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Seaside Grounds and Plants

The Seaside, as generally understood, is the coast-land immediately adjoining the sea, and, consequently, exposed to the influences of strong sea-breezes, and, with these, plenty of salt spray. Both have their evil effect on trees, and, with some exceptions, on plant-life generally; but as Seaside residences are so numerous, and most of them have some sort of a garden attached, it may be of service to note some of the trees and plants best suited for protecting and rendering them attractive. On exposed parts of the sea-coast it is invariably necessary to plant, so far as may be practicable, a screen or broad belt of trees and shrubs that are sure to be capable of withstanding the exposure, and eventually affording protection for more tender subjects. Hurdles have to be placed round plants during winter, and numerous other contrivances resorted to for affording protection. Plants which, perhaps, thrive well just out of the reach of the salt spray may, and often will, succumb when exposed to it; and the wind may blow on certain points with great violence, while a short distance off it may seldom be seriously felt. The arrangement of Seaside Grounds should, therefore, be in the hands of someone with a knowledge of the locality, and of the amount of exposure that preparation has to be made for contending against. A screen of trees and shrubs is usually much better than a wall for a protection; the wind passes over the latter with destructive violence, while its force becomes, as it were, lost on a mass of foliage. It is, however, often as it is those which are intended to be screened because of being tender or more ornamental. Only small or moderate-sized specimens should be inserted, even for forming screens, or they will be rocked about by the wind before the roots can get a hold, and, consequently, will not answer permanently. Some of the trees and shrubs most likely to succeed in very exposed situations on the sea-coast are: Euonymus japonicus, Tamarix gallica (a most valuable and exceedingly hardy plant for forming screens), Escallonia macrantha, Phillyreas, Berberries, Cotoneasters, thick-leaved Rhododendrons, Evergreen Oak (Quercus Ilex), Elders, the Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), Gorse (Ulex Europaeus), Ivies, thick-leaved Hollies, Willows, common Junipers, Rosa spinosissima, R. rubiginosa (Sweetbriar), R. rugosa, &c. Amongst Pines, the hardiest are P. austriaca, P. Laricio, and P. Pinaster.