ORNAMENTAL PLANTING IN WOODLAND
Where woodland adjoins garden ground, and the one passes into the other
by an almost imperceptible gradation, a desire is often felt to let the
garden influence penetrate some way into the wood by the planting within
the wood of some shrubs or trees of distinctly ornamental character.
Such a desire very naturally arises--it is wild gardening with the
things of larger growth; but, like all forms of wild gardening (which of
all branches of gardening is the most difficult to do rightly, and needs
the greatest amount of knowledge), the wishes of the planter must be
tempered with extreme precaution and restraint. It does not do to plant
in the wild garden things of well-known garden character. This is merely
to spoil the wood, which, in many cases, is already so good that any
addition would be a tasteless intrusion of something irrelevant and
unsuitable.
[Illustration: _IN THE WOODLAND AT KEW, SHOWING TREE AND SHRUB BY GRASSY
WAY._]
Still, there are certain wooded places where a judicious planting would
be a gain, and there are a certain number of trees and shrubs which
those who have a fair knowledge of their ways, and a true sympathy with
the nature of woodland, recognise as suitable for this kind of planting.
They will be found in these classes: Native growths that are absent
or unusual in the district, such as the Spindle Tree (_Euonymus_), White
Beam, Service Tree, White and Black Thorn, Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry,
Wild Guelder Rose (_Viburnum Opulus_), and _V. Lantana_, Honeysuckle,
Wild Roses, Juniper, and _Daphne Laureola_.
[Illustration: _WAYFARING TREE (Viburnum Lantana); A NATIVE SHRUB ON
CHALK._]
Then, among cultivated trees and shrubs, those that are nearly related
to our wild kinds, including some that are found in foreign woodlands
that have about the same latitude and climate as our own. Among these
will be Quinces and Medlars, many kinds of ornamental Crataegus, Scarlet
Oaks, various Elders and Crabs, and the grand _Pyrus americana_, so like
our native Mountain Ash, but on a much larger scale.
A very careful planting with trees and shrubs of some of these and,
perhaps, other allied kinds, may give additional beauty and interest to
woodland. Differences of soil will, of course, be carefully considered,
for if a piece of woodland were on chalky soil, a totally different
selection should be made from one that would be right for a soil that
was poor and sandy.
In moist, sandy, or, still better, peaty ground, especially where there
is a growth of Birches and Scotch Firs, and not many other kinds of
trees, a plantation of Rhododendrons may have a fine effect. But in this
case it is better to use the common _R. ponticum_ only, as a mixture of
differently coloured kinds is sure to give a misplaced-garden look, or
an impression as if a bit of garden ground had missed its way and got
lost in the wood.