded
much attention. Madame de Sevigny describes a re-
markable royal collation in a room hung with jon-
q nils ; and the Prince of letter- writers, Horace Walpole
Earl of Orford, condescends to write about ornaments
fashionable for dinner tables and desserts in his days.
" The last branch of our fashion into which the
close observation of nature has been introduced is our
desserts. Jellies, biscuits, sugar-plums, and creams,
have long since given way to harlequins, gondoliers,
Turks, Chinese, and shepherdesses, of Saxon China.
But these, unconnected, and only seeming to wander
among groves of curled paper and silk flowers, were
soon discovered to be too insipid and unmeaning. By
degrees, meadows of cattle, of the same brittle
materials, spread themselves over the table ; cot-
tages rose in sugar, and temples in barley-sugar ;
pigmy Neptunes in cars of cockle-shells triumphed
over oceans of looking-glass, or seas of silver tissue.
Women of the first quality came home from Che-
venix's laden with dolls and babies, not for their
children, but their housekeeper. At last, even these
puerile puppet-shows are sinking into disuse, and
more manly ways of concluding our repasts are
established. Gigantic figures succeed to pigmies ;

Preface. xi

and it is known that a celebrated confectioner (Lord
Albermarle's)* complained that after having prepared
a middle dish of gods and goddesses eighteen feet
high, his lord would not cause the ceiling of his
parlour to be demolished, to facilitate their entree."
" Imaginez vous, " said he, "qtie milord n'a pas voulu
faire oter le plafond."

Though table ornaments and dainty dishes have
long tried the skill of many an artist, as much seems
now to be devoted to plants for adorning the tables
and rooms of the rich, as in the last century was
bestowed upon painted china and devices of spun
sugar. This branch of our subject, or that which is
called town gardening, would alone supply material
for a Treatise ; and daily something new attracts
the amateur's attention. Even within the last few
days I have been surprised by seeing varieties of
Camellia in beautiful bloom in a conservatory off a
landing in a dwelling-house in so central a part of
Dublin as Harcourt-street. Here Mr. Cornwall

* Here I may mention, in reply to inquiries I have often read in
public print — Who composed and who was the hero of the popular song
Robin Adair ? Lady Caroline Keppel, daughter of the second Earl of
Albeniarle, composed it, and Kobert Adair, whom she afterwards mar-
ried, and who was surgeon-general to King George the Third, and
second son of Sir Robert Adair, who fought for King William at the
Boyne,. and died in College-green, Dublin, in 1745, was the hero.

xii Preface.

grows about three score specimens of this very orna-
mental evergreen ; of which many bear flower every
winter, though each individual plant seems to take a
year of rest without blooming.

For many years, the showy lily Imatophyllum,
which blooms in winter and early spring, has
thriven in my dwelling-house without conservatory ;
and in a sheltered area in front of the same house, in
Mount-street, a plant of a small "genus named Charl-
woodia, which authorities call a beautiful stove plant,
is now in vigorous health after living three years out
of doors. It is about nine feet high, and is the first
specimen which has ever been tried out all the year
in this kingdom.

Amongst showy plants, whose fitness for our city
life I believe I had the pleasure of being the first to
prove, are some of the kindred genus Cordyline ;
and if the lovely twining under-shrub Lapageria
rosea, which I again mention as called after the
maiden name of the Empress Josephine, prove as
hardy and fit for even town culture as recent experi-
ments promise, I think I have many friends who
would consider this little book worth publishing,
were it only to invite special attention to these, and a
few other plants not yet common amongst us.

Preface. xiii

" I know many trade catalogues containing vast
stores of information on every branch of horticulture,
and properly written in a didactic style unsuitable
to such a work as mine. And in trying to use a
style somewhat popular, I trust what I write does
not deserve the character sometimes given to popular
science, as a superficial exposition of results by a
writer who himself understands them imperfectly, to
the intent that his hearers or readers may be able
to talk or write about them without understanding-
them at all.

JOHN ADAIK.

65, LR. MOUNT-STREET, DUBLIN,
March, 1878.

CONTENTS,

Page

INTRODUCTION, 1

DIVISION or SUBJECT, .... 7

DWELLING-HOUSES :

Room Culture; under Glass, &e., . 9

Window and Balcony Gardening, ... 22

Gardening in Yards, Areas, &c.,

Table Ornaments, 38

TOWN GARDENING :

City Squares, &c., .41

ROCK GARDENING, .51

TREES AS STREET ORNAMENTS, . 57

PLANTING ABOUT RAILWAY STATIONS, ETC., ... 58
GROUNDS ABOUT CHURCHES, ETC., . .60

BOTANIC GARDENS, .60

PEOPLE'S PARKS AND GARDENS, . 75

VILLAS, . 78

DEMESNES, ETC., .95

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS, ... .Ill

INDEX, . . 129

ON THE

CULTUKE OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS
IN IRELAND.

INTRODUCTION.

FROM the dawn of civilization, Poets and Philoso-
phers, inspired and uninspired, vie with each other
in praise of Horticulture. Nearly three thousand
years ago, Oriental Sovereigns took distant journeys
to hear lectures on this and other subjects, from that
gifted man who had "wisdom and understanding
exceeding much, and largeness of heart even as the
sand that is on the sea shore." The Queen of Sheba
returned home from Jerusalem, convinced by what
she there witnessed, that one-half of the greatness of
his wisdom had not been told her. And in the ac-
count of King Solomon's knowledge, that of the
vegetable world is prominently mentioned ; when he
spake of Trees, from the Cedar that<is in Lebanon,
even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall.

2 Introduction.

Homer celebrates the gardens of Alcinous at
Phseacia —

" Without the courts, and to the gates adjoin' d,
A spacious garden lay, fenced all around,
There grew luxuriant many a lofty tree. —
And on the garden's verge extreme
Flowers of all hues smiled all the year, arrang'd
With neatest art judicious."

The terraced gardens of Semirajnis at Babylon were
celebrated by Diodorus and Josephus ; and by Xeno-
phon, those of Cyrus the younger, at Sardis, whose
reply to Lysander, admiring their beauty and inquir-
ing about their management, is recorded, " What do
you think has made the varied productions of these
gardens? the labour of my own hands." Theo-
phrastus, a disciple of Aristotle, considered the habits
of plants as worthy of study as those of man, bearing
each to the other striking analogy — thus early teach-
ing some leading doctrines on the subject, which are
now commonly regarded as of modern discovery or
invention. The Peach is mentioned by Confucius ;
and Almonds were sent from Canaan into Egypt to
Joseph, as amongst the choicest fruits then known.

After the late Sir Thomas Staples, one of the
longest survivors of the Irish House of Commons,
had passed his eightieth year, I had the pleasure of
teaching him, in his garden at Lissan, to bud roses
and other ornamental plants, which he wished to
learn, and afterwards practised ; and on that occa-
sion, as I best remember, he pointed out, in some life

Introduction. 3

of Cicero, mention of the orator stealing out from
Home, in his busiest times, to a favourite villa, to
watch the growth of his Oriental Plane trees.

I introduce the next few passages from the pen of
Cicero, about other men of note, as somewhat show-
ing the salutary influence of change from city to
country, for however short a time, and of pretty
plants and flowers, on minds which might be thought
little susceptible of such impressions.

In his work on Oratory, Cicero describes a dialogue
which was held under a tree of the Platanus group,
which were some of the first exotics introduced into
Italy for beauty. It was at a villa of his friend,
Lucius Crassus. At a time of public tumult, Crassus
retired from Rome, during the games there, to his
Tusculan villa, as if, says Cicero, to collect his
thoughts. He brought with him two promising stu-
dents of oratory, for whose instruction the dialogue
was introduced — Caius Amelius Cotta and Publius
Sulpicius Eufus ; Quintus Mutius Scaevola, an emi-
nent lawyer and father-in-law of Crassus, and Marc
Anthony, made up the party. The subject was taken
from one of Plato's Dialogues, and, if worthy of the
pens who wrote, may not be uninteresting to some
readers of these pages, who have forgotten or been
ignorant of it.

Phsedrus (meaning the beautiful or lovely), after
a busy day in Athens, was going to refresh himself
by a walk outside the city, when he meets Socrates,
who says, " My dear Phcedrus, whence come you, and

B2

4 Introduction.

whither do you go ? — From Lysias, son of Cephalus,
to take a walk outside the city, for I have been
sitting in the room since daybreak.'' Phsedrus inti-
mates that perhaps Socrates could not spare time to
join him in his walk, to which the philosopher re-
plies— " What, man ! do you not think that, as Pindar
says, if I had not leisure I should make it, to hear
the result of your studies with Lysias ?" And he tells
him that he would not part him till he delivered the
speech with which Lysias had regaled him, and
which he was carrying in his mind, or probably under
his cloak, intending to study it as he walked. Here
they turn off the public road, and walk barefoot to
cool themselves in the edge of the Ilissus, towards a
lofty Plane tree which from a distance attracted their
attention. Socrates, who seldom left the city, now
apparently refreshed, says to his friend, " You have
found the way to cure me of my home-keeping pro-
pensities. As men lead cattle onwards by holding
food or fruit before their noses, so you lure me with
the discourse you have in your book ; and, for aught
I know, you will lead me round Attica, or wherever
you please. We have a pleasant retreat under this
wide-spreading tree ; shaded in by lovely shrubs,
this place is full of the fragrance of herbs, and truly
is most agreeable.7'

Were Ilissus' bank the inviting spot which imagi-
nation paints, we can't sit and converse there ; nor can
I, like Crassus or many of his contemporaries, enter-
tain friends as I might wish to do in a villa on the

Introduction. 5

"Banks of one of our neighbouring streams ; but we all
can enjoy our Botanic Gardens on the Tolka, at
Glasnevin, where Addison, Swift, and Delany, and
kindred spirits, spent many a classic hour in the
grounds of their friend Tickell. And here, in addi-
tion to natural beauty, we have enjoyment which
was not vouchsafed to ancient worthies, in the
ohoicest trees and shrubs and flowers which each
quarter of the world, vieing with the others, offers to
the admiration of our days. And I dare to say that
in such scenes the mind most highly and thoroughly
schooled in science, and accustomed to abstract
thought —

" with, filial confidence inspired,

Can lift to Heaven an nnpresumptuous eye,
And smiling1 say, My Father made them all."

Disclaiming any pretension to treat scientifically
a subject on which the Press teems with works of
that character, I invite the attention of readers of all
ages and circumstances to varieties of interesting
plants, from which selections may be "made to please
any taste. I particularly address my brethren of the
working orders, for I believe never were such pur-
suits as ornamental gardening and kindred recrea-
tions so important as now to members of that class,
on whom political and social powers are daily devolv-
ing. For members of religious orders, and vast
numbers of other persons whom peculiar circum-
stances debar from many ordinary social enjoyments,
our subject seems specially suited ; and to clerics of

6 Introduction.

all denominations it recommends itself as useful in
promoting and fostering high and healthy tones of
religious feeling. To women generally, on whom,
from the Eoman matron to our own aristocrat, arti-
san, or peasant, formation of character and happiness
much depend, I commend this interesting recrea-
tion for their own personal enjoyment, and for judi-
cious encouragement amongst youth. For man or
woman foregoing till advanced years the pleasures of
married life, with its attendant cares, the more to de-
vote their vigorous years to some favourite pursuit,
our subject is very valuable. Ornamental plants
and flowers prove to be very useful in restoring
minds overwrought and unstrung, and may reason-
ably be regarded as more salutary in preserving the
mind in normal health and soundness. Now-a-days,
when leaders of the public mind are puzzling them-
selves to discover remunerative employments for
women and girls, is there not a large and pretty
open field connected with different branches of orna-
mental gardening, and in some for which the female
hand is much more gifted than the coarser hand of
man?

I find in leading publications, not particularly
given to write on the subject, cogent reasons for
encouraging ornamental gardening amongst girls
and women of all classes. I may refer to an article
in The Spectator for the year 1876, page 686, recom-
mending this employment to ladies, not only as
highly conducive to health of body and mind, but as

Division of Subject. 7

remunerative and capable of being made very profit-
able in various branches and ways, and expressing
surprise that it is not oftener and more strongly than
hitherto recommended for such purposes.

DIVISION OF SUBJECT.

Now I will offer some hints as to plants for grow-
ing in dwelling-houses, in glazed cases, or in the
open room without such protection, and as to what is
commonly called window-gardening. We will sug-
gest some things which may be considered improve-
ments in areas and yards, and places often miscalled
town gardens ; and in public squares, and grounds
about churches, and in graveyards and cemeteries, in
grounds at railway stations, &c. I will name some
plants not so commonly known as they soon may be,
for villa and other suburban ornament ; and I will
invite attention to the valuable schools which Botanic
Gardens and peoples' parks and gardens are and may
be to plant-growers and lovers of gardening. And
before closing, we may glance at what is a-doing in
cultivation of trees and shrubs, and other ornamental
plants, on a large scale, in demesnes and private
parks, of which there are noble examples in many
parts of Ireland.

Here it may not be amiss to say a few words about
what is called acclimating, which engages increasing
attention as intercommunication of countries presents
us with varieties of lovely plants till of late unknown
amongst us. Artificial adaptation of foreign plants

8 Division of Subject.

to circumstances different from those of their native
home, trying to imitate in culture the treatment they
experience in their wild state, seem to be important
phases of acclimation; and much interesting work
may be accomplished in this way without expecting
to make any individual plant hardier here than it is
in its indigenous state. Early, Lord Bacon foretold
great improvements to arise from hybridizing of
plants, by which means, and by what is called cross-
breeding, offspring of rather tender parents prove
themselves comparatively robust. Judicious choice
of situation is particularly important ; and for many
plants a common mistake is often made in supposing
that a close and sheltered spot is better than or as
good as an open airy one.

Vast numbers of lovely exotics which suit our
climate come from high tropical regions, and other
high, dry, and airy situations ; but many choice
plants luxuriate in low, damp places, and the taste
of each should be indulged. The natural season for
a plant's chief beauty at its native home does not
always correspond with ours, wherefore artificial aid
may be lent, and due attention given to periods for
excitement and for rest. In Dr. Hooker's work on
Himalayan plants, and elsewhere, he notices, what
might not be expected, some lovely stove plants as
requiring much moist heat in summer, but compara-
tively cool treatment in winter.

It has been suggested to me to give a popular
name to each plant I mention. I fain would do so,

Room Culture. 9

where the name is easily understood ; but what think
you of the name of a rather curious plant in its native
country amongst the Astecs, Macpalxochitlquahuitl,
meaning the hand-flower tree ?

D W E L L I X G - II O U S E S .

Boom Culture ; under Glass, <fcc. — Whoever knows
what disappointment till of late awaited every effort,
even of persons in comfortable pecuniary circum-
stances, to have a constant supply of a few plants
for ornament in the dwelling-house, can appreciate
the changes in this direction which our generation
has witnessed. Now we are so accustomed to
see various plants flourish in closed cases, as almost
to forget that our parents were unacquainted with
such culture. And though what are called Ward-
cases be but modifications of the cap-glass or
conservator}7, the honour of their introduction into
society is attributed to Dr. Ward, who but recently
died.

Amongst pretty little plants not often tried in
such places as we now speak of, are varieties of the
Piperomia group, with rather showy coreaceous leaves,
which contrast well in a case with ferns. These are
easily cultivated, and can be grown from single leaves
with short leaf-stalk.

After continued failure of the horticulturist
Loddiges in trying to grow the Killarney fern,
Trichomanes radicans, the late Baron Fischer, super-
intendent of the Czar's botanical establishment at

i o Dwelling-houses.

St. Petersburg, being in England on a botanical tour,
visited Doctor Ward in London. Surprised at the
appearance of this fern (which the Baron had vainly
attempted to cultivate), flourishing in a Ward-case
apparently in untoward circumstances, the enthu-
siast took off his hat and bowed low to the plant,
saying, " You have been my master all the days of
my life ! " Half a century ago Dr. Mackay, at our
Trinity College Botanic Gardens, grew this fern out
of doors in a pot plunged in a border covered with a
cap-glass, perhaps little thinking how soon, if ever,
it would flourish as it now does even in a garret in
any of our cities. Still, whilst millions of plants are
grown in rooms and windows, and a glazed case for
the purpose may be made at a trifling cost, it seems
surprising how few kinds we cultivate in this way,
compared with what are within reach. In the
autumn of the year 1872, some specimens of a
spotted variety of what is commonly called the Arum
lily, by name Richardia, in one of these cases outside
a window in Piccadilly, attracted my attention as
amongst the prettiest foliage plants I had seen in
such circumstances. This lily is making its way into
our houses and gardens, and roots may be purchased
at small cost. I have seen two roots I planted in
spring in flower-pots produce before autumn seven-
teen shoots and six flowers.

Filmy and other Ferns. — Different kinds of Tri-
chomanes, and of its kindred HymenophyUum, whose
habitat is shady woods of the Tropics, and some

Room Culture. 1 1

of which abound in New Zealand and Madeira, and
in the British Isles, seem gifted with a power of en-
joying perpetual freshness even in the roomkeeper's
humble abode. Their pellucid foliage has remarkable
texture, which, long after vitality is lost, assumes on
being immersed in water the appearance of vigorous
life. I have had a glass-case some three feet long,
and perhaps two feet broad, full of Trichomanes radi-
cansy inside a window for several years, and in good
health, without seeing a ray of sun. For months at
a time it does not require to be fresjily watered. The
following mode of planting this fern was shown to
me by the late Dr. Kobert Smith . of Dublin, who
was long a very successful cultivator of native ferns
there. Spread one or two inches of broken potsherd
or cinder on the bottom of the box or pan in which
the plants are to grow. If it be made of wood, line
the bottom with zinc or lead, having holes in it for
drainage. Over that layer of drainage another layer
may be laid, of pieces of the fibrous outer shell of
cocoa-nut ; and on that again another layer of pieces
a few inches in diameter, of a sod of common firm
turf. On this scatter a little sandy peaty mould,
keeping the surface pretty smooth, and water with
a fine-rosed watering-pot. Then lay your fern
down, and scatter a little more mould over the roots,
and after sprinkling the plant with water close the
case. These ferns are propagated in various ways,
from division of the racemes with rootlets, and from
young plants which grow from the sori or seedlets>

1 2 Dwelling- houses.

which in favourable circumstances come in abundance
along the edges of the fronds. Most ferns like rather
shady situations and peaty mould, and when grown
inside windows they may be moved back into the
room in severe weather ; and always suitable venti-
lation should be attended to.

Some peculiarly graceful and elegant kinds of the
group called Todea, natives of South Africa, New
Zealand, and New Holland, which have hitherto
been costly and rather rare, are now imported in
considerable numbers. Todea pelucida and T. superla
are, amongst others, most generally known and ad-
mired ; and whjlst in their native wilds they attain
a height of many feet, they are amongst us as pot
plants in a young state, and quite gems of easy
management. They seem to luxuriate in warm
moisture and subdued light, but bear a cold or cool
place and a dark situation. We see them in much
beauty in pots standing in a few inches of water in
a pan or saucer, covered with a glass-bell or frame,
and daily sprinkled overhead. The Gardener's Re-
cord for August, 1876, page 549, quoting from The
Garden, describes a flourishing plant, nearly fill-
ing a 24-inch bell-glass, in a room where it had been
for four years. At the commencement of that time
this plant, well named superb, was a tiny seedling,
with but a couple of fronds scarcely one inch long,
and at the close it had upwards of fifty healthy
fronds, and meantime it produced some seedlings. It
grows in a 3-inch pot, over whose edges rootlets ramble

Room Culture. 13

through Hypnum rnoss, which surround the little
pot in a shallow seed-pan. Unsubdued sunrays are
not allowed to strike upon the plant, which is watered
as it seems proper, from once in ten days, or less, to
once a-month.

Many other ferns have proved their aptitude for
growing in rooms, and doubtless many more will do
so than I can as yet vouch for ; and the deep green
and transparent surface of that which I have last de-
scribed seems, as it were, covered with countless drops
of dew like diamonds.

I might specify varieties of what we call Maiden's
hair, Adiantutn ; also varieties of Davallia, D.Hoor-
cana, or Mooreiy and others called hares- foot ferns ;
and of Asptenium, of each of which families there are
many kinds.

Hymenaptylhmi is a genus of filmy fern, many of
which are native to Chili and New Zealand, &c.? and
two kinds of which group, but a few inches high, are
found abundantly in various parts of the British Isles.
One of the prettiest cases of this plant I have seen
was at a workman's show at Dundee, several years
ago. These elegant plants like a particularly moist
atmosphere, for which reason in rooms they are in-
closed under glass.

Selaginellas, in some respects, resemble ferns.
They are a genus of club-mosses ; and of them, as
of LycogodiumS) there is a great variety, many
of which are very elegant in structure and habit.
Most of these several kinds of plants are rather easy

1 4 Dwelling- houses.

of culture, and may be abundantly increased by cut-
tings and division of the roots.

The ordinary soil for ferns, and plants of kindred
nature, is sandy peat, but many thrive in other
soils, fibrous loam, &c. ; all require attention as to
watering.

I know not any family of greater variety and
attractiveness, of more extensive use, and found in
more different climates, than Palms. In native
wildness, and under costly culture, many become
forest trees, whilst others are always small ; but some
of both characters are ready to enjoy a home in a
dwelling-house, either under some kind of glass
shade, or in an open room. Mr. Tyerman, when
Curator of the Liverpool Botanic Gardens, showed
me a plant of Rhapis flabellata, about twenty inches
high, under a glass-bell in a living room, where it
had been in good health for eight years. In the
Gardener's Chronicle for the year 1872, page 730,
amongst plants which were exhibited at a meeting
of the Royal Horticultural Society of St. Petersburg,
a fine specimen of Arcca Bauerii is mentioned as
having been three years in a room, and being many
feet high. This Palm, and Areca sapida, from New
Zealand, are ornamental in a young stage, and we
will mention them again as amongst the hardiest of
the family for trial out of doors. Sandy loam, some-
what enriched, suits these and many kindred
plants.

Palms, 8fc. — Amongst Palms for room culture,

Room Culture. 15

Coryplia Aust rails is recommended, as are also varie-
ties of Chamcedorea, as C. Harticegii, &c. Phcenix
dactylifera may be grown in a room from the kernel
of the fruit, which we have eaten.

Phcenix reclinata, P. Immilis, P. sykestris, Cocos
coronata, and C. flexuosa, Ptychosperma Cunninghami,
Rhapis ftabelliformis, Sabal Andansonii, S. umbraculi-
Jera, Sea/orthia elegans, Tlirinax elegans, T. radiata,
may be here named, amongst many.

I venture also to invite attention to varieties of
Ct/cacicfo, which family form a link between the Palms
and the Pine, and to which of late our amateurs seem
for the first time to pay much attention. Many of
these are ornamental in young stages, and easy of
management, bearing considerable hardship, and not
difficult to be procured. They like rather rich soil,
and to have it sometimes judiciously watered with
guano water or other liquid manure. I have known
seedlings of one kind, Emephalartos M'Kenii (I
believe from Queensland), and of others, to stand
throughout winter, near Dublin, in a cold frame.
JIacrozamias belong to the same family.

For amateurs with ample means and scanty room
for indulging the taste, Nature has provided gems
which occupy but small space, and amongst others
many Orchids. One family of these little treasures,
Ancectoehylm, coming from Java and other hot coun-
tries, are terrestrial orchids, whose foliage, which is
a net-work of pretty colours, is their chief beauty.
The leaves of some varieties are traversed with fine

1 6 Dwelling-houses.

golden and silver veins on purplish or rich green
ground. It is well to nip off the flower-stem before
it matures its bloom, for flowering so exhausts the
plant as to endanger its damping off. "With us
these plants are generally grown in hot-houses, but
men of experience think they are over-cooked, and
that many species could be managed in a glazed
frame in an ordinary room. The variety -4. setaceus,
from a coolish region of Ceylon, dislikes much heat,
and probably others are congenial in this respect.
The family in general like a sunny aspect, with par-
tial shade from glaring sun. Some of these and
kindred plants are figured in the fourth volume of
Blume's Flora Jara>.

Sphagnum and sand form proper soil ; and culture
of these plants in rooms, as of Piperomias, above-
mentioned, seems to pleasingly contrast with that of
Trichomanes and others of that group, so as to be
worthy of remark. The Killarney fern has lived for
years in a large, wide-mouthed bottle or glass jar,
without water being once added to what it had when
first inclosed, whilst some of those orchids of which
we speak require constant attention. Some invalid?,
and other persons who enjoy such room ornaments,
like the frequent occupation which the one kind of
plants requires and affords, whilst there are many peo-
ple who admire what need but little care, and who
could not bestow anything like regular daily atten-
tion.

Liliaceous Plants. — Notwithstanding the longtime

Room- Culture. 17

that Lilies have been amongst us, there is much
room for experiment and improvement in their
treatment, and many kinds may be domesti-
cated. The Gardener's Chronicle for 1873 has
a series of instructive articles on lily culture,
and they speak of different soils for different groups.
At p. 215, a cut is given of a pot of L. auratum, with
one tuft, on which there were 225 flowers one season.
Moist, boggy soil is recommended for what is called
the Canadense section, amongst which are L. parvtim,
L. pnbcmlum, &c., and for Martagons, Tiger lilies, L.
anratnm, &c., cool loam, and moist, peaty, and rather
heavy soils.

L. auratum has grown well in towns, in large pots,
with about two-thirds sandy loam and one of decayed
cowdung, and abundant drainage. The bulb may be
placed about half-way down in the pot, just covering-
it with soil, and occasionally adding more as the stem
grows ; and avoiding frost, let abundant air be given
on fine days. The lancifolium lilies grow well in
rather light soils, and so do the umbellatum and
Thunbergianum sections, such as L. longiflonim, L.
candidiun. L. Ncilgherrcnse is a fine autumn flowerer
in the garden.

Lilies, when permitted, seem to live in constant
state of growth, preferring open ground to con-
finement of pot culture, or that of a glass-case.
However, most kinds, I believe, • will bear careful
potting when coming into bloom, and replanting out
after flowering. Upon potting, water freely, and

C

1 8 Dwelling- koiises.

avoid sudden exposure on moving out of confine-
ment.

The loveliest Japan lilies bear our climates in most
places. The roots may be stored late in autumn, in
a dry shed, or dry, cool cellar, protecting from frost ;
and during winter and early spring, a little water
may be judiciously given occasionally, to prevent the
bulbs becoming parched.

Amongst liliaceous plants few, except perhaps
Hyacinths and the Narcissus tribe, have long been
more general favourites for rooms than what is com-
monly called the Egyptian Arum, or trumpet lily.
This handsome plant, more correctly called Richardia
Africana, in compliment to an eminent French bota-
nist, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope ; and
though I know it many years in the open ground
and in ponds, in different parts of Ireland, blooming
annually, it is generally cultivated indoors. About
the year 1858, two, much smaller and more compact
growing kinds, were introduced into England from
Port Natal, one of which, if not both, will I expect
ere long be well known amongst us. Richardia albo-
mamlata is that to which I allude, as much showier
than the other, which is named R. hastata, and of
which it is supposed by some botanists to be a sport.
The leaf-stalk and leaf and the flower-stalk and
flower of each of these ordinarily grow one foot and
a few inches high. The leaf of hastata is variegated,
and that of R. albo-maculata is spotted over with
Avhite spots. Its culture is very simple. Eoots

Room Culture. ig

{which are cheap) may be planted in spring, and taken
up in autumn, and kept in sand or other substance
dry, till the time for replanting in spring. They in-
crease freely and abundantly, and are easily divided.
Riehardias look well in or on moist edges of ponds or
other waters ; and I suppose the smaller kinds will
grow out of doors permanently wherever the old
larger kind thrives. I know of plants of the latter
several years in a garden border, and others likewise
in a pond. The spotted plant is well figured in the
Botanic Magazine for the year 1859, tit. 5140, and in
13th vol. of Flow des Scrres tit. 1343, where R.
hrtvtata also is described, whose flower is a greenish
yellow.

Many of the lily group, and other bulbous-rooted
plants, look well in beds or on swards carpeted with
saxifrages or sedums.

At close of winter, and in early spring, a very
showy lily, whose brilliant colour contrasts well with
the white of Richardias, namely, Imatophyllum, or
Imantophyllum, called from tjuaroc, of a strap, and
<f)v\\ov, a leaf, from its leaf being shaped like a
leather strap, is as easy of cultivation in a dwelling-
house as any plant. This I discovered as it were
accidentally. About the year 1868, a large tuft of
this plant, with several umbels of its bright orange-
tinted vermilion flowers, particularly attracted my
attention in a hot-house of my friend, the late Dr.
Charles Croker, in Merrion-square. Considering it
akin to Cl-ivea noMlis, which we knew had lived

c2

2O Dwelling- bouses.

5

healthily and bloomed freely in a rather exposed
place in my dwelling-house, he gave me one or two
roots, which have grown into several, living about
seven months of the year in a room, flowering in
March or April, and the other months plunged out
of doors with Richardim, VaHotas, &c.

For rooms, halls, areas, and other places in and
about houses in Dublin, and, I presume, in most
parts of Ireland, the blue African lily, Agapanthm
umbellatiis, cannot be too strongly recommended.
Every summer, for a quarter of a century out of
doors in Dublin, it has sent its flower-stems well
above its foliage, with trusses of bright blue blossom,
in shape much like the Imatophyllum. This lily
grows well in strong loam, with sand and leaf-mould
rammed pretty tightly. ImatophyUum likes more pot
room, with good, strong, rich soil. One variety is of
-somewhat deeper red than others, and more admired.

The Scarborough lily, with the varieties Vallota
purpurea, V. p. eximea, and V. p. major, are a beau-
tiful lily, and particularly well-adapted for green-
house, frame, and window culture. They are not
expensive, and increase freely.

Many kinds of bulbous-rooted and other liliaceous
plants may be flowered under somewhat like treat-
ment. ScUlas, from the azure blue of Siberia to the
bright tiny native of a few of our own hills, and
some of creamy white, are a very pretty group.
Small varieties suit well round hyacinths, tulips,
and other bulbs in window boxes and other glazed

Room Culture. 21

eases, and in garden borders, with varieties of
crocus.

Though Lily of the valley be native in some parts
of this kingdom, it is charming when well-grown as
a pot plant in rooms late in winter and in early
spring ; and for this purpose it is much cultivated in
Holland and other parts of the Continent, and thence
imported by us. Incipient flowering buds are easily
distinguished from such as produce only leaves, and
may be selected and grown with a view to potting.
Water freely in summer, occasionally with liquid
manure ; pot in autumn ; don't push or force your
plants early, say, not before Christmas. There are
different kinds, of which some are finer than others.

Aloes, and other Soft-wooded Plants. — -For many
years, what is commonly called the American
Aloe, or Agave, has established its aptitude for
room culture, flourishing there with less care than
most plants require. It is of the Amaryllis tribe,
and will live for many winter months without water
to its roots, and it need never be watered over-
head. Of late years, like qualities in other kindred
plants have made them favourites for city culture —
but it is well occasionally to water the soil. And
some collections, of what are commonly called succu-
lent plants (of which I may particularly notice that
of Mr. J. T. Peacock, at Sudbury House, Hammer-
smith, near London) attract the admiration of many
visitors, who are surprised at what can be grown in
such seemingly unpropitious localities. Dr. Kellock,

2 2 Dwelling-houses.

of Stamford-hill, Kingsland-road, London, has also
a choice collection of soft- wooded plants, which have
been chiefly cultivated by his own hand.

Aloe albo cuicta, figured in the volume of Botanical
Magazine for 1860, may be named as a handsome
species, remarkable in foliage, and perhaps more so
in its drooping flowers of rich yellowish-red colour.

Besehornerias form a small group akin to those
last mentioned. B. Yuccoides is figured, &c., in the
same volume of the book just now referred to; and
several young seedlings have stood some winters well
in Dublin in a frame at rere of my house. The
flower is on a long, slender, coral- coloured scape and
paiiacle, with gracefully stooping branches of the
same colour ; with racemes of pendent yellowish-
green flowers, tinged with red, and shaped somewhat
like those of some common fuchsia. Besehornerias
are natives of Mexico, and are readily raised from
seed, which is freely produced by plants which have
reached the flowering stage.

Window and Balcony Gardening. — In towns and
cities, culture of plants in the dwelling-house is
particularly interesting, owing to the little space
generally available there for out-door culture. Im-
pediment to entrance of light and air to rooms is
to be avoided ; to which special regard should be
had in the placing of frames or cases in win-
dow openings. Aspect also is to be considered ; for
many plants to which a sunny aspect is grateful
.soon show inability to prosper in any other, whilst

Window and Balcony Gardening. 23

there are as many which cannot endure direct and un-
subdued sun-rays. Here observation and experience
befriend us ; and often a sunny aspect is desirable,
but with partial shading, such as is given by gauze,
or muslin, or paper, or otherwise. For above a
hundred years from the first growing of bulbs in
water in glasses, early in the seventeenth century,
hyacinths and a few other bulbous-rooted lilies were
the chief support of the amateur window-gardener.
The simplest form of the gardening of which we
now speak seems to be the growing of plants in
pots or boxes, and these may be plunged in moss or
cinders or some other substance immediately inside
the window, or on the sill outside ; and I believe
much more can be in this way achieved than has yet
been attempted.

Again, frames may extend from within the window
to without the sill, thus having larger space for
plants than where the frame is wholly in one of
those places. I need scarcely suggest avoidance of
draughts ; and cleanliness, by sponging, syringing,
or otherwise washing.

When the fireplace in the room is not required for
its ordinary use, ornamental boxes, with the flower-
pots inserted in moss, may take the place of the
fender ; and sometimes looking-glass is fitted in the
open, where plants reflected have very good effect.
Often of late we see the chimneypiece for a time
devoted to plants in a growing state, as well as to
cut flowers ; and we need scarcely suggest that there

2. 4 Dwelling- houses.

are many other places in the dwelling-house, such as
lobbies, &c., which may be turned to good account
for like purposes.

I have seen in the centre or other part of a room a
group of plants in pots, plunged in moss or sphag-
num, and surrounded with basket-work, with very
pleasing effect. Sods of living sedums or saxifrages,
or sempervirens, &c., may well be substituted for
moss, and without the same risk of turning brown.

Extending our work to window-balconies, we may
find a much larger variety of suitable climbing and
other ornamental plants than we are wont to see in
such places. Here boxes may be used, with bottoms
of tile, slate, or other durable material, and various
pretty edgings are made with rustic and other mould-
ing. Sometimes trellis of wire or wood, arching over
a window, looks well, and the centre-piece may be
movable. Boxes should be deep enough to hold six
to nine or more inches of soil, and lead, slate, or zinc,
may be used for lining. In this branch of gardening,
provision for liberal watering is requisite — cistern,
hose, syringe, &c., having each its own function. At
times, many plants enjoy frequent dew- like sprink-
ling, but caution is necessary how this is done in
bright sunshine, and escape for surplus water should
be provided.

Here various climbers and other plants may be
grown, some evergreen, some deciduous but peren-
nial, and annuals ; and of all, many stand out in
places very near to others where they would quickly

Window and Balcony Gardening. 25

perish, aiid often from causes little anticipated. Our
old favourite, Pyraeantha^ Mespilus pymcantha, needs
no commendation ; but M. crenata, and a few other
varieties, are much prettier for fruit and foliage, and
not generally so well-known as the other.

What is commonly called Pyrus (Cydonia) Japo-
n-ica, of which there are several varieties, red, pink
and white, are lovely late in winter or early spring,
when well grown ; and I believe a ripe fruit is useful
in flavouring an apple-pie.

The shrub from which the public fancy that all
which they call Tea is produced is of the Camellia
family ; and though not so ornamental as ordinary
camellias, is worthy of culture, from its peculiar
interest. Assam, and other parts of northern Asia,
are, I believe, the only countries in which we know
of the edible Tea shrub being found in a wild state,
and whether it is indigenous there will perhaps long
remain mysterious. At least six species of Thea are
grown in Upper India, China and Japan, all of
which are evergreens, with white or rose-coloured
flower ; but only one or two of these produce the
infusion of which we drink. There are three well-
known varieties which produce what we call Tea : —
T. Assdmica, T. Bohea and T. viridis ; many botanists
considering the two latter but varieties of T. Assamica,
to which they give the honour of being the parent.
Japanese tradition ascribes the introduction of the Tea
plant into that country from China by a Bhuddist
priest in the sixth century. Lately happening to be

2 6 Dwelling-houses.

at Dunganstown, near Wicklow, I looked for a bush
of T. viridis, which for years was known there in the
nursery garden of the late Mr. Hodgens, but it had
disappeared, with almost all his ornamental shrubs
and trees, of which scarcely a vestige remains. I
may again mention an experiment which Mr. Andrt'
Leroy is making in his garden at Anjou with Thea
viridis, of which he has some hundreds grafted 011
camellias.

Perhaps for readers fond of what is called
scented tea, I may elsewhere name a few of the
plants which are used in China for the purpose.

Not many years ago, Lapageria rosea — called after
the Empress Josephine, whose maiden name was
Hose de Lapagerie — was a stranger in this country ;
now it is everywhere admired as a lovely climber for
the cold conservatory, and it has here ripened abun-
dance of seed. We have three varieties, of which two
are red, and the flowers of one are much larger than
those of either of the others : the third is white, and
scarcer than the others. They are natives of a cool
climate in Chiloe ; and specimens have been planted
out in different places in England and Ireland, where
it is hoped they will thrive, having already flowered
well outside houses, with the roots growing within.
Remarkable power of enduring coal and other smoke
has been shown in the neighbourhood of copper-
smelting furnaces in the south-western extremity of
South America.

Berberidopsis coralttna, from the forests of Yal-

Window and Balcony Gardening. 27

divia, is another ckarming evergreen climber: of
scandent habit and rapid growth, and nearly hardy,
it lives out well in many places. Late in summer or
in early autumn, profusion of small bunches of coral-
coloured bloom, in size and shape like those of some
of the more common of the Berbery group, make it
when well-grown a very attractive object.

I know of but two places in this country where
any attempt has been made to grow Mandevilla sua-
ceolens permanently out of doors without further
protection than a wall. In a sheltered nook against
a garden wall of the classic villa at Templeogue,
where Archbishop Magee wrote his work on The
Atonement, a plant of this favourite climber has
freely bloomed and seeded.

Some ten or more years ago the present owner,
Mr. Koach, who has an interesting collection of
plants, had this maudevilla in a conservatory. For
years growing luxuriantly, it did not flower, till a
stray branch made its way through a broken pane,
and bloomed and ripened seed outside. From this
hint he planted a seedling, which has given some of
its peculiar long narrow pods, with seed, which I
hope will help to encourage further experiment
toward introducing into many suitable places this
ornamental and fragrant climber.

Some Magnolias, particularly the well-known va-
riety of J/. grandiflora called Lord Exmouth's variety,
would form a fine feature on many balconies, which
they do wherever I have seen them tried. In most

2 8 Dwelling-houses.

parts of Ireland they bloom profusely in autumn ;
and their large creamy- white flowers are very fra-
grant, contrasting well with the thick, dark-green
foliage. This" family, of which there are many
varieties, like rather rich peaty soil with loam, but
thrive without peat.

Forsythias, a small group, of modern introduction,
of the privet family, well suit such places ; and F*
suspensa, which, like F. nridmima, has profusion of
yellow bloom at close of winter, or very early in
spring, is well worthy of attention, and quite hardy.
Though deciduous, these plants in mild winters have
not long lost their deep green foliage of the previous
year before the flower begins to show itself afresh.

Fortune's Japanese Jassamine. Jasminwn nudi-
florum is amongst the showiest winter-bloomers, ex-
panding bright yellow flowers along its leafless
branches, from December to February, despite of
frost and snow ; and this and others of the group
grow well in smoky cities .

The golden-veined leaves and fragrant flowers of
the Japan Honeysuckle, Loniccra brachypoda aurco
reticiilata, make it a general favourite; &nAL.fuch-
sioidcs, with bunches of scarlet bloom ; and L. Lede-
botirii, with deep-red blossom, are, amongst others,
well worthy of attention.

I may name some varieties of Ceanothus, so called
from the colour of their flower, KUCU/OC, blue or azure,
C. rigidus from California, C. dcntatus", C. intermedium,
&c. Clianthus magnifieus and C. piuiiccus are beauti-

Window and Balcony Garden in &. 29

ful shrubs for walls or trellis; and C. Dampierii,
whose flower is more remarkable than that of the
others, has as yet not been skilfully treated in most
places ; but I do not know of its wintering out any-
where in this country, nor do I expect that it will
do so.

Cotoncastcrs, of which several are evergreen, are
invaluable for verandahs, as well as walls, and trellis,
and rockery. C. microphylla, C. Hookeri, C. Sim-
mondsi-i, C. vclutinm, &c., are amongst the best
known.

Even in our cities we may hope soon to see some
kinds of Palms in many places ; and seedlings and
seed of the hardier species are coming within reach
of most of us as to price ; though as yet but few per-
sons have given fair trial to any of this family as
out-door ornaments, either in country or town.

Of Chamcerops cocecka, C. Fort-imi, C. humilis, C.
Martiana, C. Griffitliiana, Julcea spectabih's, Arcca
fsap-ida, A. Bauer v, and of the recently-introduced
Pritchardi jfilicina, I suggest fair trial out of
doors, with slight protection according to situ-
ation and strength of plant, and other circumstan-
ces. Arcca sapida, the Southern Betel Nut Palm,
is an ornamental plant, and I believe the most
southerly representative of the family, occurring
so far south as 38° 22' ; and by some botanists con-
sidered identical with A. Baueri of Norfolk Island.
It is abundant in mountain regions, in the middle
island of New Zealand, growing about seven feet

3 o Dwelling- houses.

high, where the natives eat the young inflorescence,
calling the plant Nikau.

Chamcerops Mart la na ascends the Western Hima-
layas to about 8000 feet elevation ; and growing to a
height of abont 40 feet, has much of its fronds annu-
ally covered with snow. I believe C. Griffitliiana, or
Pritchiana, is a small creeping species, found in
masses high on barren hills of Afganistan and Beloo-
chistan.

Of deciduous perennials, that commonly called five-
fingerd Ivy, or Virginian creeper, Ampelopsis hedera-
cca, is especially suited for balconies. The species or
variety named Veitchii, or Roylii, or tricuspidata,
from Japan, is of much more compact habit than our
old acquaintance. It clings to walls or trees with
tenacity, I believe, exceeding that of Ivy; and its
green foliage of summer changes early in Autumn
to rich purplish-brown crimson, retaining this foliage
much later than the American plant. They grow in
ordinary garden soil, and are readily increased from
layers or cuttings.

Biynonia radicans and B. (jrandiflom are handsome
climbers, with large bunches of orange bloom, and
will bear our winters in many more places than have
tried them. I have seen Bignonias very showy in
the southerly parts of England and Ireland ; and I
particularly admired some in the gardens of M. Alex-
andre Behas' Hotel du Pare at Lugano. Somewhat
resembling these, but on a smaller scale of foliage
and flower, Eccremocarpus has been long admired in

Window and Balcony Gardening. 3 1

Ireland, and intermixes well with other plants of
scandent habit. These produce and grow from seed
abundantly.

Wistaria sinensis, with profuse bloom like Labur-
nam in form, and of lilac color, covers almost any
amount of surface ; and a considerable continuance of
flowering may be had by training some branches at
the sunny and others at the shady side of a wall.

Everyone is acquainted with Clematis, of which
lately new varieties greet us yearly. Some, amongst
many which have been sent out by Mr. Jackman, are
becoming as well known as the old sweet-scented
species. Isaac Anderson Henry, Esq., has, amongst
many gifts to the garden, raised fine seedlings of
this showy group.

In many places Vines may be grown with the
roots outside the house, and the branches either there
or brought within the room ; and each of us can form
our own opinion how well-grown clusters of grapes
look there, from their first forming till dropping with
ripeness.

Several varieties of Ipomtea, Convolvulus, are very
ornamental, amongst which may be named that
which produces jalap.

I need not specially name any of the numerous
annuals which may decorate such places as we have
been speaking of.

Here I may notice a plan of conservatory, simple
when suggested, but I believe not often seen. In
the Gardeners Chronicle for the year 1876, p. 330,

3 2 Dwelling-houses.

Mr. Cox, of Mill Hill, N.W., on the Midland Kail-
way, describes one recently made. On an outside
wall of his drawing-room, in the centre of which are
the chimney and fire-place, he has built a conserva-
tory, with heating apparatus. For a large portion of
the wall, at each side of the fire-place, lie substituted
plate glass, and in this building he keeps orchids and
some congenial plants for a few weeks of their bloom ;
and he names about sixty of these giving a blaze of
beauty at the time he writes. At first he feared that
moisture condensing on the glass would obscure the
view from the sitting-room ; but he says that happily
this does not occur, and that the partition glass has
never been dimmed by damp. Plants are on brackets
at different heights, and Dendrobes are suspended
from the roof. P/iakenopsida require to be removed
to their ordinary abode after about two weeks' sojourn
in the new house. Odontoglossums and Oncidiinns
preserve their health for four weeks or longer, seem-
ingly benefited by the clime.

Gardening in Yards, Areas, Railway Stations,
&c. — Having seen some advances which room and
window-balcony culture have of late made, let us
glance at a few improvements which seem easily at-
tainable in such places as town yards, areas, and gar-
dens, and other small patches of ground belonging to
city, town, and suburban dwellings. Finding such
ferns as Trichomanes, Todea, and Hymenophilhm, &c.,
thrive even in garrets in dark parts of a city, may we
not expect that many kinds of fern and other pretty

Gardening in Yards, Areas, &c. 33

plants will suit such places as we now refer to ? In
them, in glazed frames, from the simplest kind, com-
posed of a box without bottom and a pane of coarse
glass as a top, to an orchid palace, of which one is
described above, for preserving within view of the
sitting-room choice exotics during their greatest
beauty, may be permanently grown or temporarily
kept vast numbers of plants of various kinds as yet
untried in such places. Grlazed frames can readily
be made to be taken asunder ; and the less hardy
Yuccas, and many of the soft- wooded families, Aloes,
some Agaves, &c., thrive perhaps better where only
the top is glass and the sides wire- work, than with
the closeness of ordinary frames.

For encouragement in overcoming difficulties in
such places as we now speak of, we may look to or
read of the devices to which the Japanese had re-
course before the use of glass was known in their
gardening. We learn something of this in Mr. For-
tune's work on Japan.

My late friends, Dr. Eobert Smith, of Eccles-street,
and Mr. Eobert Callwell, of Herbert-place, made the
first good collections of native ferns which I have
known in Dublin. Dr. Smith, who was a very learned
and eminent man in his own profession, commenced
his collection many years ago, and from time to time
as it increased he had recourse to various contri-
vances in his dwelling-house and small garden at its
rere. And he so admired the Killarney fern, Tricho-
mancs, that, in addition to many small cases of it

3 4 Dwelling-houses.

•which grew under glass in his garden, he devoted
a stable loft to the same favourite, which he sur-
rounded with boxes of this fern, with tops or fronts
of glass.

Mr. Callwell had but few specimens of this fern ;
but one of these filled a glass-case some four feet
long by nearly as many wide, which stood on a lobby
in his dwelling-house, and which was so admired
by Dr. Ward, of "Wardian-case celebrity, that he
seriously asked Mr. C. if he would take £250 for it.
Half the garden Mr. Callwell covered with glass, and
made of it a rock- work fernery, which was very suc-
cessful.

Amongst foreign ferns, hardy, and nearly so, for
trial in such places, I name Woodwardia radicam,
Cyrtomium falcatum, Onycldiim Japonicum, of whicli
latter the crowns may sometimes require slight pro-
tection, as by dried leaves, or turf-mould, or other-
wise ; Pteris scdberula, and others of the genus.
P. cretica albo-lineata stands out in different places.
Gymnoyramma Japonica, Lomaria Magcllamca, and
L. Chilemis, whose fronds are sometimes three feet
long. Onoclea semibilis, which luxuriating in moisture
may be well grown in damp places. Stwihwgteri*
Germanica, with fronds three feet long ; S. Pennsylva-
nica, S. Japonica, Polysticum acrostieoidesy and others.

There are numbers of stables in and about our
cities and towns where a horse is not kept, and of
which little if any use is made, some of which might
readily be transformed into conservatory or hot-

Gardening in Yards, Areas, &c. 35

house, and place for a gardener to work, and even to
reside in. Some few stable-lofts in Dublin have for
years been the gardener's abode, and parts of one
stable have been converted into places for propagat-
ing and growing plants. I do not know of one here
as yet being roofed with glass ; but I have been in a
hotel in Princes-street, Edinburgh, whose roof is
glass, where vines ripen grapes ; and a like plan has
been adopted in America and elsewhere.

A few more plants may be mentioned, of which I
have not known many in any of the places we now
speak of, which I hope to see succeeding there —
varieties of Aloes and other soft- wooded plants, with
winter and spring covering overhead, and it may be
quite open, or with wire- work around. The common
Agave, called A. Americana, or American Aloe, has
stood out many years in different parts of Ireland
without covering. Likewise Yuccas, such as Y. aloce-
folla, green and variegated ; Y. treculeana, Y. fila-
mcntom, green and variegated ; Y. stricta, Y. allo-
•x/rica, Y. Whiplii, Y. angmtifolia, &c. CordyUnes,
C. Australis, C. Banksii, C. indivisa, &c. ; Begonia*,
tuberous-rooted, which are again mentioned below,
and other kinds.

Varieties of Acanthus, and of Saxifrage, too many
to name here.

Of Lilies, as to which I may say the same.

Lily of the Valley, of which there are varieties
better than others, though shade-loving, grows well
in a southerly aspect. It may be enriched with

3 6 Dw elling- houses.

well-decayed manure, and abundantly watered in
dry weather. The proportion of bloom to leaf may
be increased by removing leaf-shoots when young,
which can readily be distinguished from those for
flowering.

Rhododendrons, of which there are varieties of
colour and hue, from pure white to deep crimson,
and for which there are different seasons of bloom-
ing, from mid-winter to summer and autumn, and
of which some are fragrant and some scentless, and
some of stiff and others of scandent habit.

Privets, evergreen, as Ligustrum coreaccum ; or
nearly so, as L. Japoniciim, L. omtum, &c.

To Skimmea Japonica, 8. Laureola, S. oblata, and
S. fragrans, I particularly invite attention. Some
come from mountains near Nangasaki, having small
bunches of flower in March and April, in shape and
colour somewhat like Privets, with sweet perfume,
and with bunches of blood-red berries from summer
till the following spring.

Several of the Myrtle and myrtaceous groups thrive
in Dublin ; and besides the common kinds, Eugenia
apiculata has grown well in a sheltered border of
Merrion-square, flowering for some months in sum-
mer. Eugenia ugni, and others, are in probation in
our city.

But of all shrubs with evergreen or persistent
foliage, varieties of Aucuba seem to me to receive
more general admiration, proving themselves fitter
for areas and yards of our cities than any other that I

Gardening in Yards, Areas, &c. 37

know of. Of these there are several, differing consi-
derably from one another in size, shape, and colour
of foliage, and of fruit. One variety, A. Himalaica,
is described by Sir J. D. Hooker as delighting in
humid spots, where mosses and lichens hang from the
branches.

Judicious observation as to light and shade, eddies
and currents of wind, &c., is specially important in
selecting plants, and giving protection in confined
areas, yards, and small gardens. Difference of a few
feet one way or another may cause a* plant to live or
die. In September, 1867, I planted, in the small
garden at the rere of my house in Dublin, two of the
first Grisclimas (a shrub nearly allied to Aucubd) I
had seen. One I placed in what I considered the
best spot there for the purpose, as sheltered and
having early sun ; the other I placed in what proved
to be a well- sheltered spot facing westward. Some
currents of wind, unexpectedly playing on the first
of those plants, bent and scathed it before spring-
time, and the other was vigorous after more than
twelve years, in the place where I doubted whether
it would survive one winter. The only other kind
of this evergreen I know, G. macrophylla, is much
more showy, but much more tender, than G. Utto-
ralfs above-mentioned.

In a little work, named East and West, whose
preface is from the pen of the Countess Spencer,
interesting mention is made of the beneficial in-
fluence of room and window culture of plants in

3 8 Dwelling-houses.

parts of Eastern London, dark in more than one
sense.

In an article in Macmittan's Magazine for 1873,
entitled " Flowers for the Poor," the writer, sister of
the Dean of "Westminster, invites assistance in what
she calls this " new missionary work in London,"
promising to make good use of contributions of
flowrers, and of suggestions toward extending the
work already pretty largely in operation. It is very
gratifying to witness, as I have done, much good
fruit from this work in the neighbourhood of West-
minster; and I could name men most eminent in
their respective walks in life — with some of whom I
have the pleasure and honour of being acquainted —
who largely contribute to its advance.

Table Ornaments. — It seems not out of place here
to mention table ornaments. Ever since plants have
taken a prominent place in ornamenting the festive
board, citizens find it far from easy to obtain such
supply as they desire. For periodic display, where

" Beggar pride defrauds her daily cheer
To boast one splendid banquet once a year,"

a few ornaments may be procured ; but it is another
matter to have pretty plants always ready to pop
upon our table for daily enjoyment. Though bloom
be transient, it was long more valued for such pur-
poses than beauty of foliage, which now assumes its
befitting place.

Let us look at a few plants easy of culture, whose

Table Ornaments. 39

flower is their principal ornament, and then at some
of which foliage is their chief attraction.

Daily arrivals add to countless hot-house and con-
servatory beauties of established character, to which
acres of glass would not do justice ; and no one has
ventured to limit the numbers which are within reach
of persons of even small circumstances, and which
are manageable with contracted resources. The
lovely novelties which our day has witnessed from
Japan call for especial gratitude to that interesting
country, whose unexampled advances attract the
attention of all Christendom.

For more than a century Hyacinths' brilliant
colours, luscious fragrance, and facility of growth,
have made them general favourites for rooms.
Tulips, Ranunculi, Jonquils, Narcissus, and somewhat
homogeneous plants, have also long sustained high
repute ; and a good specimen of any of these is
worthy of a place on the table which entertains the
noblest guests. Many other plants of comparatively
recent introduction make beautiful table ornaments.
Some Acacias, such as A. lophantha', A. Drummondi,
&c., are easily procured and easily grown, and
quickly make handsome specimens, either with or
without their bloom. The reader may be reminded
of the following, amongst infinite other table plants :
Roses, Heaths, Epacris, Rhododendrons, Orchids, of
which latter perhaps there is as great variety as of
any known plant ; some, and beautiful kinds, requiring
little or no artificial heat beyond inclosure under

4O Dwelling-houses.

glass ; Carnations, Pinks, Picottecs, Veronicas, Lilies,
Pelargoniums, Gloxinias, Agaves, Aloes, Anthuriums,
Begonias, Caladmms, Camellias, Crotons, Draccenas,
Genistas, many of the Myrtle, and even some of the
Pine group, Thujas, T. Donneana, &c. Cryptomeria
elegans and others, Cypresses, and many other shrubs
and forest trees in a young stage, and of some of
which there are varieties which grow but small, are
as pleasing to some eyes as table plants as are young
palms or young tree ferns.

Of plants intermediate between those cultivated
solely for the flower, and those whose beauty is
foliage, ornamental berries, or fruit, have of late pro-
cured an introduction into society for some which
have become prime favourites. Amongst these
already mentioned, Aucubas are prominent. Skim-
meas, also mentioned above ; and though somewhat
like Aucubas, they reach a height of several feet,
they are whilst in a young stage handsome table
ornaments. Bunches of scarlet fruit, which hold on
till that of the next year is formed, contrast well
with dark lance-leaved foliage. I see no reason why
Cotoneasters, such as C. Simondsii and ffookerii, &c.,
which are very handsome shrubs when well pruned
into shape, should not make nice pot plants for table
ornament.

These now named are readily increased by cuttings,
layers, seed, &c., and ordinary good garden soil suits
them well. Besides these hardy berried plants, there
are a greater variety of green-house and stove plants

City Squares, &c. 41

with, ornamental berry or fruit than I am acquainted
with. Some of our ordinary fruit trees likewise,
peaches, nectarines, plums, and grapes, look well and
delicious as table ornaments in flower-pots in a grow-
ing state.

But perhaps the most ornamental table plants ap-
pear there without fruit or flower. The impression
made on me several years ago by two native ferns
which, being taken from a ditch at Malahide Castle,
where they were growing, and being put into white
biscuit china vases ornamented the dinner-table in
the venerable oak-room, and were the first of the
kind I had seen, will ever be very pleasing.

TOWN GARDENING.

City Squares, &c. — In considering improvements to
which we may look forward in what is called Town-
gardening, town and city squares, and such places,
may be regarded as fair ground for experiment.

Thirty years ago and earlier, when residing in
Mount joy- square, I sometimes asked an experienced
foreman at Grlasnevin gardens would this or that
plant succeed in the city. " Try," he would reply ;
" little is yet known of town-gardening : but don't
hope that they will thrive there without as good soil
and care as they require in the country." With but
little money to expend or time to bestow on such
matters, I made occasional experiments, sufficient to
warrant me to persevere, and encourage others to do
so ; and already I have enjoyed many a plant grown

42 Town Gardening.

within our city bounds, and even within the influence
of its smoke, which I would scarcely have ventured
to try out of doors in those earlier days. I need not
remind anyone Avho knows Dublin, that the circum-
stances, and I may say climates, of Fitzwilliam and
Rutland and Mount joy-squares materially differ
each from the others, with respect to the growing of
many plants. Hitherto our squares have not had
proper staff or other provision for having them at
all as ornamental as they may be. However, consi-
derable improvement has been made in some of them
since I first took an interest in Mount joy-square,
where I lived for over quarter of a century. Soon
after entering manhood, very peculiar circumstances
led me to take part in the improvement of that
Square. Then two or three starved Hollies were its
chief evergreen shrubs, with perhaps a few Aucubas,
and the numbers have increased a hundredfold in
that, and in Merrion and Fitzwilliam-squares.

Of Evergreens and plants with permanent foliage,
many hybrid Hollies, remarkable for both foliage and
berry, and worthy of particular attention, have of
late been planted in some of our Squares. Also lies
Dipyrena, I. crenata, I. furcata, I. Fortuni, I. Tarago,
and /. cornuta, all of peculiar shape of leaf, promise
to succeed in our towns, and some of them are doing-
well in Merrion-square. The latter variety is
figured in Curtis' Botanic Magazine for the year
1858, Tab. 5059. And of these, as well as of the
kinds with which we are more familiar, new and

City Squares, &c. 43

interesting hybrids and cross-bred kinds may be ex-
pected from time to time to appear amongst us. I
made two unsuccessful attempts to grow /. latifolia
in Dublin ; and I do not remember having seen in
culture the somewhat similar splendid Holly which
is described in the 39th vol. of The Botanic Magazine,
Tab. 5597, from the Sikkim Himalayas.

Of Yuccas, different varieties, such as Y. recurva,
Y. gloriosa, Y. flaccida, flowering again and again in
the same Square, proves their fitness for such places.
I believe any of the variegated kinds, all of whifch
are much admired, had not been tried out a whole year
in any other of our large cities or towns till I lately
made an experiment with a pretty strong plant, cover-
ing it overhead for winter. This is the filamentous
species ; and for some years, the Eev. Henry Ella-
combe has grown rather large specimens of the varie-
gated Aloe-leaved species close to a wall, against
which he fastens a board at close of autumn above
each plant, to protect it from rain, &c.

Almost all one number of Mr. W. Saunders'.Zfr/^-
(jium Botanicum is devoted to descriptions by Mr.
J. GK Baker, and figures of different Yuccas; and
the same pen has elaborately described, in The Gar-
dener's Chronicle for 1870-1, all the species, and I
believe varieties then known in cultivation. Y. cana-
Uculata and others are figured in The Botanic Maya-
zinc. See Tab. 5201.

Several New Zealand Cordylines, by some called
Dracccnopsis, promise to follow Yuccas as ornaments,

44 Town Gardening.

very peculiar in appearance, for onr squares and
other town gardens. One of the first of the group I
noticed permanently out of doors I moved, in the
year 1867, from the garden of my friend Major
Bailie, on a bank of Lough Strangford, to my own
in Dublin, and finding it stand out winters here, I
planted it in a border of Merrion-square, where I
hope it will long flourish. The only protection it
has received has been sometimes drawing its long
foliage up together in winter, and tying a soft string
round it.

In summer, 1876, another friend, Fletcher Moore,
Esq., gave me a plant of Charlwoodia, or Cordyline
Amtmlis, which had been with him for above a year
out of doors and uncovered, and has continued so with
me ever since. Cuttings strike readily of pieces of
the stem, in sandy loam with peat or leaf mould.

Griselima lucida, or Iitoralis9 already mentioned,
one of a small family allied to Aucubas, has thriven
out in Dublin for several years. G. macrophylla is a
much showier shrub, but it seems to require shelter
in winter in most parts of Ireland, though it has
lived, and well, out in favoured places without com-
plete covering. It has wintered out at Sir F.
Brady's, at Dalkey, not far from Dublin, and else-
where.

Escallonca macrantha, named in honour of a
Spanish traveller, is a lovely evergreen shrub, and
promises to be valuable in town gardens for foliage
as well as flower. There are several kinds of this

City Squares, &c. 45

family, which is allied to the Gooseberry, and native
of South America.

One or more varieties of the Olive group, to which
Osmanthus is akin, may likewise be expected to suit
our town gardens, and are handsome evergreens.

Shaphiokpis ovata, or Japonica, with thick, ovate,
leathery leaf, and small bunches of white, sweetish
flower, is another native of Japan which thrives in
our towns.

There are several kinds of Pittosporum, natives of
Australia, Madeira, Japan, Cape of Good Hope, &c.
The New Zealanders call their plants Karo ; one
variety, crassifotium, is not an uncommon small tree
in the Northern Island, and is recommended for
extensive planting in the different islands, from its
hardihood, and power to resist and bear sea winds.
See Flares des Serres for April, 1875, p. 13. Bot.
Mag., Tab. 5978, A. D. 1872. It is said to require
protection of a wall in eastern England, but it seems
pretty hardy in different places near Dublin, and has
been out for about two years in Merrion-square. It
grows from four to ten feet high, dense and ramous,
with erect branches, #nd leaves clothed underneath
with white or buff. The flowers are generally in
nodding umbels, small, dark, chocolate purple, and
it seeds freely.

P. tobira is the species hitherto best known in Ire-
land, in many parts of which it grows out of doors.
For twenty years it has been an ornamental shrub in
Merrion-square, flowering freely every year about

46 Town Gardening.

June, and sometimes again early in autumn. The
bloom, in shape, fragrance, and general appearance,
resembles that of Daplme odora, but is not so
fragrant.

P. coreaceuni much resembles the kind last men-
tioned, and is scarce.

For the last few winters we have ventured to leave
uncovered in a border of Merrion-square a specimen
of Chanmrops humitis, and now, in the winter of
1877, it looks healthy and promising. The last one
or two years I have tried how another of these Palms
will likewise fare in the garden at rere of my own
dwelling-house, and I intend to give similar trial to
one or more other kinds of hardy Palms.

I venture to suggest further trial of varieties of the
Myrtle group, in parts of our cities and towns than
has yet been given to these favourite evergreens.
Amongst them I may name Eugenia tigni, from
Southern Chili, whose fruit is eaten at dessert in its
native countries. Another variety, E. apmilata, is
figured in The Botanical Magazine for 1858, Tab.
5040. E. luma is one of the prettiest of these Myr-
tles, and bears our climates in many places. Eugenia,
or Myrtus clequen, or clclecn, of which a figure is given
in The Botanical Magazine, Tab. 5644, has small oval
leaves, about the size of those of our common garden
Box, and, like some other kinds, well suits walls in
many parts of the kingdom, though it sometimes
suffers in severe winter seasons, or is burned by long
summer drought.

City Squares, &c. 47

Recently, fascination of what are called bedding
plants, with brilliant bloom and foliage, becoming
epidemic, seemed to threaten permanently to displace
many herbaceous favourites from the prominence
they long enjoyed as border plants, but reaction has
set in in favour of intermingling the latter with the
others, without injuring the claims of either. Even
the limited opportunities I have had for observing
how some handsome herbaceous plants, hitherto little
tried in Dublin, will there succeed, encourage me to
expect to see many growing luxuriantly amongst us.

We all remember varieties of Saxifragia^ called
London Pride and Paris Pride, as familiar to us in
childhood. Now, at least one hundred and fifty
kinds of this family are in culture, of which many
beautiful varieties grow well in our cities. Large,
fleshy-leaved species, such as 8. cordifolia, 8. crassi-
folia, are quite hardy, and have abundant bunches of
handsome pink flowers in early spring, and some
even before close of winter. 8. ciliata is handsome,
but not quite so hardy as those others. Several
kinds, with slender flower-stems, varying in height
from a few inches to about two feet, and of whose
flowers some are white and others speckled and
spotted, and with variety of foliage, come in later
than the fleshy-leaved kinds, and are worthy of
more general attention than they have hitherto re-
' ceived. S. Ncpafcnsis, S. Fortuni, S. ligulata, 8.
rosularis, S.pyramidalis, &c., may also be mentioned.
Some of the low-growing kinds form good carpeting, as

48 Town Gardening.

it were, in which Lilies and other bulbous-rooted plants
look better than growing in the clay-coloured bed.

Hellebores are particularly interesting as early
bloomers. Long enough the common Christmas Rose
was spoken of as if unique of its genus, now H. atro-
rubens, If. atropurpureus^ and others, are pretty
common. I specially notice II. argutifolius, or the
Holly-leaved Helebore, as, to me, the handsomest of
the family, and one which I have seen but in few
places. It is well worthy of a conspicuous position
for its foliage, irrespective of its handsome bloom.
All, I believe, grow freely from self-sown seed, and
in ordinary good soil.

Nasturtiums, Tropceolums, have gained a position in
town gardening from which they are not likely to be
displaced ; but T. polyphyllum, which is, to my eye,
one of the most interesting, I have not yet seen
grown in any town, though I see no reason why it
should not there succeed. Like most of the family,
it is native^ of South America, and grows in racemes
several feet long, radiating from a centre, and with
yellow flowers and leaves thick along each. It is
readily propagated by bulbs, which form deep below
the surface ; and the plant possesses a quality, like
Dictamnus fraxinella, of generating and emitting in
certain states of the atmosphere, towards evening, an
inflammable gas and electric sparks, which was, I
believe, first observed by a daughter of Linnaeus.
It flowers with much beauty at Glasnevin. See
Botanical Magazine, A. D. 1869, Tab. 4042.

City Squares, &c. 49

Foliage of many of what are called umbelliferous
plants is particularly ornamental in young stages of
growth. Amongst which are Ferula communis, F.
persica, F. tingitana, Oreocome filicina, Ligusticunt,
Pelaponnesianuni) Pcncedanum offitinale, &c.

For more than twelve years, one plant of the com-
mon Heliotrope has lived in a border of Merrion-
square, losing the foliage at close of autumn, and
springing up before the next summer. Here also
MeUanthm major grows vigorously, though I have
not known it to flower so far within the city. It
likes light, rich soil and sandy loam, with which lime
rubbish may be mixed.

Any kind of Erytkrina, commonly called coral
trees, is scarcely known in outdoor culture in Ire-
land, though some varieties are very suitable, and
very showy. Natives of the tropics of both hemi-
spheres, some of them attain a height of one hundred
feet, with large dimensions ; but grown in Ireland
as a garden shrub, they die, or are cut down each
autumn, to send up vigorous stems in spring, pro-
ducing handsome blood-red, pea-shaped flowers, of
various hues. E. amasisa, of Peru, is described as
one of the most beautiful trees of the country, clad
in spring and autumn with large flame-coloured ver-
milion bloom. Thirty years ago, I saw E. crista-
cjalli flowering in Kingstown, near Dublin, where the
only protection given was cinder or turf-mould at
commencement of winter. This variety has been
out many years in our College Botanic Gardens;

E

50 Town Gardening.

and at Mr. Veitche's Nursery, at Chelsea, I have
seen it in a sheltered nook, where it has grown for
some quarter of a century, flowering abundantly
about August. E. herbacea is also well worthy of
attention.

From the numbers of these plants which I saw
for Sale in nursery gardens on the Continent, parti-
cularly at Marseilles, at low prices, and the facility
of growing them from seed and cuttings, no ordinary
flower-garden need long be without one.

I may also suggest for such places varieties of
Lilies and liliaceous plants, of Acanthus and Saxi-
frage, and Anemones, of Campanula, of Mimulus, and
Primroses, and Gentians, of Gladiolus, and Dahlia.
And for late autumn, approaching winter, Chrysan-
themums are invaluable, as are Hellebores and Christ-
mas Hoses, of which now there are many kinds
amongst us, for the close of winter and entrance of
spring. Already the Japan primroses, whose intro-
duction into this country made quite a sensation in
the gardening world, are in tens of thousands from
seed and offsets ; and seem to be even more valuable
for outdoor growth than for the conservatory or gar-
den frame.

And all we have now spoken of, and much more,
may be accomplished with but little skill, if taste
exist, and reasonable attention be paid to aspect, air,
light, water and cleanliness, and to watching against
snails, slugs and such-like visitors ; and in some
places against cats, dire foes to town-gardening.

Rock Gardening. 5 i

But, notwithstanding every difficulty, even tyros are
surprised, after some perseverance, at the amount of
comparatively inexpensive pleasure they enjoy, partly
in giving pleasure to others.

We may well expect that the judicious care which
Sir Arthur and Lady Olive Guinness will bestow on
the alterations they are commencing in St. Stephen's-
green will make it, as to ornamental plants, the most
interesting city square in the kingdom; and that
whatever head devises the improvements will bear in
mind that the placing a shrub or other plant a few
feet from others one way instead of another may
give it opportunity of being ornamental or un-
sightly.

ROCK GARDENING.

The increasing attention which this subject has of
late received may lead us to expect corresponding
improvement in various ways ; and everywhere there
is room for indulging taste in design, and proving
skill in execution. Let us have but a few feet of
ground to spare in a city area, or acres of inland glen,
or of wild and picturesque sea-side slope, we may
find a gem to suit each nook and cranny ; and many
lovely plants look better in such places than on level
ground. It is found not easy to prescribe specific
rules as to the construction of all rock-gardens, so
much depends on situation and general circum-
stances ; but I venture on a few suggestions which
may be generally useful. Good drainage and mate-
rial in the foundation and lower parts, and provision

Rock Gardening.

for escape of superfluous water are important. Koom
is to be allowed for roots of the plants ; and as a
general rale, straight lines should be avoided, and
straggling and coarse- growing plants. Further, I
will here only refer to a few authorities, which I
have found interesting to myself, and name a few
plants and rock-gardens which are likewise so. At
page 270 of The Garden for 1877, is an alphabetical
list of some few hundred Alpine plants for ornament
in rockeries, some of which are, with a few others,
here mentioned : —

Acantholimum,

Achillea clavcnnce,
Adonis,

JEthionema saxatile,
Ajuga Genevensis,

Andromeda tetragona,

Anemones,

Astragalus,

Bulbocodmm vernum,

Campanulas,

Cordylines,

Cyclamens,

Cypripedium spectabile,

Daphnes,

Dianthus,

Draba violacea,

Echcverlas,

Ericas (Heaths),

Erythrinas,

Funkias,

Gazania splendens,

Gentians,

Gladiolus,

Hyacinths,

Ibcris,

Irisses,

Lythospormum prostratitm,

Narcissus,

Penstemons,

Primroses,

Ranunculi,

Salvias. The lovely blue S.
patens has stood out for years
in an open border, with turf-
mould or cinder thrown over
the roots for winter.

Saxifrages, in great variety.

Scillas,

Sedums,

Scmpervivum,

Sympliitum pictmn,

Staticcs, and other sea-coast
plants.

Trollius Asiaticus,

Veronicas, in great variety.

Violas,

Yuccas,

Zauschcrneria Calif or n ica.

Rock Gardenin.

.

Nertera depressa, from Southern America, is a dwarf
creeping herbaceous gem when profusely covered
with its bright little orange berry. I have seen it
at Bitton, amongst Mr. Ellacomb's hardy ferns,
whose fronds shelter and partially shade it, and else-
where flourishing out of doors ; and now plants can
be purchased for a few pence.

Eritrichiim w0m*w, which inhabits many European
mountains, is amongst the brightest of Alpine gems.
It is said that its intense blue is approached only by
that of dwarf Gentians, whilst its azure hue is like
to that of a deep-blue sky, seen from its native hills.
It is found from the south of France to Carniola, in
stony places, fed by snow rills, at elevations of from
twelve thousand feet downwards.

Just now Begonias — named from the botanist
Begon, and of which several species have for a
considerable time been favourites — attract particular
attention, and are very valuable in different kinds of
town-gardening. Already many brilliant varieties
from Peruvian Andes, of the group to which the
It. Veitchii, B. rosteflor. B. Clarkei, &c., belong,
though not knowrn more than a few years in Eng-
land, are amongst the brightest ornaments in sum-
mer of many rock-gardens, and at other seasons also
of the conservatory. The first of those above-named
withstood in Mr. Veitche's garden a temperature
of 25° Fahrenheit, which, considering the elevated
region where it is native, led Sir Joseph D. Hooker
to expect, or at least hope, that it would stand outside

54 Rock Gardening.

at Kew. But as yet none of the family has there
borne the combined effects of a winter and spring's
cold and damp, though they bloom on a rockery
beautifully during summer, and are easily afterwards
preserved.

B. Davisii, recently found near Chupe, in Peru, at
an elevation of 10,000 feet, is thought by many to
excel all other known tuberous-rooted varieties, from
brilliance of colour and compactness of habit. It
is figured in the Botanic Magazine for 1876, Tab.
6252.

I have learned from a faithworthy and experi-
enced gardener, that some pieces of roots of the same
group as B. rex, which happened to be in soil which
he took from within a house to enrich a holly he was
planting outside, in the month of March, grew up in
summer, and flowered under the tree's shade, and
lived there throughout the next winter and spring.
That happened in the Queen's County ; and in the
month of September I saw in a nook, outside my
friend Mr. Jessop's fernery, at Cabinteely, more than
one young plant of a like kind, which grew there
without having intentionally been planted there.

Heterotropa Asaroides, called also Asarum Japo-
nicum, is a peculiar-looking little plant, for which we
are indebted to Japan, with leaves mottled somewhat
like those of some Cyclamens. Though generally
treated as an indoor plant, I believe it will bear our
winters in many places. Spring is its blooming sea-
son.

Rock Gardening. 55

Arcncbia echioides, with yellow flowers, somewhat
resembles in general appearance Lithospermum frnti-
€OMimy whose bright dark blue makes it a valuable
feature on rockeries.

Though the loveliest Clematis, and Lapagerias,
rosea and white, may be called straggling, there are
many places in rockeries and rock-gardens where
they would be beautiful features. And now they
are increased by thousands from layers, and eyes, and
seed. Sometimes the branch for layering is wholly
severed from the parent plant.

The first specimens of this rock-gardening which
attracted my attention are the fernery at Grlasnevin,
and the rockeries in the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens ;
the latter I had the advantage of seeing on different
occasions, in company with Mr. Mac Nab, in its early
and more advanced stages.

One of the last of such gardens which presented
much of novelty to me is that of Sir Francis Brady,
Bart., at Sorrento, near Dalkey ; where, amongst
several plants ordinarily grown under glass, some
little shrubby Diosmas, and some of Erica MacNah-
iana E. Hy emails, are now in vigour, after living out-
side for a few years. Here also GriscUnea macro-
phylla is, I hope, proving that in some parts of Ire-
land this beautiful shrub will flourish in sheltered
spots, at all events in a young. stage of growth. It
stood out well for a few years at Mr. EialPs, Old
Conna, county Dublin. I have some hope that it

56 Rock Gardening.

may succeed as a city or town ornament, with more-
or less of protection in winter season.

At the southerly side of Edinburgh the grounds
of Mr. James Cunningham, at Blackford Brae, have
been skilfully laid out by Mr. Gorrie, landscape gar-
dener. Taking advantage of the peculiar sloping
bank at rere of the dwelling-house, and of lessons
which Mr. Mac Nab taught the public at the Botanic
Gardens, as to construction of rockeries, Mr. Gorrie
has constructed one of considerable extent, studded
with various suitable plants. In the People's Gar-
den, at our Phoenix Park, at Glasnevin Gardens, at
Powerscourt, at Mr. Jessop's, Cabinteely, near Dub-
lin, in different places in the county of Meath, and
in many other parts of Ireland, though still too
sparse, there are rockeries and rock-gardens where
very .interesting experiments are being carried on,
some inside and some, outside. In many places,
sheltered from prevailing winds and peculiar local
severity, and sometimes with partial or temporary
covering of glass, slate, or otherwise, plants will even
flourish which, without such care, would inevitably
perish. Throughout the country are countless ra-
vines where homes may be made for lovely varieties
of the Fern and Moss groups, natives of New Zea-
land, of Japan, and other countries, hitherto untried
amongst us out of doors, and which, with temporary
protection, may luxuriate all the year. In a shady,
sheltered corner of the small garden of William

. Trees as Street Ornaments. 57

Andrews, Esq., near Monkstown, Dublin, are many
such plants, from seed which he brought from New
Zealand, and some of which I have not seen in so
good condition elsewhere.

TREES AS STREET ORNAMENTS.

Patriots little foresaw the improvements which
l)ubliii has already made, when predicting the re-
sults of our Legislative Union : —

" How justly alarmed is each. Dublin cit,

That he'll soon be transformed to a clown, sir !
By a magical move of that conjuror, Pitt,

The country is coming to town, sir !
Thro' Capel-street soon, as you rurally range,

You'll scarce recognize it the same street ;
Choice turnips shall grow in your Royal Exchange,

Fine cabbages down along Dame -street.
Wild oats in the College won't want to be tilled,

And hemp in the Four-Courts may thrive, sir ;
Your markets again shall with muttons be filled—

By St. Patrick, they'll graze there alive, sir!"

The arboriculturist Mr. A. Moiigredien, in his
Hcatherside Manual, and elsewhere, states that the
Levant Plane (Platanus OricntaUs, or digitata) is
hardier than the Western P. occiden tails, from Ame-
rica— disregarding smoke, soot, and malaria of our
cities, as it is seen adorning parks," and squares, and
grounds about the Law Courts and churches of Lon-
don. That some such trees, be they Planes, Elms,
A*h, Ailanthus, Acacia, Maples, Paulounias, or others
as yet unproved, would thrive even in our Sackville-

58 Plant i Jig at Railway Stations.

street, and in other streets and roads may reason-
ably be expected; that all would succeed without
need of frequent replacement, any more than in
Paris, can scarcely be even hoped. Healthy trees
should be selected — not what may be called poles.
In some localities, and in some circumstances, varie-
ties of Ilex, of Evergreen Oaks, of Aucubas, and of
other evergreens of the Pine groups, where smoke
does not interfere, &c., may be very appropriate
along sides of streets ; but judgment is much needed
in selection of plants. I have seen Privets called
evergreen, Ligmtrum oratum, &c., grafted on long
stems, growing as single trees round courts of the
noblest palatial residences in Italy.

PLANTING ABOUT RAILWAY STATIONS, ETC.

Already railway banks, and other patches of
ground adjacent to stations in various places, and
varying in extent, are planted so as to be features of
considerable interest. The first which I particularly
noticed is that at Falkirk ; afterwards the noble
group of Douglas' lordly Pine at Dunkeld ; and
since, the little garden, thirty feet long by seventeen,
at rere of the Salt-hill station, near Dublin, Mr.
Kelly, the station-master, has transformed into a
gem, for which, justly, he has been presented with a
medal by the Royal Horticultural Society of Ire-
land, and been honoured by visits from the first
personages in the country. At some railway sta-

Planting at Railway Stations. 59

tions in England and in Italy, and elsewhere, I have
observed promising advance in ornamental planting.
Many such places may contribute to the revenue of
Companies and nursery gardeners, by arrangement
for exhibition and sale of plants and flowers, some-
what in analogy to what is everywhere seen for sale
of books and periodicals.

There are very many such places throughout the
country, where Camellias and Magnolias would flou-
rish on walls, or even as standard bushes in sheltered
nooks, or surrounded by shrubs, and present quite
beautiful pictures in early spring, alone or with
Rhododendrons, &c. Lately, a bush of Camellia
was killed at Stedalt, near Balbriggan, by moving it
after growing there for fifty years. Nearly twenty
years ago, I saw above one hundred flowers on it at
one time in March ; and one winter or spring after
that, it had above one thousand blooms. It was of
the semi-double, cherry-coloured kind, called Donck-
lacrii. It is not generally known that amongst
modes of propagating this lovely shrub is by cut-
tings in bottles of water, as myrtles and other plants
are sometimes rooted. They rather like high, exposed
situations ; but in shelter, and not requiring peat,
they dislike limestone soil.

60 Botanic Gardens.

GROUNDS ABOUT CHURCHES, ETC.

Grounds about some churches and graveyards,
where intramural burial has ceased, have been neatly
planted ; and even cemeteries, by judicious planting,
are made to contribute to a serious cheerfulness, not
unbecoming to persons visiting places of Christian
sepulture. As I visit such scenes, I think we do in-
justice to the spirit and genius of Christianity by
planting about mere mortal remains of departed
spirits only such trees as Napoleon's willow, or
gloomy kinds of cypress : —

" Dark tree, still sad when others' grief has fled,
The only constant mourner o'er the dead ; "

or even the handsome Huon Pine (Dacrydium Frank-
linii}. The devoted women who followed their
adored Master to Calvary and the tomb, on return-
ing to that first place of Christian burial, to weep
over Him whom they little expected to see so soon
again, received the glad tidings which have sus-
tained, encouraged, and even cheered in all trials
nearly nineteen centuries of His followers.

BOTANIC GARDENS.

A standard cyclopaedia describes Botanic Gardens
as establishments wherein plants from all climates
and all parts of the world are cultivated, to impart in-
formation and improve science, partly for pleasure,
partly for luxury. To Theophrastus, who wrote a

Botanic Gardens. 61

history of plants, is often ascribed the honour of esta-
blishing the first public Botanic Garden, which he
bequeathed to his pupils. A disciple of Plato and of
Aristotle, he is said to have had the profundity of
the latter, with the fascinating eloquence of Plato ;
and Aristotle named him Theophrastus, or the Divine
teacher.

"We read that Attalus Philometor, king of Per-
gamus, and Mithridates Eupator, of Pontus, vied
with each other in establishing gardens for cultiva-
tion of poisonous plants and their antidotes ; and
biography tells us of one of the most fascinating
female sovereigns of antiquity being not a little
practised in such arts. When Antony was in
Egypt, abandoning himself to the guidance of Cleo-
patra, he feared and distrusted her, and insisted on
her tasting viands which she had presented to him.
On one occasion, deriding the futility of his precau-
tion, she placed a chaplet on his head, and in the
course of the banquet invited him to throw the
flowers into his goblet, and quaff them with the
wine. When about to pledge her, she abruptly
stopped him, and commanded a condemned criminal
to swallow the draught. The flowers had been
steeped in poison ; the wretch fell dead at her feet.

The language of Pliny the elder, in his elaborate
work on Natural History of Plants, written at the
commencement of this era, is so applicable to our
day, that I venture to quote a few lines. He asks
" Who does not readily admit, that now, when inter-

62 Botanic Gardens.

communications have been opened between all parts
of the world, thanks to the majestic sway of Eome?
civilization and the arts of life have made rapid pro-
gress, owing to the interchange of commodities, and
the common enjoyment by all of the blessings of
peace ; whilst at the same time a multitude of objects
which formerly lay concealed are now revealed for
our indiscriminate use ? " In our day, in the ma-
nagement of Botanic Gardens, are men who regularly
correspond with other learned men at the head of
great gardens elsewhere. The gardens made by Mat-
thaeus Sylvaticus, at Solerno, in the fourteenth cen-
tury, were, perhaps, more of the modern Botanic
Garden than any which had before been known.
About the year 1333, the republic of Venice esta-
blished a public medical garden, and had paintings
made, some of which still exist, of many of its plants.
I found there a good collection of soft-wooded as
well as other plants, and I purchased a few of the
rarer Yuccas, &c., at reasonable prices. Naples,
Turin, Bologna, Ferrara, Padua, Pisa, Pavia, Flo-
rence, Home, and in France, Montpellier, and other
cities followed, the example of Venice ; and all of
them, many of which I have seen, are full of interest
to the inquiring and observant visitor. We need not
discuss special distinctions between what are called
Botanic and other gardens. This, however, seems
plain, that in the present circumstances of horticul-
ture, such places are specially favoured with oppor-
tunities of giving pleasure and information to

Botanic Gardens. 63

multitudes, and of advancing civilization in most
agreeable ways. One of many important functions,
which daily develops itself, is naturalizing plants of
foreign countries. The Report for the year 1875 of
the Director of Kew Gardens gives some idea of the
extent to which interchange of plants and seeds
takes place between Botanic Gardens of this coun-
try and Gardens of the continent of Europe, and
of Asia, Africa, America, Australia, and New Zea-
land.

Volumes might be devoted to even sketch what is
a-doing in Botanic Gardens with which I am myself
acquainted ; but there are many particular plants
which are now so interesting, for trial out of doors,
that I may mention a few of them here. And
cheapness of glass, and large introduction of foreign
plants, enable thousands of persons to try experi-
ments which heretofore were confined to such gar-
dens as we here speak of, and a few wealthy
individuals. Palms, and a few kindred groups, are
amongst the first plants to which I invite attention,
both from peculiarity of their foliage, and from the
little that has yet been done in growing any of the
few hardy kinds as permanent ornaments out of
doors amongst us. When Pliny wrote about intro-
duction of a few kinds into Italy, it was thought
that only in tropical climates would any of them
mature fruit ; but in the collection of my friend
Mr. Edward Cecil Guinness are strong young plants
grown from seed which I saw gathered, and was

64 Botanic Gardens.

given in the Orto Botanico at Rome, within but
little distance from the Vatican, in September, 1872,
and some of which graced a dr a wing-room of Mrs.
Guinness for several weeks last spring. The fruit
was so immature when gathered, that I feared it
would not vegetate ; however, I myself have one of
the plants, which I cherish with classic interest ; and
what amateur would not do so in like circumstances ?
Whip me the Stoic !

Many of these plants produce fruit out of doors in
our Islands, and one has done so more than once at
Glasnevin, but I have not seen any ripen. This Chi-
nese species has borne several severe winters in a cold
district close to York, and in the county of Donegal,
and elsewhere in Ireland. Above ten years ago, Mr.
Backhouse planted in his nursery garden, near York
city, two young specimens of this Chusan Palm,
which experienced visitors in a few years afterwards
expected to see succumb to the first severe spring ;
but they have continued to advance and grow to
vigorous bushes, nine feet high and upwards ; and I
believe others of the same kind have been planted
there with good hopes of success. Nearly forty years
the dwarf European ChamDerops has held its place in
a green sward facing the old range of glass at Edin-
burgh Botanic Gardens ; and a few years ago, Mr.
Mac Nab told me that he attributes an improved
appearance, which I noticed, to his having left it
unmatted the few previous winters. On the same
occasion a specimen of Fortune's Palm, or of C. ex-

Botanic Gardens. 65

celsa, had recently been moved from a conservatory
to the same sward ; and though it seemed likely to
lose much of the foliage formed in the warmer place,
he expected it to retain what would grow outside ;
and so I believe it has done. Recently young plants
and seed of a very ornamental Palm have been in-
troduced amongst us from near the coast of North
Western America ; and it is hoped, and by many
expected, that they will prove as hardy as the Chi-
nese Chams9rops, or South American Areca. Bmhea
filamentosa is one of the names by which it is known,
also Pritchardia filifera, and I believe P. pacifica.
It is figured in The Garden, May, 1876.

In autumn of the year 1870, Dr. Moore, of Grlas-
nevin, encouraged by the progress he had lately
before seen made by the plants at York, moved from
a conservatory to a sheltered place at rere of his
dwelling-house the strong specimen of Ckamcerops
Fortunei, then some seven feet high, mentioned
above, and one about three feet high, of the Soutli
American Palm Jubcea spectaUlis. Early in the
following autumn, he likewise transferred to a bank
near Addison's Walk a goodly plant of C. Kha-
shina ; and since that he planted in a recess in front
of the metal range another variety of Chamcerops.
Some experienced men consider early autumn the
best season for such transplanting after the spring
and summer's growth indoors. Striking contrast
between the foliage of these two latter shrubs and
some which are considerably lacerated by storms, in

F

66 Botanic Gardens.

exposed situations, warn against expecting any of
the family to withstand all vicissitudes of our wea-
ther and climates, wholly unprotected and unscathed.

Perhaps enterprising men in trade, or amateurs,
may import from their native countries strong plants
of some of the Palms which have a reasonable hope
of looking well out of doors in Ireland ; and with
this view I also name Arcca sapida, from New Zea-
land, and A. Bauer i, from other southerly islands.
A few years ago, friends procured for me from Spain
a few vigorous stumps of that country's native Chct-
vicerops ; but they have not yet made as handsome
specimens as younger plants, seedlings, probably
would now be.

About the time of first moving Palms at Grlas-
nevin from within to try outdoor life, a Cordyline or
Draccenopsis, which had spent some quarter of a cen-
tury in the conservatory, under the name Draccena
Amimlis, gave its place to something more requiring
indoor protection, and took its stand in an open
border near to the entrance gate. Here it for the
first time flowered ; and it ripened seed, from which
there are young plants. Hound the stem, which is
about nine feet long, is wound hay rope at the ap-
proach of winter ; and this plant alone would encou-
rage to perseverance in such experiments. But the
same, and one or more varieties, have stood out in
many parts of Ireland inland and near the sea, and
without any special protection ; and in both situa-
tions they have ripened seed. The stem is straight,

Botanic Gardens. 67

and grows many feet high. In Hooker's Flora of
New Zealand, the country of the Cordylines, lie
names and describes several species, some of which
are almost unknown in Ireland — at all events in out-
door culture.

A few years ago, I particularly observed in a con-
servatory at Kew yoimg plants of Cordi/Jine Banksii,
the first of the species I knew of in this country.
One of these made its way to Grlasnevin, and has
spent the last few years in an open bor.der, where it
lias grown into a vigorous tuft ; from several shoots
of which there were, in July, 1876, strong stems
with abundance of flower, which afterwards seeded.
The first of the species which I know of having bloomed
in Ireland is at Merton, near Queenstown, county of
€ork, where I learn it has flowered yearly for the last
six or seven years, but without ripening seed.

By far the showiest of this group which I know of
having borne an Irish climate is Cordyline ihdivisa,
from New Zealand. The only place where I have seen
it permanently out of doors is Lakelands, near Cork,
where it has been in a garden border several years.
There, in 1874, I saw three plants forming a group
which appeared to be offsets from one centre plant
that decayed or was taken away. The principal
leaves of each of those which I saw were about four feet
long, and somewhat more than four inches broad in
the widest part, of peculiar olive green, with an orange
stripe or rib along the centre of each. Some years
ago, this very ornamental and interesting plant could

F2

68 Botanic Gardens.

be purchased for a few shillings ; and now, I believe,
from half a guinea to a pound, or more, is asked for
a young plant. Thrice I have received seed from its
native home, not a grain of which, though in most
experienced hands, has vegetated. Seed from some
of the first houses in London, described there as of
this plant, has grown with me and others, but not
one seedling proved to be what it professed to be — for
which, however, I do not undertake to censure any-
one. In the summer of 1876, a friend, Fletcher
Moore, Esq., when moving from the sea-side, near
Dublin, to reside inland, gave me a plant of the Cor-
dyline called Charlwoodia, which had stood in his
garden near the sea for at least nearly fifteen
months, without special protection ; and I have it,
looking well, in town ever since, out of doors and un-
covered. In that same neighbourhood, near Salt-
hill, another species — :very different from any I have
above named — has borne the last two or more win-
ters or springs, out, in a very sheltered corner of the
garden of William Andrews, Esq. I believe this
plant, which flowered well there, is more of what is
now named Dracaena than any of those others.

Yuccas, which are akin to the last-mentioned fami-
lies, have established such reputation in this country,
particularly for city ornament, that I again refer to
them ; and because my making a pretty good collec-
tion is much owing to watching the progress of those
at our own and some foreign Botanic Gardens.
Though most species bear Irish climates, and at least

Botanic Gardens. 69

one kind was introduced into England so early as
the sixteenth century, I believe there were but a few
plants in our city till I introduced several from my
small garden at Malahide to Merrion-square, about
the year 1861. There are now in its borders above
a hundred healthy specimens of the kinds most com-
monly grown. Hitherto all varieties of Y. aloifblia,
a species known in England since about the year
1700, have been treated to greenhouse care, with rare
exceptions. One of these was for many years in a
conservatory at Crlasnevin, and I have known it out-
side there for the last fifteen years, during which
time it has produced a few suckers, and looks likely
soon to flower. It is one of the fleshy-leaved species
now common in Italy and other parts of the Conti-
nent ; and from the place where it is at our Botanic
Gardens, it abundantly proves the hardiness of the
species in many parts of Ireland.

The variegated varieties, called quadricolor, and
others, may be less hardy than the green ; but, with
glass, or a board, or some cover overhead for winter,
I expect to see most kinds grow out permanently in
this country.

Amongst the species which for some years attracted
my particular attention at Glasnevin, was ]T. Trecul-
•ratttf, under the name 1^. or Agave Canaliculata,
which is one of several synonyms by which it was
long known. Till the last very few years it was
scarce in this country ; but, having flowered and
fruited in more than one part of France, and from

o

70 Botanic Gardens.

the admiration it attracted amongst the few persons
who saw it, seed and seedlings have been introduced
freely enough to make it now pretty well known
amongst us. In a small but interesting nursery-
garden, at Place Beau-Sejour, in a suburb of Mar-
seilles, I found a good collection of Yuccas, and at
reasonable prices. I saw a plant of Y. Trecukana
standing six feet high, which the proprietor, Mr,
Francois Ferrand, had shortly before my visit in au-
tumn, 1873, sold for three hundred francs. I bought
some seedlings of this variety, and in the nursery of
Mr. Durand, at Bourg la Heine, near Paris, I bought,
amongst others, a pretty strong plant of the same.
This plant, with little suffering, from which it soon
recovered, bore the severe winter of 1871-2, when the
thermometer fell below '25° centegrade, which was
much lower than its average coldest point near Paris.
This species has also stood out well the last few year&
at our College Botanic Gardens. At F. Ferrand's I
also bought a few young plants of Y. quadricolor, of
which he was growing several from cuttings made
of sprouts from an old decapitated stump, some
two and a-half feet or more high. The head, which
he cut off in spring, was forming a handsome youiigv
plant.

Y. filament osa varicyata has lived out many years
in a border at our Trinity College gardens ; and
though Mr. Bain occasionally covered it in winter,
he often told me that he thought it should not be
covered in this climate.

Botanic Gardens. 71

Yuccas, Cordylines, and kindred plants grow well
in good ordinary sandy loam.

Some Darlingtonias have borne uninjured seven or
eight degrees of frost near Dublin.

At the commencement of these pages, we found
many Ferns, Mosses, and kindred groups — holding-
important place amongst ornamental plants, and even
in the heart of a smoky city. So far as I know, our
best Botanic Gardens have still an important privi-
lege, of showing to amateurs, and all who can learn,
that there are varieties of these as well as other fami-
lies, whose aptitude for growing out, covered or
uncovered, in many parts of Ireland might be predi-
cated, and of which but little trial has been yet made.
It may be one peculiar province of such Gardens to
exhibit to the public specimens of lofty Palms, and
Tree Ferns, and of many other tall exotics, which will
not grow outside in our climates. For such pur-
pose glass buildings are required, of height and
dimensions unsuitable for ordinary gardens ; and,
generally, the same amount of expenditure on a much
smaller scale in private places affords much more
actual beauty, pleasure and satisfaction. Occasion-
ally, here and there, we find specimens of such plants
as I refer to, from tiny Moss to young specimens of
giant Tree Ferns, undergoing trial, judicious or other-
wise. But what can yet be achieved by skill and
care in favourable circumstances perhaps only some-
times appears to a picturesque mind, like glimpses a
saint hath of heaven in his dreams.

72 Botanic Gardens.

In the autumn of 1874, I saw two healthy speci-
mens of Dicksonia Antarctica in a nook amongst the
bamboos, in what is called the Bamboo Island at Fota,
in" the county of Cork, and I believe they have lived
well there since without further protection. For
gome years the same Tree Fern stood out in the
Island of Arran, down the Clyde.

For the last few years, Mr. Andrews, before-
named, has grown [out of doors near Monkstown,
together with varieties of Pittosporum and other
New Zealand shrubs, one of its fine large Ferns,
which he believes to be one of the Todeas of that
country. Conversations with Mr. C. Mudd, since
his botanical searches in India, and inquiries which
I have made of other men of knowledge and prac-
tical experience, satisfy me that I am safe in expect-
ing to see successful trial out of doors in Ireland of
many foreign and very ornamental Ferns which as
yet have not been out one winter here. Mr. Mudd
tells me that he found varieties of Akophiia in India,
where snow was knee-deep, and sharp frosts betimes,
and where he likewise saw a species of the Palm Sea-
forthia new to him.

At Powerscourt, at Bitton, at Lord Gough's villa
near Dublin, and in other places, I have specially
noticed isolated specimens of different foreign Ferns
from southern regions, and from North America,
Japan, and Continental Europe — just enough to
show how little has been as yet done, and to encou-
rage perseverance and experiment.

Botanic Gardens. 73

Amongst ornamental exotics which I believe Dr,
Moore is the first to grow outside in Ireland, are
varieties of that handsome Lily, Crinum, from
Southern Africa, which have justly attracted atten-
tion at Glasnevin for the last few years, and which I
have seen there in fresh bloom so late as the close of
November.

I cannot omit to mention the extensive group
known as Orchids, than which no plants now attract
more general admiration in a high order of garden-
ing. Of terrestrial Orchids, which grow on or
in the ground, there are some kinds native to Ire-
land ; and I look forward to very interesting results
from hybridizing these with hardy foreign kinds — of
which there are several of somewhat like character,
and much handsomer.

The only Cypripedium indigenous in this kingdom
is C. cakeolus, which was last found in Yorkshire
some years ago ; but there are species native to woods
of Russian Asia and Eastern Europe, up almost to
the Arctic Circle, and other foreign species which
suit our climates, amongst which may be particularly
named C. spcctalik, from cool parts of North Ame-
rica, and which, being easy of culture, and of in-
crease by division of root, may soon be familiar
amongst us.

Disa grandiflora, from the Table Mountain of the
Cape of Good Hope, is esteemed as the loveliest of
terrestrial Orchids ; and from the severity it endures
in its home, it is hoped that when the way of treat-

74 Botanic Gardens.

ing it outside in Ireland is hit upon as well as
proper indoor culture is now known, it will winter
here out of doors. Trial is being made of wintering
it under cap- glass or garden frame, and having it
uncovered for summer.

Many epiphital and parasitical Orchids bear, and
even thrive and bloom much better under, cooler
treatment than they have been wont to receive in
this country. Much has been written to demon-
strate this ; and Mr. John Bain, of our Dublin
College Botanic Gardens, with whom I have had
frequent opportunity of conversing on the subject,
has shown me many instances of the benefit of ad-
mitting abundant air to some of the loveliest of those
plants, which for years seldom were given any from
outside. In August, 1876, Mr. Mudd, already
named, showed me, amongst many very interesting
plants lately found by him in India, strong speci-
mens of Cymbidium eleyans, of Sologni ocratea, and
of another, or others, of the same family which he
gathered at an altitude of 9000 feet up the Hima-
layas. He also showed me a lovely Saccalabium, I
believe new, of his discovery, suited to a cool house.

What are called epiphital Orchids, which often
are parasites on forest trees, particularly in tro-
pical countries, compose one of the largest and
loveliest families of plants with which we are
acquainted. In grotesque resemblance of many of
the flowers of this family to butterflies, and other of
the insect tribes, and even to birds and animals,

People's Parks. 75

devotees to what is called Darwinism find abundant
material for study, comparison, and contrast.

Almost in the words which Mr. Bain has used in
suggesting the growing in baskets, or otherwise, on
trees here through great portions of the year, some
lovely Dendrobiums, and other Orchids, Mr. Mudd
made like suggestions. And he showed me some of
his collecting, which he doubts not would well bear
such treatment, albeit some folk might deem it dese-
cration.

PEOPLE'S PARKS AND GARDENS.
What are popularly called People's Parks and Peo-
ple's Gardens seem daily to acquire increasing import-
ance. One of the first places of the kind we read of,
though very different from what we now enjoy, was the
gift above-mentioned by Theophrastus, of his garden
at Athens to his pupils. Modern improvements of the
parks of London and Paris, and many others, show
plainly that statesmen and leaders of the public
mind now consider such places for public enjoyment
and recreation very important in the present state of
society. Some of these, such as Pare Monceau at
Paris, from its moderate size and plantings of shrubs
and flowers, may appear to be more of gardens than
of pares ; but most public parks now have some por-
tion specially devoted to culture of the smaller kinds
of ornamental shrubs and flowering plants, which
places may well be called People's Gardens. Of this
we have a promising specimen in our Phoenix Park,

76 People's Parks.

near the principal entrance from Dublin, which may
be very pleasingly instructive to vast numbers of
visitors who cannot conveniently go often to Botanic
Gardens, properly so called. This is one of the first
public gardens in this country in which I noticed pretty
large groups of some particular plants well grown per-
manently on rockery. I may again name Cor dy lines,
which form a remarkable feature in a well-chosen place.
Aralia Steboldtiiy sometimes called Fatsia Japonica;
ftldmmcas, Fortune's Chusan Palm, and other inte-
resting shrubs are on trial here, and I hope their suc-
cess will encourage the managers to add to their
number, following even at a distance what is adoing
in the parks of London and elsewhere.

In admiring or looking at particular plants, with
a view to planting the like elsewhere, we should
ascertain how far the soil and general circumstances
of the different situations correspond with each other,
or suit the plants.

For instance, in the Phoenix Park People's Gar-
den, there is a good-sized bed of Ehododendrons,
and seemingly in a healthy condition ; but the gene-
ral soil of the country about does not suit this
family ; and it might be more useful to expend in
plants naturally adapted to the soil of the locality
the extra money which it takes to import soil for
Rhododendrons.

It may be important for authorities to consider
how much each hundred pounds judiciously expended
in such places would save the Imperial treasury in

People s Parks. 77

support of military and police within the next quar-
ter of a century. Perhaps our taste is not sufficiently
matured to appreciate such ornaments as make Bat-
tersea Park peculiarly attractive ; but I venture to
suggest that some of the like would be a very useful
as well as interesting addition to our People's Gar-
dens. I name a few which are particularly admired
in Battersea.

•Some Palms, of which I believe Areca sap Ida is
one ; and Jubcea xpectabilis may be there, but I did
not see it.

Bamboos of different kinds.

Varieties of Agave, and others of what are com-
monly called soft- wooded plants.

Garrya macrophylla, of a small family allied to
Aucuba.

Erythrinas, commonly called Coral Trees, in good
bloom.

Begonias, named in compliment to the Botanist

Beaucarneas, Bonaparteas, Dasylerions, Cijcads, Mu-
msy Fourcroyas, Aloes ; varieties of Tree and other
foreign Ferns ; and no plant more surprised me than
Pandanus Veitchii and P. utilis, of which I saw several
which heretofore nave seldom been trusted outside of
a warm house, even with such occasional protection
as they receive at Battersea.

78 Villas.

VILLAS, DEMESNES.

What villas are, as distinct from what are com-
monly called demesnes, might puzzle us accurately
to define ; but near to most of our great cities and
towns there are houses and grounds which are gene-
rally recognised as villas. The Eomans, in their
most cultivated times, had three kinds — the TJr-
bana, Eustica, and the Fructuaria ; but three times
three would not count the varieties of our villas, be-
sides those of other countries on the Continent of
Europe and elsewhere. We could name hundreds
of such near Dublin, London, Edinburgh, and other
towns, each with something of special interest ; and
though there be much variety amongst them, each
would be considered deficient without a conservatory
and garden, and more or less dress-ground, with
ornamental exotics of some kind ; and nowhere does
the advancing taste of the middle and lower ranks of
the community in such matters seem more apparent
than in these suburban residences. Though exotic
shrubs at Villa Carlotta, on Lake Como, and the
collections at the islands in Lake Maggiore, and at
Villa Ada on its northern shore, and some in other
parts of Italy, are very interesting, the move in this
kind of ornamental planting seems as yet but partial
in that country of classic villas. Still the most popu-
lar guide-books to Italy and to other parts of the
Continent seem not to consider their villa grounds
as worthy of particular observation. The principal

Villas. 79

interest which their villas inspire is in their pictures
and statues ; as to the most celebrated of which an
eminent writer, quoted in one of these books, says :
•" A few Cardinals created all the great villas of
Home. Their riches, their taste, their learning, their
leisure, their frugality, all conspired in this single
object. "While the eminent founder was squander-
ing thousands on a statue, he would allow but one
<rown for his dinner. He had no children, no stud,
110 dogs to keep. He built for his own pleasure, or
for the admiration of others ; but he embellished his
country, he promoted the resort of rich foreigners,
and he afforded them a high intellectual treat for a
few pauls which never entered his own pocket."
Doubtless every person with love of the Fine Arts en-
joys as a great treat a visit to some of these galleries;
but to anyone with a taste for horticulture it is
refreshing to go from the dazzling beauty which they
present, sometimes with somewhat of sameness, into
such grounds as those of Isola Bella, or others about
Italian waters, and see the progress ornamental gar-
dening is making there. In 1872 I spent some days
at Hotel Tramontane, which was Tasso's Villa, at
Sorrento ; and two of the proprietors, ladies from
our county of "Wicklow, seemed quite anxious to in-
troduce into their grounds, where lemons, oranges,
and other fruits luxuriate, such ornamental shrubs
and plants as would add to the beauty of one of the
loveliest spots in Europe. And in visiting these and
other show places abroad, and admiring their most

8o Villas.

ornamental plants, I see very many of the hand-
somest, whose full beauties Irish climates are particu-
larly fit to develop — for what other in Europe better
suits the loveliest evergreens ?

At Villa Caiiotta, on Lake Como, a specimen of
the fine Holly called Ilex latifolia (whose leaves are
from eight to a dozen inches long), about eight feet
high and in full berry, particularly attracted my at-
tention, as the first I had seen in fruit, and by far the
healthiest in general appearance. Soon after I saw
a somewhat similar shrub in the Orto Botanico at
Naples. About two years later, in autumn, 1874,
amongst luxuriant shrubs, at Lakelands, near Cork,
was one of these shrubs, or small trees, about fifteen
feet high, with clean and well-shaped branches, and
abundance of ripening berry ; and in the following
year the same Holly fruited well at Phineas Biall's,
Esq., Old Conna, not far from Dublin ; and- 1 mea-
sured another fine plant there, about fifteen or more
feet high.

Though much valuable information be attainable
by even an occasional Continental visit, we must now
return home to avail ourselves in practice of what we
have learned abroad. And here varieties of situa-
tion, of climates, and of soils, of villas and demesnes,
and of taste and circumstances of their owners, afford
opportunities for experiment, and for improving par-
ticular families and groups of plants, in ways and to
an extent not ordinarily within the province of pub-
lic Botanic Gardens.

Villas. 8 1

Within a very few miles of Dublin, the dress-
ground at Lord (rough's villa, St. Helen's, fairly
illustrates what can be accomplished by skill, with a
desire to always have a show in the open ground,
even in the most trying seasons and in circumstances
untoward as to winds and otherwise. The grounds
are exposed to modifications of easterly winds, blow-
ing directly in from Dublin Bay, not far distant.
Yet, undaunted by difficulties which would deter the
inexperienced, and whilst providing for summer and
autumn in a style worthy of admiration, the visitor
is presented in the months of winter and spring with
a very interesting exhibition of hardy herbaceous
plants ; Dodocatheons, called American Cowslip, of
which there are several kinds, I remarked here : and
if the handsome, hardy Cypripediums, C. spedcibilc^
&c.3 be not already in the collection, I doubt not
they will be added if this page come under the eye
of his lordship, or any other authority in the place.

Perhaps these grounds are more of demesne than
villa ; and still more so are the neighbouring, grounds
of Lord Pembroke, at Mount Merrion, where a very
interesting collection is shown by a skilled and
obliging gardener.

I may name, amongst villas near Dublin witn
which I am acquainted, that of Sir Arthur Guinness
on the north, and that of his brother Edward Cecil
on the west side.

And amongst Ferneries, those of Mr. Jessop, at
Cabinteely ; Dr. Hudson, at Merrion ; Mr. Westby,

G

82 Villas.

at Roebuck Castle ; Mr. Stawell Webb, at Monks-
town, near Dublin ; Mr. liiall, near Bray, may be
specially named.

From time to time, and unexpectedly, we see an
exotic plant growing out in parts of Ireland, and
even well, where we would little predicate that it
would survive one winter and spring. Above twenty
years ago, on visiting Downpatrick Gaol, during the
Spring Assizes, the Governor showed me a rather
strong plant of the common Heliotrope, on the gar-
den wall, where it lived from the previous spring ;
and one of the same kind has been for more than
twelve years — how many I cannot say — in an open
border of Merrion Square, deciduous late in autumn,
and growing up afresh on returning spring. Some
years ago, amongst many shrubs in the collection of
the late Mr. Whitla, Cave Hill, near Belfast, I was
surprised to see one of the Australian Hakeas with
ripe nuts — a plant which I had seldom before seen
even indoors in Ireland. Afterwards it stood out
some years with me at Malahide, and flowered well
at close of winter or in early spring.

In more places than one, specimens of the edible
tea shrubs are receiving fair trial whether they will
more than exist amongst us; I know some in the
counties of Wicklow and Cork ; and when I had a
garden at Malahide I was giving two varieties a
trial there, which I had not an opportunity of seeing
sufficiently proved.

There are numbers of plants of which it would be

Villas. 83

difficult to predicate that they will live out for years
in southern counties, and fail in northerly localities,
though some parts of Cork, Kerry, and Clare are
peculiarly salubrious. But I have been surprised at
what I have seen and know in Wexford, Wicklow,
and parts of our own county Dublin, and elsewhere,
within special influence of mild sea air and shelter.

In some of these places Ilex Tarayo promises to rival
/. latifolia; and I have read descriptions of a Holly,
from the Sikkim Himalayas, much resembling those
two in general appearance, but differing in conforma-
tion of the berry, but I have not yet seen a specimen
of it in Ireland. Early in the spring of 1874 I ob-
served on one of the specimens of /. dipyrena, at Grlas-
iievin, the only berry of this Holly which I have seen
ripen in Ireland.

Magnolia grandiflora^ Lord Exrnouth's variety, is
well known throughout Ireland as one of our noblest
evergreens. Generally it is grown against a wall ;
but already in some places it is a handsome standard
bush, though I know not one in the country as yet
approaching the size which we all have admired in the
north of Italy in various plaees, where betimes there
is very trying weather. Varieties have been raised
from seed, of which some are finer than others.

A few deciduous species have long proved their
hardiness in various districts. M. tripetala, M. Len-
nei, M. umbrella, M. conspicua, M. Soulangeana, J/.
glauca, &c., well deserve careful attention. How far
the deliciously fragrant little M. fit scat a can be

r< 9

84 Villas.

treated as a subtropical shrub I cannot say. I have
seen it so at Isola Bella, in Lake Maggiore, where
winter is often cold and stormy.

At Lakelands, near Cork (Mr. Crawford's), I
observed, amongsit a choice collection of Bhododen-
drons in the open ground, It. Thompson! above eight
feet high ; of A*. Fakoneri, one plant nine feet, and
another nearly as high; JR. Dalhomianum, with
abundant flower-bud. A bush of this variety is re-
ported as standing out in Arran, down the Clyde,,
above ten years, and having one spring one hundred
and forty flowers. It. was grafted on E. ponticum,
and never suffered from frost, whilst others of the
same kind growing near it were occasionally so in-
jured. Amongst Conifers, I likewise there observed,
in the autumn of 1874, Cryptomeria eJegans and
Araucaria Braziliemis above twelve feet high and
well-shaped ; Dacrydium Franklinii and Podocarpm
undina, or Pmmnopitys cleg am — the latter from Chili,
whose fruit is edible — about fifty feet high; Picea
hracteata, P. yrandis, Abies De&oneana, and A. polita.
Iscria policarpa, called also Poly car pa Jfaximowii, is
here about ten feet high. This is described as a
charming Japanese climbing shrub, with large ele-
gant heart-shaped leaf, and purple berries, which are
said to be edible. On different parts of the dwelling-
house are vigorous plants of Berberidopsia corallwa,
from eighteen to twenty feet high, which bloom
abundantly. Bignonias, which I elsewhere men-
tion) are well grown here, and deserve much more

Villas. 85

general culture in Ireland than they have yet re-
ceived.

Libocedrus Doniana (Thuja Doniana, or Dacrydium
phimosum, Kcucaha of the natives), from forests along
the banks of the Hokianga river, near the Bay of
Islands in the West Island of New Zealand, has for
several years stood out well in favourable situations
in Ireland. Of many border plants at Lakelands, I
much admired the only specimens of the true Corcly-
line indivisa which I have seen winter out in Ireland.
The group of three vigorous plants, which were
several years out, appeared to be offshoots from one
parent, which died.

In outlets of towns and cities, and perhaps within
some of them, the evergreen Californian Chestnut,
Castanea chrysophilla, deserves a choice place. It
grows in its native home to a height of forty feet. I
have had near Dublin a young pot plant, about two
feet high, bearing four nuts one season. In Sep-
tember, 1856, the late Sir William Hooker, when
showing me his specimen at Kew, said that he knew
but one other in England, both of which came from
seed which a collector sent from California. The
same evening I wrote to Mr. Frazer, Comely Bank,
Edinburgh, suggesting to him to lay a plant which
lie and I had been for some years watching in his
nursery, not knowing what it was. He did so, and
at Powerscourt, and Old Conna, and elsewhere in
Ireland, are now some of the produce, which promise
well.

86 Villas.

Orcodaphnc Catfformca has been spoken of as a
splendid addition to our gardens, if it stand our
winters, which in many places it has done for several
years. It is one of the handsome trees for which we
are indebted to California, and which at any stage is-
well worth attention. David Douglass speaks of
taking shelter under a well-grown tree which was so
sweet, aromatic, and pungent, that it produced such
violent sneezing, that even in a hurricane he felt
obliged to move elsewhere. A specimen has grown
for many years against a wall in the inclosed ground
at Grlasnevin, always looking healthy ; and a large
bush is against Mr. Ellacomb's dwelling-house at
Bitton. Native hunters make a decoction from the
leaves.

At East Ferry, near Queenstown, county of Cork,
are interesting collections, which daily become more
so, in what may be called villa-grounds, of Mr. Bag-
well, Mr. Gumbleton, and others. In the first of
these places, I particularly observed Bruymamia sau-
guinea in strong force after surviving some winters
out. Likewise at Bitton, near Clifton, where it has
lived many years. Lately I observed in the villa -
garden of Mr. M'Master, at Simmonscourt, near
Dublin, several vigorous shoots, of last summer's
growth, from a tuft which has been some years in an
open border. These plants have been treated as
herbaceous, dying down for winter and spring, and
the roots are covered with turf-mould or cinders. I
have read a description of a large shrub living out

Villas. 87

in this country many years, having its stem and
branches matted on approach of winter ; and if the
semi-double kind, called £. Knighti, will flourish
under such treatment, it may be a beautiful feature
in summer and autumn. Ordinary good garden soil
suits all well.

Amongst many novelties which I observed at Mr.
Grumblet oil's is Fremontia Californica, which doubt-
less will soon be well known for its pretty yellow
flowers, expanding in April and later. It was dis-
covered by Colonel Fremont a few years ago in the
northerly part of Sierra Nevada. It is of the Malva
family, and the flowers are pretty abundant at the
ends of short spur-like branches.

Varieties of variegated Phormium, New Zealand
Flax, here proved that they well bear some of our
climates, and they are now planted out in many
places near Dublin and elsewhere.

I may suggest that in the grounds of many villas
there are streams and streamlets, lakes and ponds,
whose spongy margins invite experiment with aqua-
tic and many other families hitherto too little grown
in such places. In how few of them in Ireland have
the Richardia, commonly called the Egyptian Arum,
and others of the same family, been tried ? It is
only of late years that Disa grandiflom, one of the
loveliest of terrestrial Orchids — and which is now
imported pretty freely from its native Table Moun-
tain in Southern Africa — was seen amongst us even

88 Villas.

indoors. Such hardship as it endures in its wild
home, and has occasionally experienced in the con-
servatory in an Irish winter, would seem to imperil
its existence ; but, like many of the Lily group, it
revives, as it were invigorated by what it has en-
dured, and in hands that know how to cultivate it
increases manifold from year to year.

Several of the Narcissi, Narcissus conepicuus, a
richly golden-flowered form of N. bulbocodium, or the
hooped - petticoat Narcissus, N. triangularis, and
others, would do well in many such marginal places
as I refer to. Tufts of different Primroses — amongst
which I would particularly notice new varieties from
Japan, for their rich foliage, irrespective of peculiar
and ornamental spikes of crimsoned flowers — are
well suited for growing on the moist margins of shel-
tered streamlets.

In like favourable situations, the fresh spring
foliage and graceful rosy wreaths of Diclytra specta-
bills may take their place in company with our
choicest flowers.

In a garden of limited extent, at Hammersmith,
near London, and in a district whose smoky atmo-
sphere does not specially favour ornamental plants,
Mr. Peacock has a most interesting collection of what
are called soft- wooded plants, with others : and 1
believe he and his experienced gardener, Mr.
Croucher, manage to make good use of vast num-
bers of surplus plants, by disposing of them for

Villas. 89

charitable purposes, and encouraging the growing
taste for such pursuits — without encroaching on the
province of men in the trade of horticulture.

When I visited Mr. Wilson Saunders' villa at Eei-
gate, in 1872, his grounds, though not extensive,
exhibited one of the largest and best collections of
outdoor plants, other than forest trees, I have seen.
Probably he had the greatest variety of Yuccas in
any collection in the kingdom, amongst which were
many of the first specimens of their kind introduced
into the country, some of which are figured in his
Rcfuyhtni Botanicum, and in Curtis's Botanical Maga-
zine. Mr. Saunders told me that, after much obser-
vation, he inclines to think there are not more than
about thirteen distinct specimens known in cultiva-
tion.

Outside our great northern capital, on the slopes
above the Firth of Forth, and on those looking
towards the Pentland Hills on the southern side of
the city, several villa-grounds have been recently
tastefully laid out and planted.

The collection of Isaac Anderson Henry, Esq.,
at Hay Lodge, near Trinity, and scarcely a mile
northerly beyond the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens,
may, like that of Mr. Ellacomb, at Bitton, claim for
the grounds, which are of limited extent, the title of
experimental gardens. Some very popular favourite
plants have been designated Henrici or Anderson i
after Mr. Henry, who has flowered many such plants

90 I ril/as.

for the first time in this kingdom, as has likewise
happened with other plants at Bitton, under the care
of Mr. Ellacomb.

Since the opening of Japan to intercourse with the
Western world, under the enlightened rule of its pre-
sent sovereign, that country has continuously pre-
sented us with varieties of ornamental plants new to
us, and vieing with each other in beauty and interest.
Amongst many whose peculiar loveliness has made
them much sought for are varieties of Lilies, of which
those called Lancifotiimi, lance-leaved, and L. aura-
tum, become everywhere special favourites, and their
suitableness for villa gardens, and ease of increase,
cannot be too generally known. I have seen a print
of one tuft of L. auratiim, in a large flower-pot, with
two hundred and fifty flowers. Generally, I believe,
hardy and half-hardy Lilies grow better in the open
ground or conservatory border than under pot-
culture ; and if required in pots, may be moved
carefully from the ground, to be replaced when out
of bloom. It may not be out of place to tell of a
Japanese peasant of whom we have lately read, whose
humble grounds attracted the attention of visitors of
various classes, and at last were honoured by a visit
from the Sovereign Tycoon, who was so pleased with
what he saw that he raised the grateful man to the
honour of the two-sworded class, as an encourage-
ment to all good gardeners for ever. I may mention
a successful experiment by Dr. Moore, "at Grlasnevin,

lrillas. 91

with some specimens out of doors of Crinum Maori,
and another variety of the same Cape Lily, C. ama-
Hie, which have flowered vigorously.

The Pine groups compose a large family of trees,
chiefly evergreen, which of late attract much admi-
ration, and of which more may be said when we speak
of Demesnes. Comparatively few villas are without
some ; and too often they are placed as if the planters
were ignorant or regardless of the size and height
they attain — often within a few feet of windows
which they must darken, or be sacrificed when about
to develop their character. Many, however, whilst
young, are shrub-like beauties, to be judiciously
transplanted to grow to forest trees ; and, in a
younger stage, as pot plants, are very ornamental in
rooms. Amongst those may be again mentioned
some of the Cycacidce, which are links between Pines
and Palms. Of this group, I have known many bear
several degrees of frost in conservatories, and expe-
riments are in progress in growing them out of
doors. They are ordinary ornaments in Japanese
gardens.

"We have already spoken of Palms, all kinds of
which hitherto in Ireland have been generally kept
under glass except during summer-time. There are
varieties which from different causes we may reason-
ably expect to see cultivated in many places alto-
gether out of doors. About the year 1849, the
Chusan Palm, Ohamcerops Fortimei, was introduced
into Kew, by Mr. Robert Fortune, after whom it

92 111 /as.

is named, and soon proved itself one of the hardiest
of the group well called princes of the vegetable
kingdom. For nearly quarter of a century a few at
least of this Palm have lived out below the latitude
of London ; but the beauty of some of those which I
have seen has been much marred by the effect of
winds, though well enduring cold. One such speci-
men is in the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Eegent's Park.
At Grlasnevin, Dr. Moore is trying an experiment for
protecting the foliage of one or more specimens.
Inserting firmly in the ground around the bush a
few posts or poles to the height of or a little above
the top of the leaves, he has made of spruce branches
rustic screen- work around, but not touching, the
foliage.

But by far the finest specimen I know of this
group permanently out of doors in the kingdom is
one of C. excelsa, which was planted by the Hon. and
liev. J. T. Boscawen in his glebe ground at Probus,
in Cornwall, in 1853. It is over sixteen feet high,
and at six feet from the ground the stem measures more
than three feet in circumference. For seven years
it has borne many bunches of well- developed fruit.
In the same ground is a male plant about ten feet
high, growing luxuriantly. We read that this Palm,
as well as Cycas rcvoluta, is one of the most ordinary
bushes in Japanese gardens, however small the gar-
den may be.

Though the various Italian and other Continental
climates differ materially from most of those at home,

Villas. 93

much, valuable information may be obtained for ex-
periment here, by carefully observing what things-
will grow there, and what protection they require
and receive even in and about Naples.

After admiring a fine round bush of Cham&rops
Fort-urn, or excelsa, some six feet high, on a bank of
Lake Como, at Cadenabbia, looking in September as
if it never required protection, I was somewhat sur-
prised to learn that it is matted for winter every
October.

We see fine specimens of Dasylcriorts, very orna-
mental, out in Northern Italy ; but I believe all these
require protection in winter, and I hope to see experi-
ments with some of the group to which these belong,
under what is called sub-tropical treatment, in Ire-
land, and even wintering out with suitable protec-
tion. One young Dasykrion was planted in a border
at Fota a few years ago, near to where I observed a
pretty strong Beaucarnia longifolia, which I was in-
formed had stood there for some years.

In Battersea Park — whose climate is inferior to
those of a thousand localities in Ireland — I observed
a few stumps of Aralia papyri/era^ the rice-paper tree
of China, whuxh. have stood there for some years,
losing their soft foliage on approach of winter, but
retaining vitality in the stem to sprout afresh in
spring. Other species of ornamental Aralias, parti-
cularly A. Sicboldtii, have proved themselves valuable
additions to villa ornament ; so that it is interesting
to observe what protection they require in different

94 Villas.

localities and situations, for in many they will not
flourish without some.

From the vigour which Jubwa special His, native of
far Southern America, has exhibited throughout seve-
ral years that it has lived wholly uncovered in a
sheltered spot at Grlasnevin, none need fear to suggest
trial of it wherever any Palm will thrive outside. I
hope to see the Cabbage Palm, Arcca sapida, and A.
Bauer i, of New Zealand, and other southern regions,
likewise tried amongst us. Cannot strong specimens
of these Palrns be imported as readily as old Tree
Ferns and Cycacidce ? and, meantime, young ones may
be growing strong and vigorous, and fit for wintering-
out.

In most of our villas, since the great fall in price
of glass which our day has witnessed, are more or
less of stove and hot-house, of conservatory and
glazed frame ; but we try to spare such places for
what will not grow as well without protection.
There are, however, special reasons for occasionally
giving temporary protection to even hardy plants,
such as hastening, preserving, or retarding bloom or
foliage, for decoration, exhibition, or otherwise. In
town gardens, cats too often are dire foes against
which we need precaution.

Demesnes. 95

DEMESNES.

Perhaps we might close here with quite enough to
afford occupation till continuing advance supplies
material for another edition of this little book. I
Imow not a plant in our largest demesne that is not,
in some stage, in villa grounds ; but the choicest of
these are limited in size, and without space for forest
trees fully to develop their grandeur and beauty, and
compose such features as they do in large demesnes.
And now, with admiration of what is already within
our reach in the various branches of gardening of
which we have spoken, the mind, even of a citizen in
the city, seems to enlarge and expand, by prospect of
what will yet be accomplished in demesnes of our
beautiful island. We may remember how refreshed
we saw Socrates, as described by his friend and pupil
Plato, by even an evening walk in the outlets of
Athens, within whose walls his life was habitually
spent. If we continue to advance only at the rate
we have gone within our own memory, what a series
of gardens will our country present at the close of
a century ?

Already we have spoken of some country seats
as villas, which perhaps might well be called de-
mesnes ; but we have increasing numbers of noble
demesnes which cannot be mistaken for villas, as to
some of which a few words may be added. And
though each branch of our subject presents a large
field for profitable as well as pleasant employment of

g6 Demesnes.

women as well as men, and of all ranks and ages, that
which we now come to speak of seems to invite the-
special attention of great numbers of high orders of
the female mind, who wish for more suitable occupa-
tions than circumstances have hitherto offered to
satisfy their aspirations.

In early times of Eastern civilization, Arboricul-
ture was practised by Jews and Greeks, and still
more by Romans, for ornament as well as use ; and
some kind of landscape gardening, on a pretty large
scale, engaged the attention of at least a few great
women as well as great men.

One of the first instances of which I have heard
was designed with artistic skill by the greatest Sove-
reign of his day, to gratify the taste of a lady.
Already we have glanced at those great works which
the King of Babylon wrought by captive slaves, to-
create on artificial hills outside his city ornamental
gardens, in imitation of the hills at Ecbatana, the
country of his queen Amytis. We may also remem-
ber the reply of King Cyrus the younger, when com-
plimented on the beauty of his hanging gardens at
Sardis, that they were wrought by the labour of his
own hands. In the polished age of Pericles, at the
height of Grecian civilization, Athenian philosophers
took much pleasure in such recreations, Cicero and
others, in the Augustan age, and many in later days
of Imperial Rome, expended large sums in planting
and adorning parks for public benefit as well as for
their own private enjoyment.

Demesnes, &c. 97

It is interesting to read the description given by
the elder Pliny of the introduction into Italy, and
attempts to naturalize, Plane-trees, Palms, Euony-
mus, &c. Amongst his many works, that on Garden-
ing has been saved, so that we may contrast the
utmost that had been attained in Augustan days
with what is now within reach of ordinary farmers
and tradesmen in every civilized country. For cen-
turies from Rome's decline but little advance appears
to have been made in Europe, or elsewhere, unless
perhaps in China and Japan ; but with revival of
learning, taste for the subject somewhat revived.
Lord Bacon's Essay on Gardening — the last edition
of which was by Archbishop Whately — is interesting
and short. About the close of the sixteenth century,
Gerard cultivated eleven hundred kinds of trees and
plants ; and between that time and 1664, when Eve-
lyn published his Sylva, many new species of trees
were introduced into gardens and pleasure-grounds
in England. "We may gather from Arthur Young's
Tour in Ireland what little advance demesnes here
had made a century ago, and how he appreciated the
natural aptitudes of the country for landscape gar-
dening. Amongst the few whose ornamental plant-
ing he particularly notices are Powerscourt, Collen,
Farnham, and Strokestown, which latter has been
much improved within a few years by planting new
trees suitable to the soil and climate. And in select-
ing timber trees for ornament or other use, it is
specially important to consider soil and climate, and

H

98 Demesnes^ &c.

in planting to have regard to prevailing winds.
Just now I refer to some observations of Mr. Young,
on his visit to Collen, as to the magic power of an
improving proprietor, and some of its effects which
he saw there ; and of late I have myself more
than once seen changes greater and on a larger scale
wrought at Strokestown, within the last five-and-
twenty years, by energy and perseverance of a wise
and faithful agent. This country, once a plague-
spot of poverty, disease, and degradation, has been
transformed into an improved and comfortable dis-
trict, where attention is now paid to planting for
ornament as well as profit. Eecently, in looking
over some young plantings here, I perceived a few
of the Douglas Pine, which happening to be in well-
made soil, looked vigorous ; and another few, which
being in the natural land, appeared far otherwise.
Mr. J. Ross Mahon, of whose agency I spoke, and
his brother, Sir William Mahon, consulted the expe-
rienced nursery gardener, Mr. Madden, at Ballina-
sloe, as to more extensive planting of this noble tree
in parts of Eoscommon and Gralway, where limestone
prevails — little doubting, from the descriptions they
read in standard books, that it would grow to a hand-
some and good timber tree ; but Mr. Madden recom-
mended them not to waste money, time, and land in
what he doubts not would prove unsuccessful. Mag-
nolias, likewise, he considers not likely to thrive in
those places, unless in carefully prepared soil ; but I
hope they will receive fair trial in different localities.

Demesnes, &c. gg

Speaking of Chief Baron ^Foster's works at Collen,
Mr. Young says: " With no peculiar advantages, but
many circumstances against him, amongst which con-
stant attendance at the Courts in Dublin, enabling
him to see Collen but by starts, was not the least,
the works were left to others at a time when he
could have wished to give them constant attention.
Twenty-two years before, the whole country was a
waste sheep-walk, covered chiefly with heath, dwarf
furze, and fern, the cabins miserable, and the whole
place yielding a rent of not more than from three to
four shillings per acre. His lordship was clearly of
opinion that his improvements were very profitable,
besides affording him uncommon recreation. His
son (the last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons,
and afterwards Lord Oriel) took much pleasure in
adding to them, and had introduced seventeen hun-
dred sorts of European and American plants." " This
great improver," adds our author — "a title more
deserving estimation than that of a great general or
statesman — has made a barren wilderness smile by
cultivation, planted it with people, and made those
people happy. Such are the men to whom
monarchs should decree honours and nations erect
statues. And as to the thieving disposition of the
common people, of which he heard much, the Chief
Baron, from personal experience, judged them to be
remarkably honest ; and he said he lived in his house
without shutter, bolt, or bar, and, with the place half
full of 4 spalpeens,' he never lost anything."

H2

ioo Demesnes^ &c.

Powerscourt, visited or heard of by every tourist,
is specially mentioned by Mr. Young. And it is
worthy of particular notice, because the Dargle and
demesne and the Waterfall grounds appear much
more favourably circumstanced for admirers and
students of landscape gardening, as they long have
been for the artist, than any other place so near
Dublin. Here mountain and hill, valley and plain,
river, streamlet, and pond, particularly salubrious
climate, and all kinds of soils, highly cultivated
tastes, and ample opportunities for procuring what-
ever is most beautiful and suitable, combine in a
manner rarely met. Some of the most recent and
best works on Forestry speak of the collection of
Pines at Powerscourt as amongst the finest in the
kingdom.

Some years ago, my namesake of Eathdaire, in
the Queen's County, was careful in selecting a choice
collection of Pines and of most kinds of other trees
and shrubs suitable for that handsome place : and it
is deserving of particular notice, as presenting to
visitors from the different neighbouring towns — Por-
tarlington and others — a fair field for seeing what
will grow in that part of our country.

Several of the demesnes I have been privileged to
visit, from Shane's Castle to some in the West and
South, supply abundant material for an elaborate
treatise on landscape gardening, and ample opportu-
nity for indulgence of refined taste. It is very inte-
resting to see how luxuriantly many of what are

nts^ * t\ ''**•'! >J>> ; Jj i o i

considered tender forest trees and shrubs grow in
some of these localities. Mr. James Brown, of Stir-
ling, in his work on Forestry, remarks that on the
east coast of Ireland, about Donaghadee, the most
tender of our forest trees grow with much luxuri-
ance ; whilst on the west coast of Scotland, about
Portpatrick, but eighteen miles distant, not a forest
tree can be coaxed to grow, within considerable dis-
tance back from the seashore ; to account for which,
he dwells on the importance of considering aspect
and prevailing winds, which in many places have as
much influence as soil.

Here we may name some trees, shrubs, and other
plants of different heights, size, and character, which
seem worthy of particular attention, and many of
which appear not to have as yet received as much as
they deserve. Amongst trees of evergreen or persistent
foliage, comparatively few Conifers or cone-bearing
Pines, or of the berry- or fruit-bearing of the Pine
groups, have been long known in this country ; but
within the present half century many foreign kinds
have been introduced, several of which promise to pro-
duce valuable timber as well as being ornamental ; and
volumes, some with beautiful plates, are devoted to
their description. Araucaria imbricata at Kew, when
I was a law student, was the first of the family which
particularly attracted my attention, and this Pine has
since become one of the most remarkable trees in our
plantations. The Araucarians, natives of the Andes,

IO2 .

where it is indigenous, are said to be proud of their
name, which means frank or free, and they have vast
forests of their noble Pine.

It peculiarly enjoys elevated banks, and grows
well in dry, airy parks not much exposed to trying
winds ; and it likes a soil deep and dry and not re-
tentive, where its roots can get down without inter-
ruption.

The principal division of Pines seems to be into
what are called cone-bearing, and those called berry,
or fruit-bearing ; and of each I may name a few par-
ticularly worthy of attention.

Abies Douglasii, the Douglas Columbian Fir, is one
of the handsomest, hardiest, and quickest growing
introduced into Ireland. It is not half a century
since Douglas seemed to have somewhat anticipated
his untimely death in a buffalo-pit in the far West,
when he wrote about this and other beautiful trees of
his discovery, as he says, " lest he should never see his
friends, to tell them verbally of these beautiful and
immensely large trees." Of rapid growth, and having
attained a height of about three hundred feet in
Columbian valleys, it has already reached to nearly
one hundred in Great Britain. It is not very fasti-
dious as to soil or situation, provided the soil be in a
healthy condition, with subsoil cool and porous. I
have seen it luxuriate in alluvial vales of Ireland,
and in romantic glens and mountain dells of Scot-
land, and in Wales in debris of slate-rocks, and many

Demesnes, crV. 103

Bother places. But in limestone districts I have seen
it look unpromising, and I have been advised not to
recommend it for these soils.

Timber of mature well-grown trees is fine-grained,
elastic, heavy, strong, clean, and easily worked, and
capable of receiving a high polish ; and there are
varieties or forms called Fastigiata, Gregiana, Pen-
dulaij Taxi/olid) Variegata, &c.

P. Cembra, the Siberian Pine, is one of the hardiest
of our Pines, and not particular as to soil or situa-
tion.

Pinus excelsa somewhat resembles P. strobus, or the
Weymouth Pine, and, deservedly, is in every collec-
tion, growing rapidly, but impatient of storm.

P. Hartivegii, JIartweg's Pine, is a handsome tree,
but I believe does not grow above fifty feet high.

Abies Canademis, or the Hemlock Spruce y is on'e of
the handsomest Firs of American woods, liking deep
and somewhat moist soil in sheltered situations.

The Black Spruce, the White Spruce, the Califor-
nian Hemlock Spruce, are all pretty well known.

A. Menziesii is very ornamental and hardy, and of
rapid growth ; and A. Smithiana, the Himalayan
Spruce, is likewise much admired.

A. Pattoniana, Patton's Spruce, grows to great size
in the Oregon country, and is said to resemble the
Deodar Cedar in habit and general appearance ; but it
is more thickly branched, and is densely clothed with
foliage, and, to some eyes, it is handsomer. This,

io4 Demesnes j &c.

like other Firs, luxuriates in loamy, porous, cool-
bottomed lands.

Abies amabilis, the Lovely Silver Fir, called, I be-
lieve, A. lasiocarpa, A. Loiciana, is a hardy Fir, reach-
ing to two hundred and fifty feet in height, of which
a variety is called magnified or robusta.

A. gmndis, the Grand Silver Fir, one of the noble
trees of which Douglas wrote, luxuriates in alluvial
valleys, and is quite hardy in many situations.

Of A. nobilis, Douglas says he spent weeks in a
forest composed of it, and day by day ceased not to
admire it ; and it is said to be acknowledged by all
the Pine race as Picea's Queen.

" Hail ! Nobilis, thy sceptre sway

O'er Picea's silver train ;
Our homage, Beauty's due, we pay,
To thy all- verdant reign.

" Hail ! Empress of the Firs and Pines !

Grand giants ! pigmies green !
"What Pine, what Fir its vow declines
To crown thee Picea's Queen ?"

A. Nordmanniana, Nordman's Silver Fir, is a lovely
tree, very hardy, and not particular about soil or
situation, cold or warm, high or low, and attains a
height of nearly one hundred feet.

Perhaps I name as Abies some Firs which should
be called Pines or Picea, and to a learned ear I may
make many blunders ; but in this, as in subjects con-

Demesnes, &c. 105

iiected with my own peculiar profession, I find even
great names clashing with names of equal greatness,
where both cannot be right.

Pinus Austriaca, Black Austrian Pine, is one of
the best known, and for ornament, one of the most
useful of the group.

P. Pyrenaica, the Pyrenean Pine, is a majestic
tree, hardy and quick- growing.

P. Rcsinosa, the Resinous or lied Pine, is worth
growing for ornament, as well as producing some of
the best Pine timber.

P. Pallasiana, or the Taurian Pine, is a very hand-
some kind, but the Austrian Pine is often sold under
its name.

P. macrocarpa, or the large-coned Pine, is free-
growing, handsome, and hardy, producing cones from
twelve to fifteen inches long, and five or six broad,
one of which has weighed about four pounds. It is
somewhat capricious as to soil, liking good, light,
•dry loam, deep and porous, and open dry subsoil, and
is best where early sun will not fall directly on its
foliage.

Bent/lam's Pine, P. Benthamiana, from California,
forms a fine tree reaching to two hundred feet in
height.

P. Eadiata is very handsome as a single tree, at-
taining a large size and height, and somewhat resem-
bles P. insiyuis, with cones thrice the size of those of
iimgnis. The discoverer, Dr. Coulter, with whom I
was acquainted for some years, said that its timber is

106 Demesnes, &c.

excellent, and much used for boat-building ; and I
believe it grows well near the sea.

Pinus insignis, justly called the remarkable Piner
is too well known to say more than that it is of rapid
growth and tolerably hardy. Bather light, dry,,
loamy soil suits it, where it has free air without
severe winds. Introduced in 1833, it has grown
already seventy feet in England.

Of P. Pinsapo I have read : —

" Hail ! Pinsapo, thou goodly tree !
Thou art all grace and symmetry,

Gem of Iberia's land.
A pitchy wood tho' we confess,
Yet perfect lignine these hath less ;

And well thy charms demand
That thee in rank our strains address
As next our Queen — our fair Princess."

A few young plants of what is called the Golden
Larch, Pseudolarix Kaemferi, which was introduced
from China into England in 1852, with doubts as to
its hardiness, promise so well in the different places I
have seen them, that I invite attention to the tree.
Deciduous, like common Larch, it attains a height of
sixty feet, with leaves double the length and breadth
of our own one, and of graceful drooping habit. The
largest specimen of this handsome, and I believe
valuable, timber tree I know in Ireland is at Old
Gonna, near Dublin, where it is some twelve feet
high, and looks healthy ; but some which I saw a few
years ago may already have exceeded that height.

Demesnes, &c. 107

Peculiar foliage of some kinds of what are called
the Arbor vitse family invite the planter's atten-
tion. The Incense Cedar, Librocedrw, or Thuja
doniana, Don's Arbor vite (which, like many other
plants, has synonyms), is sufficiently attractive to
make it worthy of the care it requires in choice of
situation, for it is only in favoured places it stands
our climate. Forests along the Hokianga, near the
Bay of Islands in the Northern Island of New Zea-
land, are its native home, where its height is from
thirty to about seventy feet. In Ireland I have seen
plants in the county of Wicklow and elsewhere look-
ing healthy, but none as yet larger than a small
shrub.

L. Dolobrata, the hatchet-leaved, which, a native of
Japan, is very handsome, and attains a height of
about fifty feet.

L. Chilensis is a beautiful tree from the Chilean
Andes, where it reaches a height of seventy feet.

Species or varieties called Biota, or the Tree of
Life, some of which we see as oval or roundish
shrubs, from one to a few feet high, and with golden
foliage at certain seasons, are deservedly grown, and
are hardy in this country.

Raxopitys Ounninghamii, Cunningham's racem-
flowered Pine, from China, somewhat resembling
Araucarias, but much less majestic, grows well in
some warm shady situations with sweet sandy loam.
The best specimen, I know, of what I believe is this
Pine, I observed at Shane's Castle.

io8 Demesnes, &e.

Some other Cedars are too well known to need de-
scription here. C. Atlantica, C. Deodora, C. Libani,
Cryptomeria, C. Japonica, C. viridis, are favourite
trees. C. elegans has been justly described as one of
the most elegant of recent additions to our Conifers.
Lawson's Cypresses, C. macrocarpa, and C. Nut-
kaensis, or Thtijopsis borealis, Dacrydiuni Frank-Unit ,
and several Junipers, J. drupacea, J. Japonica, J.
oblonga pendula, and J. Wittmanniana, are very hand-
some.

Podocarpus is another pretty distinct variety or
kind of Conifer not to be forgotten, but not quite
hardy ; and Retinosporas or Retinisporas, some of
which attain a height of eighty feet in their homes
in Japan, are beautiful, whether as young bushes or
well-grown trees. And naming SaUsburia, or the
Maiden-hair Tree, Saxe-Gotha and Sequoias, one of
which is well known as WdUngtonia gigantea, and
another as Taxodium sempervircns, which reaches
nearly three hundred feet high in North- West
America, enough has been said to give inquirers
interesting employment. Sciadopytis, or the Umbrella
Pine, is said to be fastidious, liking loamy, sandy,
sweet, healthy, gravelly, porous soil. Sour soil, or
very dry situation, does not suit it. It likes a warm,
sheltered locality, neither too dry nor too moist, and
not exposed or over- sheltered above, also an open,
free substratum. It attains a height of one hundred
and fifty feet, and the Chinese and Japanese have it
dwarfed as well as large, and of variety of foliage.

Demesnes^ &c. 109

I now name a few trees and shrubs of other fami-
lies which attract attention, and some of which per-
haps have been already mentioned.

Of Maples, Acer macropliyllum.

Negundo fraxini folium, N. polymorphum, from
Japan, which latter, probably, is too tender for our
climates, unprotected.

Ailantm glandulosa, or the Tree of Heaven, on
whose leaves a hardy silk- worm, called Bombyx Cyn-
thia, loves to feed.

Ampeiopsis, commonly known as five-fingered ivy,
of the Vine family, and of which those called Vcitchii
from Japan, are lovely on walls, as is also A. Japo-
nica (Sieboldtii), from the same country, abounding
in beautiful plants.

Amygdalus, or Almond Tree.

Andromeda , somewhat akin to heaths.

Aniseed Tree, Itticium, stands out in many parts of
Ireland.

Aralias, of which also there are some lovely varie-
ties from Japan.

Arbutus Andrachnc, A. procera, A. uva-tirsi, a
vigorous trailing plant.

Aristolochia sipho.

Aristotelia Macqui.

Azaleas, several of which are hardy.

Herberts Darwinii, &c. Of this group there are
very handsome shrubs from Japan called Mahonias.

Buxus, or Box, of which I lately procured plants

no Demesnes ) &c.

•of a new variety from Japan, which promises well,
and is a good town plant.

Catycanthus, or American Allspice.

Camellias, of which hardy kinds form lovely spring
flowering bushes or shrubs in North, South, East,
and West of Ireland ; and I have lately seen a few
healthy specimens of Teas, the green and Assam
species, which I have known for some years out of
doors and uncovered.

Catalpas.

Ceanothus, of which there are evergreen varieties,
ornamental on walls, and of rapid growth.

Citrus, Orange and Lemon, of which Citrus trip-
tera, or Limonia trifoliata, promises to stand out in
some of our climates with, and perhaps without,
shelter of a wall.

Colletia, belonging to the Buckthorn family, is a
very peculiar shrub, and well worthy of a place in.
collections ; and I know not any reason why it may
not grow in our towns, and even parts of cities.

Cotoneasters and Cratcegus, of the Apple family.

Daphne, some of very sweet kinds, are hardy.

Garry a elliptica fcemina fruited several years at
Mr. Finzell's, Clevedon, near Bristol. The fruit are
about the size of peas, and come thirty or forty
together on drooping racemes, some few inches long.

G. maerophylla, or laurifolia, has finer foliage, but
seems in most localities to require protection of a wall,
or other partial protection, in winter.

Concluding Observations. 1 1 1

" There are several very handsome Oaks, with ever-
green or persistent foliage ; and others not so, though
«ome of them retain the leaf fresh much longer than
others.

Quercus pannonica, I believe from Siberia, is one of
the finest of Oaks, and of rapid growth, producing
•excellent timber. The Scarlet Oak is also a fine
variety, and to be had cheap.

Q. lamellosa, common about Darjiling, is spoken
of by Sir Joseph D. Hooker as by far the noblest
known species, whether for size of foliage and acorn,
or for their texture and colour, or for the imposing
appearance of the tree. The wood being indifferent,
and the acorns sprouting very soon after ripening,
may be reasons for its being but little known in
England.

Some Magnolias, from the size they attain in
favoured situations, may be classed amongst trees as
well as amongst shrubs.

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

We have sketched our subject so that each of us
may select for particular attention any branch that
suits our taste. We have seen great men and wise
in all times enjoy gardening for pleasure and recrea-
tion— when Babylon was in her greatness and Gre-
.oian civilization at its height ; when King Solomon
was in his glory, and Cicero, when one of the busiest
leading men of Eome. Lord Bacon wrote an Essay

112 Concluding Observations.

on Gardening, which Archbishop Whately made time
to republish, with notes. Napoleon at St. Helena
betook himself to such pursuits to beguile weary
hours ; and the late Emperor expended tens of thou-
sands in ornamentally planting the parks of Paris ;
which work has already largely encouraged improve-
ment, and creation of such places in the British
Islands, and throughout Christendom, and elsewhere.
Slight acquaintance with the history of ornamental
gardening for the century, up to our day, shows hosts
of choice spirits, who attained high positions in
various callings, enjoying it as healthful recreation.
In the seventeenth century the Dutch mind became
almost deranged, from what has been called Tulipo-
mania ; when many individuals expended much more
than they could afford for a few roots of their favou-
rite flower, and two thousand florins were paid for
one of the tulips called Semper Augustus ; and ever
since, Holland has been a country to supply Europe
with various ornamental plants. For centuries — I
know not how many — Japan and China have been
countries of gardens ; and the islands of Great Bri-
tain are perhaps more indebted to Japan than to any
other country for ornamental plants which suit our
climates, and in Japan love of plants and flowers
pervades all classes. Mr. Fortune tells us that all the
ground about the village of Sumse-Yah is covered
with nursery gardens, and that when he visited that
country no other part of the world cultivated so-
many plants for sale.

Concluding Observations. 113

Notwithstanding all we read about ornamental
gardens, in particular places and at occasional times,
within our own memory culture of plants for orna-
ment has made more way generally in the world, and
in the British Islands amongst the rest, than at any
former period. Pliny the elder, who spent his life
in study of natural history, left an encyclopaedia of
all that was then known of horticulture ; but all that
was small, and the enjoyment confined to few, com-
pared with what is within reach of millions amongst
us. In these later days, from Japan and China to
Terra del Fuego and islands far to the south, from
North- Western America to Queensland, the world is
ransacked to minister to our pleasure in different
branches of natural history ; and rulers and leaders of
the public mind, in countries most distant from each
other in many ways, encourage such enjoyments.
We all see or hear of what has been done and is
a-doing in the parks of Paris and London.

Now, even at risk of seeming to wander from our
immediate subject, I will mention a few more of
what appear to me special reasons, with a social
aspect, for encouraging amongst ourselves such pur-
suits as those we have been considering. We live in
peculiarly intellectual and thoughtful days.: never
before was the brain so worked : for a century the
civilized world has been passing through a social
revolution such as it never before witnessed. From
time to time, ablest observers and profoundest
thinkers have expressed alarming apprehension as

114 Concluding Observations.

to universal increase of what is called democratic
power. Little more than forty years ago, about
which time De Toqueville visited Ireland, with whicli
he was closely connected, he closes his celebrated
work on Democracy in America, expressing nervous
fears and anxious hopes on this subject of absorbing-
interest. Even in England we have ourselves seen,
within the last few years, our great political cham-
pions come down to Parliament fresh from study of
Homer and Homeric heroes, and, seemingly impelled
by exigencies of party warfare, head their followers
in what are called leaps in the dark. Happily,
throughout all, a Hand unseen but not unperceived
guides advancing civilization ; and already the world
reaps no little fruit from the efforts made since re-
mote ages to raise the masses from crassest igno-
rance, slavery, and degradation, and to elevate the
more thinking portions to a sense of self-respect and
of their proper position in the community.

In this state of society it is all-important to culti-
vate and encourage whatever tends to refine, elevate,
calm, and content ; and such recreations as we speak
of seem particularly conducive to this end, and suited
to the temper and genius of our times. Gladiatorial
shows and fights of wild beasts, which fascinated mil-
lions and attracted crowds of even high-bred ladies
and vestal virgins of Imperial Home, still unsoftened
by Christianity, and with a policy of accustoming
her people to scenes of blood, would not now suit the
taste of our people or the policy of the leaders of

Concluding Observations. 115

^public opinion. In England, up to the time of the
Grreat Eebellion, baiting of animals, and specially of
bnlls and bears, was a favourite pastime with every
class. The last Henry, Queen Mary, Elizabeth,
and James the First, encouraged it ; but under
Elizabeth, growing taste for theatrical represen-
tations was giving a new tone to the manners of
the rich. When bear-baiting ceased to be their
amusement, it speedily declined because of scarcity
of beasts ; but bull-baiting throughout the eighteenth
century continued to be a popular English amuse-
ment. In 1729 and 1730, we find advertised amongst
London entertainments " A mad bull to be dressed up
with fireworks and turned loose in the game-place ;
a dog to be dressed up with fireworks over him ; a
bear to be let loose at the same time ; and a cat
to be tied to the bull's tail ; a mad bull, dressed up
with fireworks, to be baited." And even Canning
and Peel opposed abolition of bull-baiting by legisla-
tion. Such amusements were mingled with prize-
fighting, boxing matches between women, or combats
with quarter-staves or broadswords, &c.

The Drama has held a conspicuous place in the
world ever since the days of Susarion in Attica,
nearly six hundred years before our era. Horse-
races and gambling are to thousands their chief
amusements ; cricket and golf are national recrea-
tions, and other athletic sports take somewhat the
place of Grecian and Eoman games of ancient times.
I well know the fascination of our own field sports,

1 1 6 Concluding Observations.

and that they help to manliness of mind as well as
vigour of body. The tobacco-pipe and cigar soothe-
and beguile many a weary hour. Sculpture and
painting hold their places in civilized countries.

Napoleon considered encouragement of music of
great public importance. One day, at St. Helena,
the conversation turned upon the Fine Arts, and one
of the company made but little account of music.
" You are wrong," said the Emperor ; " it is of all
the liberal arts the one which has most influence on
the passions, and that which the legislator is bound
to most encourage. A well- composed piece of music
touches and melts the soul, and produces more effect
than a treatise of morality, which convinces the
reason, leaves us cold and unmoved, and makes no
alteration in the slightest of our habits." The old
Greek game of cock-fighting was too common in Eng-
land from the time of the second Henry till recent
days. About the beginning of the eighteenth cen-
tury, one Machrie, a fencing-master, was regarded
as a benefactor to Scotland for having started there
"a new and cheap amusement. In An Essay on the
Innocent and Royal Recreation and Art of Cocking, he
expresses his hope that " in cock- war village may be
engaged against village, city against city, kingdom
against kingdom — nay, the father against the son,
until all tha wars of Europe, wherein so much inno-
cent Christian blood has been spilt, be turned into
the innocent pastime of cocking." What was called
the Welsh main was the most sanguinary form of the

Concluding Observations, 1 1 7

sport, where sometimes as many as sixteen cocks were
matched against an equal number, and fought till
all on one side were killed. Then the victors were
divided and fought, and so on till but one champion
.survived, and we read of the church-bells ringing in
honour of the victor.

But of all tastes with which we are endowed, that
for natural history in general, and particularly that
for Horticulture in its various branches, are perhaps
the purest, most elevating, and most universal ; and
ornamental gardening is said to be the ornamental
art which last approaches perfection in advanced
communities.

Notwithstanding all we read and hear of the dan-
gers of democracy, communism, scepticism, and infi-
delity, and of modern science superseding the old
religions of the world, never before were the soften-
ing and civilizing influences of Christianity so largely
apparent in practice as they are in our days. Never
were thought and interest on religious subjects
diffused over so large an area — though such thought
and interest may be too indefinite and confused.
The most advanced scientific men of England teach
us that " At present there is no book more read than
the Bible, no life more deeply studied and discussed
than the life of Christ. There is probably a greater
amount of earnest attention devoted to these subjects
than to any other branch of human inquiry."* Even

* The Vnseen Universe, Introduction.

1 1 8 Concluding Observations.

controversies, in which religion is inseparably con-
nected with science, are conducted with much less
acrimony than characterized them in by-gone times.
And never before were half-learned attempts to per-
suade the masses that we are not creatures of an
Intelligent Spirit governing what is called this mate-
rial universe — and to escape from such superinten-
dence too often very embarrassing even to the best of
men — presented to everyone at all literate, in subtle
and beguiling forms. Does it not, then, behove all
who have the welfare of the community at heart to
cultivate whatever tends to prepare us for healthy
and cheerful views on such subjects ? and these are
much influenced by the state of our health and spirits,
and these again by our recreations.

History teaches us that, in every stage of civiliza-
tion, men of largest capacity and highest education
have deeply felt the need of the help which Eeligion
alone affords. Such men, with millions of others,
may be said to live three lives — the public, the
• domestic, and the private — much of which latter is
unseen and unknown by even the nearest and dearest
friends. David Hume said it was a mistake to sup-
pose that he thought in private as he reasoned in his
published essays. Caesar could ridicule in public
the popular religions, but he never mounted a chariot
without muttering a private charm or secret incanta-
tion. Before the battle of Pharsalia he addressed a
prayer to the gods whom he denied in the senate,
and derided in company of literary friends ; and he

Concluding Observations. 1 19

appealed to divine omens when he was about to pass
the Kubicon. Napoleon once was as vehement in
professing the religion of Mahomet as Simon Peter
was in denying Him in whose service he died a
martyr ; but some of the most interesting passages
in biography describe the fallen Emperor, towards
the close of the last of three periods into which his
chequered life has been divided, bearing strong testi-
mony to the influence of Christianity on the world
at large, and contrasting his own power, when
highest, and that of other founders of kingdoms,
Avith what that Religion had already achieved from
an origin which appeared most unlikely. "Who
knows how powerfully the teachings of his infancy,
of which he sometimes spoke, were secretly working
in a spirit by nature peculiarly intense ?

The popular idol, Sir Walter Scott, at a trying time,
when he deeply felt the want of human sympathy,
and was thinking more of realities than of fiction or
romance, found not a little consolation in the belief
(which advanced science teaches to be at least quite .
possible, if not probable) that the spirits of even hu-
man friends who have disappeared from this life have,
wherever they are, still lively interest in our welfare.
On his return to Abbotsf ord, after a short unavoidable
absence, he found the lifeless body of Lady Scott,
from whom he had parted but a few days before.
He describes himself as lonely, aged, and embar-
rassed, impoverished, deprived of the sharer of his
thoughts and counsels, who could always talk down his

I2O Concluding Observations.

sense of the calamitous apprehensions which break
the heart that must bear them alone. " I have seen
her," he says. " The figure I beheld is, and is not,
my Charlotte — my thirty years' companion. Can
it be the face that was once so full of lively expres-
sion ? I will not look on it again. But it is not
my Charlotte — it is not the bride of my youth, the
mother of my children, that will be laid among the
ruins of Dryburgh which we have so often visited in
gaiety and pastime. No ! no ! She is sentient and
conscious of my emotions somewhere — somehow :
where we cannot tell ; how we cannot tell ; yet would
I not at this moment renounce the mysterious yet
certain hope that I shall see her in a better world for
all that this w7orld can give me."

One of the most remarkable sceptical writers of
our day and country, Mr. John Stewart Mill, an
eminent philosopher, and generally regarded as a
sound logician — one for whom a rare plant had ;i
charm — cost what it might of labour and fatigue in
k its search, the accomplishment was a moment of
rapture — in the maturity of his mind, when discuss-
ing the bearings of science on religion in general,
and its utility, urgently advises all who can to live
confiding in that Religion, which he also describes as
essentially unlike all others, but for whose enjoyment
his peculiar mind seems to have been unfitted by
early education. Mr. Mill speaks of " one Man who
left on the memory of those who watched His life
and conversation such an impression of His moral

Concluding Observations. 121

grandeur, that eighteen subsequent centuries have
done homage to Him as the Almighty in person."
Again he says : " Religion, since the birth of Chris-
tianity, has inculcated the belief that our highest
•conceptions of combined wisdom and goodness exist
in the concrete in a living Being who has His eyes
on us, and cares for our good. Through the darkest
and most corrupt periods, Christianity has raised this
torch on high — has kept this object of veneration and
imitation before the eyes of man."

Hear what the historian Lord Macaulay says about
the old philosophers : — " God the uncreated, the
incomprehensible, the invisible, attracted few wor-
shippers. A philosopher might admire so noble a
conception, but the crowd turned away in disgust
from words which presented no image to their minds.
It was before Deity embodied in a human form,
walking among men, partaking of their infirmities,
leaning on their bosoms, weeping over their graves,
slumbering in the manger, bleeding on the cross,
that the prejudices of the Synagogue, and the doubts
of the Academy, and the pride of the Portico, and
the fasces of the Lictor, and the swords of thirty
legions, were humbled in the dust."

But Mr. Mill and other writers, eminent in diffe-
rent branches of science, seem to think it very impor-
tant that we have not what they consider logical
proof of even the fundamental truths of Christianity,
leaving everyone in most uncomfortable scepticism
and doubt. Though we may not have such demon-

1 2 2 Concluding Observations.

stration as is vainly sought, and the nature of our
Religion declines to reveal, we have intuitive percep-
tion on which iiltimately all human science depends,
and Religion is highest science, beginning where
others end. Religious truths are inferences from
scientific laws, which are data for religious philo-
sophy. One of the deepest and soundest thinkers
says, "a little philosophy inclineth man's mind to
atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's
minds to religion." But its

" Study is like the heavens' glorious sun,
That will not be deep-search' d with saucy looks."

The child, the peasant, and the most learned, readily
receive its truths; but I believe, in our day especially,
the wisest and best of Christian men need no ordi-
nary training : and every help they can anywise
receive from recreation, amusements, or otherwise, to
cultivate and enjoy such habitual tone and tempera-
ment of mind and spirit, that when sorely tried, as
tried they are, they can say, " Although the fig-tree
shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines ;
the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall
yield no meat ; the flock shall be cut off from the
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls ; yet I
will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my
salvation." But some of the most popular amuse-
ments we have referred to seem not very conducive
to this end.

Concluding Observations. 123

A few parting words as to the prospects of orna-
mental gardening in our own island, and aptitude of
our people for such enjoyments. England has for a
century and a half been spoken of as a country of
gardens. About the middle of the last century, the
poet Gray wrote that skill in gardening or laying out
grounds is the only taste the English can call their
own — the only proof of original talent in matters of
pleasure. The English garden is proverbial for
beauty, and it is said that the English cottage garden
stands alone in the world. The, gardeners of Scot-
land are celebrated, partly from the natural difficul-
ties with which they have to contend ; but the
climates and soils of Ireland are amongst the most
favoured in Europe for horticulture in general, and
specially for evergreens of various kinds. Centuries,
ago, Lord Bacon spoke of Ireland as " a country
blessed with almost all the dowries of nature — with
rivers, havens, woods, quarries, good soil, temperate
climate, and a race and generation of men valiant,,
hard, and active, as it is not easy to find such a con-
fluence of commodities, if the hand of man did join
with the hand of nature ; but they severed — the harp
of Ireland is not strung or attuned to concord."

What Sir William Temple, in his Essay on the
Garden of Epicurus, says about the climate of Eng-
land, seems strongly applicable to our island. Speak-
ing of his own oranges and other fruits, he says : " I
must needs add one thing more in favour of our

124 Concluding Observations.

climate, which I heard the King say, and I thought
new and right, and truly like a King of England
that loved and esteemed his own country : it was in
reply to some of the company that were reviling our
climate, and extolling those of Italy and Spain, or at
least of France. He said he thought it was the best
climate where he could be abroad in the air with plea-
sure, or at least without trouble or inconvenience, the
most days of the year and the most hours of the day ;
and this he thought he could be in England more
than in any country he knew of in Europe." And
here I venture to quote another observation of that
eminent statesman and devoted lover of his garden,
when he speaks of the temperate habits of Epicurus,
and the aspersions falsely cast upon his character by
rival sects, and even by some early Christian writers.
He says : " I have often wondered how such sharp
and violent invectives came to be made so generally
against Epicurus by the ages that followed him,
whose admirable wit, felicity of expression, excellence
of nature, sweetness of conversation, temperance of
life, and constancy of death, made him so beloved by
his friends, admired by his scholars, and honoured
by the Athenians. But this injustice may be
fastened chiefly upon the envy and malignity of the
Stoics at first, then upon the mistakes of some gross
pretenders to his sect (who took pleasure only to be
sensual), and afterwards upon the piety of the primi-
tive Christians, who esteemed his principles of natural

Con eluding Observations. 125

philosophy more opposite to those of our religion
than either the Platonists, the Peripatetics, or Stoics
themselves." And now as to the people of Ireland.

Our population is composed' of various elements.
The eminent writer, Mr. Froude, describes the Celts,
who are the primary element of its society, as light-
hearted and humourous, with special appreciation of
just dealing : " Give an Irishman," says he, " a just
master, and* he will follow, him to the world's end.
Possessing a fascination in their own land, and power
greater than any other known family of man of assi-
milating to their own image those who venture
amongst them."

And this has been so for many centuries, notwith-
standing the most stringent legislation • of England
against her settlers in Ireland intermarrying with
the Irish enemies, and Englishwomen marrying
Irishmen. All failed to prevent such unions, at
least ever since Strongbow married Eva, with whom
he obtained Leinster as a dowry ; and the Statute of
Kilkenny declared " alliance by marriage, gossipred,
amour, or in any other manner, between English and
Irish, of the one part or the other, illegal ; and that
anyone attainted thereof should have judgment of
life and member as a traitor." And if the people of
Ireland have fascination here, the English have their
own wherever they be ; and this contributes by inter-
marriage, and will contribute, more to cement the
union of the countries than any legislation can make
or undo. But we, Celtic and Anglo-Irish, are con-

126 Concluding Observations.

scions of peculiar proneness to listen to beguiling
fascination, and to yield to temptation of various
kinds ; and we need all the help we can obtain, from
whatever source, to produce steadiness of purpose and
firmness of character ; and amusement and recreation
have much to do in forming and establishing cha-
racter. What seem but trivial matters too often mar
and spoil lives which otherwise might be happy and
beautiful : " Take us the foxes, the little foxes that
spoil the vines ; for our vines have tender grapes."

In early times this island was far in advance of
England in important branches of learning and of
fine art. In Dagobert's reign the learned St. Ger-
trude sent here for masters to teach Greek, poetry,
and music to the cloistered virgins of Nivelle. More
than two centuries ago Archbishop Ussher ventured
to predict that Ireland would become the brightest gem
in Christendom. Later, Bishop Berkeley — whose pe-
culiar metaphysical teaching was never more impor-
tant than in the present phase of mental science and
religious thought — asks, amongst his celebrated que-
ries, whether there be any country in Christendom
more capable of improvement than ours ? The late
Dr. Petrie — a learned Irishman and scholar, of Scot-
tish and German extraction, of whom I had the
advantage of being for years a pupil in youth, and
whose friendship I enjoyed until his death — speaks
of Ireland as eminently distinguished in early times
for learning, as the cradle of Christianity to the
north-western nations of Europe in the sixth and to

Concluding Observations. 127

the ninth century. And Mr. Gladstone, during his
recent visit here, when speaking of our Antiquities,
of whose existence he said he before knew only in
the abstract, expresses surprise at the position which
he found she occupied in those remote days : "I may
say those centuries when'she had almost a monopoly
of learning and piety, and when she, nearly alone,
held up the torch of civilization — of true Christian
civilization — to northern and western Europe." And
this is indorsed by our own countryman, Lecky, in
his late History of England.

However various our opinions may be as to the
merits of that great liberal leader, King "William
the Third, we all may approve of the impulse
he gave to ornamental gardening in this king-
dom, as we may of dueen Mary's patronage of
ornamental porcelain. At the beginning of the last
century, probably, there were not more than one
thousand species of exotics in England ; and we read
that in the year 1724 there were only twelve of ever-
greens, and that five thousand kinds of exotic plants
were introduced during the century. Landscape
gardening was introduced into Ireland by Dr.
Delany, the friend of Swift, whose villa was in
Grlasnevin ; and somewhat about the same period a
florists' club was established in Dublin by Huguenot
refugees, which, however, meeting but little encou-
ragement, soon expired. The country and our people
were not yet ready for such recreations .and enjoy-
ments to a large extent or on a large scale.

128 Concluding Observations.

To have proposed ornamental gardening as a
popular recreation in Ireland generally, or even in
our city, in days which many of us well remember ,.
when all ranks were suffering from various causes,
and hosts of our people were emigrating to seek for
homes in strange lands, might have seemed puerile, if
not derisive. But, even in those worst of times,
many who could look below the surface, albeit they
were themselves sorely tried, somewhat confidently
hoped to see the country recover, knowing her re-
sources and the elasticity of the national mind, and
that whilst

" The lamentable change is from the best,
The worst returns to laughter."

She revived, and perhaps sooner than the most san-
guine expected ; and now all ranks are more or less
prepared to appreciate any rational enjoyment ; and,
amongst many within their reach, that one — not the
least — about which I have ventured to offer a few
rather discursive hints.

INDEX.

PAGE.

Abies amabilis, . 104

Canadensis, . 103

Devoneana, . 84

Douglasii, . . 102

grandis, . . 104

lasiocarpa, . . 104

Lowiana, . . 104

magnifica, . . 104

Menziesii, . . 103

nobilis, . . 104

Nordmanniana, . 104

Pattoniana, . 103

Patton's Spruce, 103

polita, . . 84

robusta, . . 104

Smithiana, . 103

Acacia Drummondi, . 39

Lophantha, . 39

Acantholimum, . 52

Acanthus, . . 35, 50

Acer, see Negundo. . 109

macrophyllum, . 109

Achillea clavennee, . 52

Adiantum, . . 13

Adonis, ... 52

.^Ethionema saxatile, 52

Agapanthus umbella-

tus, ... 20

Agave, Americana, . 21,35

PAGE.

Ailantus glandulosa, . 109

Ajuga Genevensis, .

Almond tree, . . 109

Aloes, ... 21

albo ciiictu, . 22

Americana, . 21

Alsophilla, . ' . 72

Alyssum, . . 52

American Cowslip, . 81

Ampelopsis hederacea, 30

Roylii, . . 30, 109

Sieboldtii, . . 109

tricuspidata, . 30

Veitchii, . . 30,109

Amygdalus, »' . 109

Aneectochilus, . . 15

Setaceus, . . 16

Andromeda, . . 109

tetragona, . . 52

Anemones, . . 52

Aniseed tree, . . 109

Anthurium, . . 40

Aralia, ... 76

papyrifera, . 93

Sieboldtii, . . 76, 93

Araucaria, . . 101

Braziliensis, . 84

Arenebia echioides, . 55

Aristotelia Macqui, . 109

130

Index.

PAGE.

PAGE.

Arbutus.

Box,

109

Andrachne,

109

Bulbocodium vernum,

52

procera,

109

Buxus,

109

Uva-ursa ,

109

Japanese, .

109

Areca.

Bauerii,

\ 14, 29,

66, 94

Caladiuins,

40

Sapida,

14, 29,

66, 94

Californiaa chestnut,

85

Arenebia echioides. .

55

Calycanthus,

109

Aristolochia sipho,

109

Camellias,

110

Asarum Japonicum, .

54

Doncklacrii.

59

Asplenium,

13

Campanulas, .

50,52

Assam tea,

25

Castanea (chestnut) .

Astragalus,

52

chrysophylla,

85

Aucubas, .

36

Catalpa, .

110

Himalaica,

37

Ceanothus.

Azalea,

109

dentatus, .

28

intermedium

28

Balcony gardening-, .
Bamboo, Island,

22
72

rigidus,
Cedrus. A,I . tb

28

Beaucarnia longifolia,

93

Atlanticus,

108

Begonias,

35,53

deodara,

108

Clarkei,

.

53

Libani,

108

Davisii,

54

Chamaedoria Hartwegii

, 15

Rosseflor,

53

Chamaerops.

Yeitchii,

53

excelsa,

29,92

Beschorneria Yuccoides

99

— —

Fortuni, 29, 65,

91, 92

Bignonia.

Griffithiana,

29,30

grandiflorn

7 •

30

humilis,

29,46

radicans,

30

Khasiana, .

65

Beaucarnea,

77

Martiana, .

29,30

longifolia.

• •

93

Charlwoodia.

44,68

Bentham's Pin<

v .

105

Chusan Palm, .

91,92

Berberidopsis,

26,84

Citrus.

corallina,

26,84

Triptera, .

110

Berberis, .

.

109

Clematis, .

31

Darwini,

109

Clivea nobilis, .

19

Biota,

107

Clyanthus.

Bonopartea,

77

Dampierii,

29

Branea, see Pritchardia.

magnificus,

28

filamentosa.

65

puniceus, .

28

Pacifica,

65

Cocos.

Brugmansia .

coronata, .

15

Knightii,

.

87 1

flextiosa. .

15

sanguinea.

.

86 :

Colletia. .

110

Index.

13*

PAGE.

TAGE.

Convolvulus,

31 Davallia, .

13

Coral tree,

77 Mooreana or Moorei, 13

Cordyline.

Demesnes,

95

Australis, . 35

, 44, 66

Dianthus,

53

Banksii,

35, 67 1 Dicksonia.

indivisa, . 35

, 67, 85 i Antartica,

27

Corypha.

; Dictamnus.

Australis, ;

15 Fraxinella,

48

Cotoneaster,

29,110 Dielytra.

Hookerii, .

29,40

spectabilis, .

88

microphylla,

29 Disa.

Simmondsii,

29, 40

grandiflora,

73,87

Velutinus. .

29

Dodocatheon, .

81

Crateegus,

110

Dons Arbor- vitfe,

107

Crinum, .

73

Douglas Pine, .

102

amabile,

91

Varieties —

Moori,

91

fastigiata, .

103

Crotons, .

40

Gregiana, .

103

Cryptomeria.

pendulai, .

103

elegans,

40, 84

taxifolia, .

103

Japonica, .

84

variegata, .

103

viridis,

108

Draba violacea, .

52

Cunningham's Raceni-

Draoecna Australis, .

40, 66

flowered Pine, .

107

Dracoenopsis, .

43,66

Cycacidte, ) -, - --
Cycas, 1 l0' "'

91,92

Echeverias,

52

Cydonia Japonica,

25

Kncephalartos M'Kenii,

15

Cymbidium elegans, .

74

Epacris, .

39

Cypress.

Ericas,

55

Lawson's, .

108

hyemalis, .

55

macrocarpa,

108

M'Nabiana,

55

Nutkaensis,

108

Eritrichum Nanum, .

53

Cypripedium, .

73, 81

Erythrinas,

52

calceolus, .

73

Amasina, .

49

spectabile, . 52,

73, 81 i crista-galli,

49, 77

Cyrtomium f alcatum.

34 herbacea, .

50

Escallonea.

Dacrydium.

Macrantha,

44

Franklinii,

60,84

Eugenia.

plumosum,

85

Apriculata,

36,46

Daphnes, .

52

Cleken or Clequen,

46

Odora,

46

Luma,

46

Darlingtonia, .

71

Ugni.

36, 46

Dasylerion,

77,93

Euonymus,

97

132

Index.

PAGE. !

PAGE.

Fatsia Japonica,

76 : Himalayan Spruce,

103

Ferula.

Hotel Tramontane.

79

communis, .

49

Huon Pine,

60

Persica,

49

Hyacinths,

. 39, 52

tingitana, .

49

Hymenophyllum,

10, 13, 16

Ferneries,

81

Filmy Ferns,

10

Iberis,

52

Flax.

Ilex,

42

N. Zealand,

87 ! cornuta,

42

Fortune's Japanese.

crenata,

42

jassamine, .

28 Dipyrena, .

. 42, 83

palm,

29,64 Fortuni, .

42

Forsythia.

furcata,

42

suspensa, .

28 latifolia, .

43, 80, 83

viridissiina,

28 Tarago,

. 42, 83

Fota,

72 I mantophy Hum .

Fourcroya,

77 mineatum, .

. 19, 20

Fremontia Californica,

87 Iniatophyllum . .

. 19, 20

Funkias, .

52 i Ipomcea, .

31

Iris, . . .

52

Garrya.

Iseria polycarpa,

84

elliptica, .

110

laurifolia, .

110

Jackman's clematis.

31

macrophylla,

77,110

Japan,

90

Gazania splendens. .

52

Japan primroses,

50

Gentians, .

52

Jasminum.

Gladiolus,

52

nudifloriim,

28

Gloxinias,

40

Jonquil, .

39

Golden Larch, .

106

Juboea spectabilis,

. 29, 65,

Griselinia.

94

littoralis, .

37,44

lucida,

44 Kawaka, .

85

macrophylla, 37

44, 55 Keemfer's Larch,

106

Gymnogramma.

Japonica, .

34 i Lake.

Como,

78

Hakeas, .

82 Maggiore, .

78

Heliotropa,

82

Lapageria rosea ,

. 1>6, 55

Hellebores.

Levant Plane, .

57

argutifolius,

48

Libocedrus.

atropurpureus, .

48

Chilensis, .

107

atrorubens,

48 dolobrata, .

. 87, 107

Hemlock Spruce,

103 doniana, .

85

Heterotropa asaroide*,

54 Lycopodium,

13

Index.

133

-

PAGE.

PAGE.

Ligusticum.

Maiden-hair tree,

108

Peleponessianum,

49

M 'Master,

86

Ligustrum.

Mandevilla suaveolens,

27

coriaceum,

36

Maples,

.

57

Japonicuni,

36

Marlfield, .

81

ovatum,

36, 58

Martagon lilies,

17

Lilium.

Melianthus,

49

auratum, .

17, 90

Myrtus

Clequen,

47

Canadense,

17

Musas.

candidum, .

17

Ensete,

77

lancifolium,

90

Mespilus, .

25

longifolium,

17

crenata,

25

Neilgherrense, .

17

parvum,

17

Napoleon's willow, .

60

puberulum,

17

Narcissus,

52

Lily of the valley,

35

Bulbocodium, .

88

Martagons,

17

conspicuus,

88

Tiger lilies,

17

triangularis,

88

Limonia.

, Nasturtium,

48

trifoliata, .

110

Negundo.

Lomaria.

fraxinifolium, .

109

Chilensis, .

34

polymorphum, .

109

Magellanica,

34

Nertera

depressa,

53

London pride, .

47

New Zealand flax,

87

Lonicera.

Brachypoda aurea

Odontoglossum,

32

reticulata,

28

Oncidium,

32

Fuchsioides,

28

Onoclea

sensibilis,

34

Ledebourii,

28

Onychium Japonicum,

34

Lycopodium,

13

Oreocoma fllicina,

49

Lythospermum pro-

Oreodaphne Califor-

stratum,

52

nica,

. .

86

fruticosum,

55

Osmanthus,

45

Macrozamia,

15

Pandanus.

Magnolia.

utilis,

77

conspicua, .

83

Yeitchii, .

77

fuscata,

83

Paris pride,

47

glauca,

83

Patton's

Spruce,

103

grandiflora,

27, 83

Paulownias,

57

Lennei,

83

People's

gardens and

Soulangeana,

83

parks,

• • .

75-77

Tripetala, .

83 '

Peperomia,

9

umbrella, .

83 j

Peucedanum officinale,

49

134

Index.

Phoenix.

PAGE.

PAGE.

dactylifera,

15

Privets, .

36

humilis,

15

Prumnopytis elegans,

84

reclinata, .

15

Pseudolarix,

106

sylvestris, .

15

Pteris.

Phalaenopsis,

32

Cretica albo-line-

Phormium.

ata,

34

Tenax variegata,

87

scaberula, .

34

Piccottees,

40

Ptychosperma Cunning-

Picea grandis, .

84

namii, .

15

bracteata, .

84

Pyracantha,

25

grandis,

84

Pyrus Japonica,

25

Pinus Austriaca,

'105

Pinus.

Quereus.

Austriaca, .

105

lamellosa, .

111

Benthamiann,

105

Pannonica,

111

Cembra,

105

excelsa,

105

Ranunculi,

52

Hartwegii,

105

Raxopitys Cunning -

insignis,

105

hamii, .

107

macrocarpa,

103

Red, or resinous

Pallasiana,

106

Pine,

105

Pinsapo,

105

Retinospora,

108

Pyrenaica, .

105

Rhaphiolepis Japoni-

radiata,

105

ca, or ovata, .

45

resinosa, .

105

Rbapis flabelliformis.

Strobus, .

103

or nabellata, .

14,15

Pittosporum.

Rhododendrons,

36,84

crassifolium,

45

Dalhousianum, .

84

coreaceum,

46

Falconeri, .

84

Tobira, . .

45

ponticum, .

84

Plat anus.

Thompsoni,

84

Occidentalis,

57

Richardia.

Orientalis, or

Af ricana, . 1 0,

18,87

digitata,

57

albo-maculata, .

18

Podocarpus,

108

hastata,

18

Andine,

84

Polycarpa maximowii,

84

Sabal.

Polysticum aorosti-

Andansonii,

15

coides, .

34

umbraculifera, .

15

Primroses,

52

Saccalabium,

74

Pritcbardia.

Salisburia,

108

filicina,

29

Salvias,

52

iilif era,

65

patens,

52

Pacifica,

65

Saxe-Gotba conspicua,

108

Index.

135

Saxifragas,

PAGE.

47

Thuja doniana, .

PAGE.

85, 107

ciliata,

47

Thujopsis borealis, .

108

cordifolia. .

47

Tiger lilies,

17

crassifolia.

47

Todea.

Fortuni,

47

pellucida, .

12

ligulata,

47

superba, ' .

12

Nepalensis,

47

Treculs Yucca, .

35,70

pyramidal! s.

47

Trichomanes, . 9

, 11, 33

rosularis, .

47

Trollius Asiaticus,

52

Sciadopytis,

108

Tropeolum polyphvl-

Scillas,

. 20, 52

lum, . . " .

48

Seaforthia elegans,

15

Sedums, .

52

Umbrella Pine, .

108

Selaginellas,

13

Sempervivum . .

52

Yalotta.

Sequoia, .

108

eximea,

20

Siberian Pine, .

103

major,

20

Skimmea.

purpurea, .

20

fragrans, .

36

Veronicas, ' .

40,52

Japonica, .

36

Villas, .

78

laureola, .

36

Carlotta,

80

oblata,

36

Dr. Hudson's,

81

Sologni ocreatu.

74

Farnleigh, .

81

Squares, city, .

. 41-48 Gumbleton's. Mr.

86

Statices, .

52 Hay Lodge,

89

Street ornament*,

57 J. Jessop's,

81

Struthiopteris.

Lakelancjs, Mr.

Germanica,

34 Crawford's, .

84

Japonica, .

34 Lord Gough's, .

81

Pennsylvanica.

34 Mount Merrion, .

81

Syniphitum pictuin.

52 Mr. Bagwell's, .

86

Old Conna,

82

Table ornaments,

. 38, 40 RialPs,

82

Tasso's Villa, .

79 Roebuck Castle, .

81

Taurian Pine, .

105 St. Anne's,

81

Taxodium sempervirens, 108 Stawell Webb's,

82

Tea tree, .

25 Tasso's,

79

Thea.

Westby's, .

81

Assamica. .

25

Violas,

52

Bohea,

25

viridis,
Thrinax.

25

Wellingtonia gigantea
Wistaria sinensis,

, 108
31

elegans.

15 I Woodwardia radi-

raoiata,

15 cans,

31

136

Yuccas.

albo-spica,
aloefolia, .
augustif olia .
canaliculate .
filamentosa.
flaccida,
gloriosa, .
quadricolor,

Index*

PACK. Yuccas — continued.

35 recurva,

35,69 | strieta,

oo Treculeana,

43 variegata, .

35, 70 Whiplei, .

43
35, 43 Zauscherneria Cali-

70 ' fornica, .

I'AGtJ.

43
35

35,70
70

35,70

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