Contributions to horticultural literature; being a selection of articles written for gardening periodicals, and papers read before various societies, from 1843 to 1892

Preface

T N publishing these CONTRIBUTIONS TO HORTICUL- TURAL Literature it seems hardly desirable that everything I have written over the last fifty years should be included. I began writing at a very early age in response to an invitation from the late Mr J. C. Loudon, during his brief Directorship of " The Gardeners' Gazette." Copies of the articles written in early life were rarely kept, and it would be too much to expect that the memory should recall trifles often written on the spur of the moment and as quickly forgotten. Moreover, some contributions were of a merely transitory interest.

Of the articles selected, some contain lists of varieties of cultivated plants and flowers which were the best of that date, but which are now superseded by fashion or by the improvement of races by cultivation and selection. It was not, however, thought advisable in all cases to omit these lists, although the individuals have vi Preface.

to a large extent been superseded, as they are assumed to be of historical and scientific value, and in some cases, especially with roses, many of the discarded varieties are being restored to favour. To show which were the most generally cultivated varieties of any flower or plant at a given date, is to show by comparison (as some of the old kinds are sure to remain accessible, either as plants or plates) the degree of progress attained in this branch of scientific gardening.

The small number of articles, considering the lengthened period over which they extend, may by some be considered remarkable. To account for it the author would remind his readers that some of his writings have been published as separate volumes, and that writing with him was never a profession, but merely a hobby, pursued at intervals as time could be snatched from the duties of active business life.

With regard to the controversies, happily few, in which he has been engaged, he has not thought it desirable to introduce here the opinions of those who awakened them. It is however obvious that the names and dates of the periodicals in which they appeared may be gathered from the replies, so that those who may be sufficiently interested in the controversies to wish to follow them throughout may do so with but little research or inconvenience.

Preface. vii

He now submits this book to his friends and the public. The search for and arrangement of the materials have been a matter of considerable labour. But the task has been one that has called up a host of pleasant associations, darkened only by the occasional reminder of the departure of valued friends and diligent fellow-labourers in the same field, who, while here, administered so much to the happiness of all who enjoyed their friendship.

WILLIAM PAUL.

Waltham House, Waltham Cross, 20th September 1S92.

CONTEN IS.

Contents

Pakt L— roses.

Roses in Pots ......

Rose Catalogues ......

Part II.— TREES AND PLANTS. Notes on the Varieties of Common Yew

Landscape Gardening ....

Ornamental Planting ....

Hardy Pictorial Trees ....

The Ivy ......

On Trees and Shrubs in Large Towns An Hour with the Hollyhock The Hollyhock ....

The Hyacinth ....

Zonal Pelargoniums in Winter Lecture on Spring Flowers .

Lecture on Spring Flowering Plants

Spring Gardening

Lecture on the Camellia and its Culture The Camellia .....

PAf;E 203

243 279 286 295 322 326

334 346 361 364 377

Part III. FRUIT CULTURE AND MISCELLANEA

Fruit Growing .......

Fruit Culture for Profit in the Open Air in England The Fruit Question Considered ....

On the Improvement of Plants ....

On Colour in the Tree Scenery of our Gardens, Parks, a^nd Pleasure Grounds .........

On Form in Tree Scenery ........

A Peep at the Paris Flower Market

Old Humphrey ... .....

Native Singing Birds

413 429

432 436

456 465 480

483 486 490

I

Contents.

"My Father's Garden '' ; Review Horticultural Nomenclature .

A Walk through the Via Gellia .

Floricultural Millinery ....

Insect Intoxication ....

On the Relative Value of Clarified and Unclarified Sewage as Manure .........

Who is Right 1:

Cottage Gardens Association .....

On the Literature of Ancient and Modern Gardening The Dawn of Landscape Gardening in England : Review

I'AGE

493 498 501

505 508

509 513 517 532 554

NOTE A, page 265.

The following RHODODENDRONS may be safely added to those named on pages 264-5 ■ — Amilcar, Caractacus, Charles Dickens, Congestum roseum, Countess of Wilton, Evelyn, Everestianum, Floretta, Frederick Waterer, General Cabrera, H. H. Hunnewell, James Marshall Brooks, Kate Waterer, Lady Claremont, Lord Clyde, Lord Palmerston, Michael Waterer, Mrs Fitzgerald, Mrs Frederick Hankey, Mrs J. Shuttleworth, Mrs John Clutton, Mrs Milner, Mrs R. S. Holford, Mrs Russell Sturgis, Old Port, Sappho, Sir Thomas Sebright, Stella, The Queen.

NOTE B, page 274.

The following CLEMATIS may be safely added to those named on pages 273-4 : — Alba magna, Countess of Lovelace, Duchess of Edinburgh, Fairy Queen, Gipsy Queen, Henryii, Jackmanii alba, La France, Lady Caroline Neville, Lanuginosa Candida, Lord Derby, Lord Neville, Lucie Lemoine, Madame Grange, Madame van Houtte, IMrs G. Jackman, Reine Blanche, Star of India, Velutina purpurea, Viticella rubra grandiflora.

NOTE C, page 285.

The following IVIES can be recommended in addition to those named on pages 282, 283, 284, 285 : — Amurensis, Atro-purpurea, Aurea spectabilis, Emerald Gem, Maderensis variegata.

ERR A TUM.

Page 236, bottom Wne, /or Cistus capitatus rea(i Cytisus capitatus.