□□anCDaDaGDDDDDaaDDDaDDDDDDDDDaa a D □ D a c D D D a a a D o o D D D n D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D O □ □ O o a D a a a a a D □ Dl a ^ a □i D! D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS R "ttsi^* LIBRARY D D, §! D D □ □ D D a D D D D a D D a a D D a a a c D D a D o D D D O D D D DDDnaaaDDDDDDaDaaDDDDaDDQDDDaDDD •ac.i.: ,...ii ILLlfSTT^ATED W£^EKX,Y JOUl^NAZ, OP HORTICULTURE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES, FOUNDED BY W. Ii.,'biitsort, Author of the '' Enylish FUnver Gardm"' ;.iv.. lit 1 ^ ";■ I 1 -t • " You see, sweet maid, we marry A gentler scion to the wildest stock ; ' -% ' " And make conceive a bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race : This is an art Which does mend Nature, — change it rather ; but The art itself is nature." Sli.al(e!^cOwen, 348: llyec oft Gi-iry. 330, 3}1; thews. Ibe past, 4 2; Snowdrift, 473; Son Altes e Sidi Taieb, 408 ; S tivcuir do Peti'e Amie, 226. 472; spoilitg th ,4t6; St^esa, 469; Sunshine, }30 ; ^^urpa88c Amiral, 410 ; Surprise. 42S, 449; T. B, Haywood, 309; the, in France, 133; Thomas Wilkins, 3o2 ; Vicar of Bray, 3sS ; "Vi'xantetse u'Avcne, ',38; Vignolo, 352; Virgin Queen, 352; Walter Surman, 132; W. H Lincoln Improved 374; W SloRrove, 42S 449; Yellow Gem, 291. Sfl'.i ; Yellow yourpo d'Or, 348 ; Zawad- ski, 337 Chrysanthemum", 250 ; American show, 44* ; as annuals, 407; tt Ambleside, Wimble- don, 334 : at Camberwell, 373 ; at Chelsea, J51 ; at Lewi-ham, 373; at Maidenhead, 408 ; s-t Swanley. 414. 451 ; at Syon Hou.^e, 414; at Trent Park, Barnet, 3"2 ; b'aek-fly on, 407 ; cultural notes en, 4G ; damping, 320 ; dwarf, 288. 334 ; early - flowering Japanese, 472; exhibiting, 408; exhibit- ing in baskets. 472 ; cxbibitmg pompon, 472 ; faded, 407 ; fraerant, 373 ; French show, 414; fiom Jdpan, 319; luiry, 408, 414 ; in fruit houses, 373 ; in New Zealand, 48; in October, 334; in Russia, 133, 195 ; in the park-*, 447 ; late flowering, 2SS ; new, 333, 374 ; new American, 442, 471 ; new Continental of 1895, 2'^4 ; neweaily, (f 1895, 319 ; new English, 471 ; new hairy for 1895, 195; new white Japanese, 320 ; New Zealand seedlings, 47 ; notes on culture, 23S, 334 ; October. 319 ; on walls, 133; outdoor, 451, 472; overstaked, 318; pompon, 319 ; popular show, 414 ; prize in New Zealand, 288 ; prospects of the season, 288; seasonable notes on, 189; September and October, 320 ; shipping, 47 ; some large Japanese, 374 ; some new, 413 ; some more new, 47^; striking, 471 Cider makiug, 454 Cimieifuga simplex, 371, 410, ^35 Cirrhopettlum Medusae, 385 ; Rothschildi- anum, 308 Cirsium erioptiorum, 69 Citrus tiiptera, 256 Clematis graveolens, 337 ; Davidiana, 51 ; garden varietits of, 396 ; Henryi, 117 ; Princess of Wales, 117 ; ViticcUa, 75 Clematises, 321 Clerodendroa trichotomnm, 71 Clethra alnifolia, 40 i Clitoria ternatea, 14 Cobie.i scandens variegata, 13 Cocos Weddelliaua, 411 Codonopsia ovata, 12 Ctelogyne barbata, 485 ; Veitchi, 169 Colcliicums in the Grasss, 192 Collomiagrandiaora, 97, 291 Commelina ccelestis, 76 Comparettia coccinea, 346 Coprosma Baueriana variegata, 371 Coreopsis abyssinica, 192 Corypha australis, 411 Cosmos bipnnatus, £24 ; sulphurous, 175, 329 C. rdyline indivisa in flower, 435 C reopsis maritiraa, 15 Cornus aba, 459; amo'Tum, 459; Baileyi, 459; tanguinen, 459 ; ttolonifera, 459 Cottage flowers, 322 Cottagers' exhibitions, 65 Critjum Powelli album, 75 ; Sch'mperi, 75 Crinums, h rdy, 267 Crocus speciosus, 294 ; var. Aitchisoni, 251 Crocuses, winter blooming, 489 Crops, planting gre n, i6 Crops, the se d, 216 Crotons, 37 1 : in small pots, 13 Crowfoots, the, 500 Cro.-n D isies. 132; Imperials, "'16 Cucumber, a good, 258 ; Cardiff Castle, 19", 2^8 ; R chford Maket, 343 Cucumbers, eatable, 505 Cucumis pereuuis, 325 Cucurbita perennis, 325 Cultivation d ep. 287 ; value of deep, 3 Currant Houghtm Cwstle, 193 ; La Conde, 6[ Currants, 41 ; at exhibitions, lb6, 194 ; Black, 87 ; Black, a novel mode or prun- ing, 1?; B'ack, pruning, 62; c it-leaved, 88 ; g"od Red and White, 93 ; notes on, 6 Cya' anthus lobatus, 191 Cyclamen persiuum, 218 ; persicum, sowing seed, 218 Cyclamens, 474 ; and Primulas, 4 2 ; hard}', 192 Cycnocbes ehlorochilon, !20 fi/vibidujii Lo iaiiiiin,jio'rer o ', 263 ; gigan- teum, 385 ; Mastersi,"429 Cyphomandra fragrans, 76; betacei, 370 Cytisus eapitatus, 51 ; nigricans, 138 Cypripedium Alfred Hollington,308 ; AUani- auum supL-rbum, 347 ; amamum, 240 ; Andronicus, 51 ; Ashtoni, 469 ; caricinum, 78; C-rnusianum, 209; Charles worth i, 267, 385 ; marginatum, 3 8 ; concolor, 34 ; Curtisi, 160; concolor, 463; Hookerai, 148; Hyanowskyanum, 4-.'4 ; insigne Laura Kimball, 347 ; i Maulei, 463 ; Leeanum t-u- perbum. 346 ; Lord Derby, 172 ; Lowi, 160 ; Madeleine, 428 ; Marchioness of Salisbury, 388; Massaimum superbum, 129; Mili grande 3 8 ; names, 4fi3, 505 ; platyco'or, 428 ; Po lettianum, 388 ; Princess Mary, 52 ; Rothschi dianum, 424 ; Sallieri Hye- a'um, 384; Saundersianum, 182; Schlimi, 423 ; Sedeni, 27 ; S. candidolum, 96 ; seUt- gcrum, 220; iipici:rint}i, 4itii : garde s in winter, 381 Flowers, autumn, in Yorkshire, 354 ; bine ■ and y-Uow in, 450; colours in. 4S7 ; cut, Arranging. G^^ ; florists', sowing, 413 ; from Orlean'f, 329 ; from Winohmore Hill, 52, 132, 231, 32S : hardy evergreen, bordtrs of, 3 i ; harJv, at Forest Hill. 37 : for cutti g, I'-S; in Regent's Park, 251; in London, 385 ; of Egypt, 28o ; the, in Hyde Park, 72 Foliage autumn, 449 Francoaappendiculata, 13t-i, 176 Francois, 112 F'aj:'}tu* ornvs, sp kcs of. 2 6 Fritil'aria imperialis, 110 Frost and insect pe=t3, 204 ; in Notts, 369 Fruit and tomtits, 359; and vegetab'e crops, 120. 150, 160, 184, 207, 22^, 240, 281 ; drying, v32, 252 ; early decay of, 234, 275 ; farroii'g, 329, 359 ; garden, seaso' able notes on the, 193 ; gathering, 194 ; houses, pos tion I f hot-water pipes in, HI ; hous s, work in, 24. 63, 105. 144, 163, 182, 224, 263, '^84, 301, 321. 361 402, 421, Ml, 461, 4Sl.50t ; i'lfluence t f i-easons on. 234 ; notes fr m Bush Hill Park Nurseries, 235; from The Hendre, Monmouth, 147; packing at the Crystal Palace show, 2'4; rooms, 331; tiees, caterpillars on, 419 ; gumming in, 4^4; leaf soil for. 25 i; on walls, 433: planting, 145, 312, 41S ; packing, 496 ; red spider on, 89 ; summer pruning of. '7, 93 Fruits, hardv, S 43, S3, i24, 203, 213,311, 381 ; in 1895, 379 ; size in, 2^3 Fuchsia Riccartoni in the Shetland Itles, 931 ; triphy;ia. Ii9 Fuchsias, two goul pillar, 292 Funkia Sleboldi, 7 1 GaUaria-, 116, 325 Ga'arjthus Olga^ Reginre, 359 Galeandia Devoniana, 149 Galtonia ca'id:can.-^, 16, .75 Garden, a, v i hout a girdener, 390; an Au tralian, 11; a, of Lardy flowers, 486; note-i from a New Zealand, .'6 Gardens i.i and around Norwich, 197 ; wire- worm in, 48* Caura Lindlieimcr', 75 G< ni-ta ittn nsi?, 16 ; tinctoria elata, 256 ; virgata, 48 Geniiana ■■ epulis 140 ; acauUs, ijroup of, 146 ; ad'cenden^, 112, affims, 139; alba, 139; alf/ida, 14ti ; alpma, 141 ; Andrewsi, 139 ; anguliisa, 141 ; tngustifoiia, 139, 140 ; ascUjiiadi-'a. i43: a&clepladea, 71, 140, 159 ; havarici, 141 ; Bige'owi, 13!) ; Burs^ri, 139 ; Clusi, 141 ; cr.iciatii. 139 ; decumbens, 140 ; dinari a, 141; Fetisowi, 140; F celicbi, 141;gelr'a, 1-0; imbricata, l4l ; Ketsel- rin.i, 140; Kochian*, 141 ; linearis, 171; lutea, 139 ; macrophylla, 140 ; Olivicri, 140; oregana, 141 ; ornata, 101, 141 ; Pneu- mon'nthe, 140 ; pum la, 141 ; punctatii, 141 ; purpurea, 141; pyrenaici, i4l ; tiaponaria 140; sceptruin, 140; septemQda, 75, iiO; thif.ttica, 14S ; i-ernay 139, 141; Wdlujcwi, 140 Genians, tbe perennial, 138 Gcunonia gracilis, 411 Geran um a'genteum, 11; balkanum, 101; sylvdticum 132 Geraniums, Ivy-l-aved, 365 Geib^ra Jamcsuni, 231 Gesneral^n^iflo a, 4* Gesnerads, cout nuous-flowering, 365 Glad o us Brantfind, 169 ; bienchieyensisand the Cape Hy^i' inth, ll2 ; )u Scot and, 251 ; draco, epha us, 15; L'o'ops, lt)9 ; Don JosC-, 130; Duke (f Oevi.nshire, 130; Dutricul de Rhins, t'9 ; Earl Cadogan, 13 I ; I aLdav nsis, new hybr.da of, 393 ; h\brds. le^ 99; K te Rosa, 16 1; Le- moinei hybrids, 420 ; Mrs H. Beechtr, 130 ; t e, 465 Gloxinias, 345 ; gi own cool, 119 Godetia M-tichioness of Salisbury, 31 Goo ebeiry caterpillar, the, 5 ; LevelUr, 40; tr es, manuiiug 332 G oscber ies in 1895 94; spineless, 75 Go.ird, pertiinia', 3.5 ; tho Sponn, 415 Grammat rhy lum E;lisi, 118 ; Rumphi- anum. 1S2 G ape Ciinnon Hall Muscat, 2';4 ; comm'^n Sweetwa »r, 233 ; Duke of Buccleuch, 18; Gios Gui/latDi.t:, 39; the common fcweet- wat;r, 273; for tarly forcing, 332; White Tot a/, 498 Grapes co.ouring, 480 ; marktt, 222 ; in " a plant house, ;->77 ; in p ant housi-p, 377 ; outdoor, bl2, 333, 36J ; in fcurrey, 273. 331 Greeahouse* erected by tenants, reioving, 4b9 Grevillea Thelemanniana, 470 GUfatavia pterocarj a, 5„S Gymnogi amnca Alstonite. 436 ; argentea, 433 ; 'cilomelanos, 43S ; chryfophylla, 436; de- cum pos ta, 437 ; gr'ndicep?, 4-i7 ; Lauch- eana, 437 ; Lauchcana at Warlei/ Place, 437 ; I'Hermin'eri, 437 ; Martensi, 4H7 ; Massoni, 438; Ma.i. ^38; ochacea, 438; Parsonsi, 438; Peircei and P. robusta, 43S ; peruviana a^-gyrophvlla, 4''S; schi- zophyila a' d s. glori' sa, 438; schizo- p'>i/lla gloHosa gr'wim in Jndoo fibre, 417 ; suphurea, 43S ; tart^rea 438 ; triangularis. 437 ; triaaqalarist 4i4; Veitchi, 438 ; Wettenhalli^na, 438 Gynm-^gramtna^, po d and silver, 43 » Gyrs phila elegaus, 22 ; paatcu^ata and its \i es, J 15 Gauton, notes from, 362 H. // bberln/ Vallei/, a view in, 77 HabenariaSusancae, 149, 390 Haim.inthus Katheriuje, 83 1 Hainl/'i/ht, a usk/uI, 46 Handlights, 46 Hardw ck-e Granffe, Sfireicsbu^y, 375 Hnwthorn, the Glastonbury, 495 Heath, the Cornish, 350 Helenium Bolanderi. 11 ; striatum 192 H-*lianthus rigidus Miss Mellish. 172 Heliconia illustris rubr c lulis, 416, 453 Heliot opes, ;-i29 Helleborus niger var. altifolius, 490 Helmhultz'a gl^be-rirna, 509 Hemerocallis anrantiaca, 16. 31 ; f»lva fl-pl., 401 ;r'nia, 400; Kwansofo:iis variegati-, 54, 99 He b', cutting, 65 ; for winter use, 157 Hereford fruit sh 'W, notts on the, 405 Heuchera sa*- guinea, 267 Hexham Nurseries, 400 Hibbertia dentata, 410 Hibiscus, hiidy flowering, 255 ; roaa-sinensis, 85 ; syriacus, 136, 188, 193; Jeannj d'Arc, 318 High>,ury, notes from, 13 Ho lyhock, the fei gle, 36 Hnlli hocks, 'JIS Holme La^y, notes from, 44 Horse Radish, 456,507 Horticultural exhibitioas, 350 House, a profitable, 3 -16 HouUe'ia Brocklehurstiana, 305 Howth Castle, Dublin, 263 Hutnea eleg^ns, 76 Hunnemannia fu mar ije folia, 70, 196 Hyacinth names, 36 Hyacinths, early Roman, for forcing, 1^9 Hydrangea's ut Kew, 138 ; in Sussex, 137 Hymenocalis (Isncic^e) Amaaca.s, 15 ; Amanraes, 168 Hymenophyllum lerug'nosum, 249 ;rspleni- oidfs, 248; bivalve, 248 ; chloense, 248; ciliatura, 2^9; cuspj,tum, 227 ; caudicu'a- tura, 227; c-iudictiiaium, 228; cmentum, 24S ; reniissum, 227; dichotomum, 248, dilatatum, 227 ; eladticu", 249 ; essertum, 249 ; tiexuusum, 228 ; flabellatufr, 228 ; Fovsterianum, 228; fuciforme, 2 8; hir- sutum, 249 ; hirtellum, 249; liuea-e, 249; mageUan cum, 248 ; multifidum. 5^48 ; Neesi, 248 ; obtusum, 249 ; pectinatum, 1:48 ; polyanthos, 228 ; pulcherrimum, 228 ; larum, 2i8 ; scabnim, 228 ; sericeum, 249 ; tunbridgense, 248 ; unilaterale, 248 ; valva- tum, 248 HymenophylluiDS, small growing, 248 : strong growing, 227 Hydrangea at Saltram, Devon, 251 ; horten- t-is, 3 3 ; Thomas Hugg, 13 Hyophorbd VerschafEelti, 411 Hypericum Moserlanum, 112 Iberis gibraltar'cT, 267 Imi.atiens auricoma, 14 Incarvillei Delav yt, hardiness of, 71 Inula Huoktri, 21 [unoi,sids, l-iS Ipomayi, a j'retty, 310 ; Leari, 75 ; rubro- cujru ea, 4^8 ; ttrnata, 390 Irii atiofusca, 8 ; caroliniana 245 ; cristiita, 244 ; DougIasi.ina, 245 ; fulva. 245 Hart- vegi, 245; hexagona, 245; K*mpfeii at Wisley, 19; lacustris, 244; longipelal-, 245 ; Lorteii, 337 ; macrosiphon, 245 ; mis- soniien&is, 245 ; f.rifcmatica, i44 ; ttnax, 245 ; tenui'', 245 ; tri| etala, 245 ; unguicu- lar.p, 349 ; vern , 244 ; versicolor, 244 Irises, An.erican, ■/44; Gtrman, in flower, 354 ; plai liug, 338 Is'e t-f Wight, climate of the, 419 Ixora Colei, lt-7 J. Jadoo fibre, plants in, 474 Jasminum nudiflnrum, 470, 508 Ju'y in South Devon, 142 June in Stuth Devon, 45 KH. h^n (rarden, work in *he, 7, 23, 43, 63, 84. 104, 123, 143, 163, 183, 204, 223, 244, 264, 283, 301, 321, 341, 361, 382. 401, 421, 441, 461, 482, 502 ; walks, 92 ; preparing for winter. 4' 3 Kentia Belmoreani, 411 Kniphofia c ulescen", 255 ; hybrida Triumph, 252 ; modesta. 278 ; Nelsnni. 256, 292 ; panciflora and K. Macowaui, 292; Pfitzeri, 1^9; W.-odi, 292 Koeh-out.ria paniculata, 71, 75 Lady's Slipper, a curious, 182 Lfelia albida, 463 ; anceps, 3^1 ; autumnahs Arnoldiar-a. 149 ; a. atro-rubens, 305 ; Day- ana 202 ; (Biassavola) Digbvana, 69 ; ele- gans, 16 ; monophylla, 129 ; pumila, 363 ; pur[Mirata, 1 ; supru-biens, 505 LfeUas, 5i : and Cattleyas, hybrid, 78 La!lio-Cattleya callistogh'ssa ignescen?, 388 ; Charles Darwin, 169 ; Clonia superb^, 209 ; D. S. Brown, 30; olegans gigantea, 148; elegans OweniiB, 169; Elstead Gem, 129; Eunomia, 209; Eup>rosyne, 347; Lady Rothsrhild, 468 ; Othello, 388 ; P.-rysatis, 2..9 Semirami", 3S8 L-igerstnemia indicn, 251 La-ageria rosea, 196; a sp'oy of, 475; in North Wale?, 369 ; in tbe op?nair, 475 Lapagerias in the open air, 426 Lap -rtea morioides, 390 Lasiaudra m^xrantha, 450 Listrea fragrans, 251 Latania aurea, 411 ; borbonioa, 411 Lathyrus maritimus, 215 ; latifolius, 51 ; 1. Turueri, 215 ; msgollanicus, 23, 53 ; tu- berosus, 15 Laurus nobilis as a tree, 15 Laurustinus at Howth Junction, 329 Lavatei-a trioiestris, 36 Lawns, Mo.'S on, 490; treatment of, 409, 430 Leaf sweeping, 436 Leaves for dishing fruit, 88 L oiitopodium alp'num, 11 Leptosyne maritima, 15 Lettuce for autumn, 65 ; Grosse Brune Tetue, 131; Iceleaf, 131; Intermediate, 65; in hot weather, 25; Merveille des Qu^tre SaisoHP, 131; Romaine Ballon Cos, 131; Grise Monachere, 131 ; Royal Malta, 131 ; Satisfaction, 131 Lettuces in winter, 440 Lejcesteria formnsa, 490 Liatiis, 2)7 ; pycnostachja, 171 L ilium auratura. 492 ; Balierianum, 15 ; Beerensl. 11 ; Browni var. leucanthum, 76; bulbiferu-»>, 493; candidum. 9J ; chal- cedonic'im, 101, 493; croceum, 493; davuri- cum, 493 ; disease in, 54, 115, 32J ; ehgaus, 493; gi^anteum, 16; Grajl, 15; Hansoni, 2), 493 ; Harrisi, 323, 493 ; Henryi, 132 ; ja- ponicum Colchesteri, 69, 72 ; Krajtzeri, Its ; Krameri, 76, 99 ; Leichtlini, 153 ; longitloram in Surrey, 386 ; Takesima. 156 ; L-.wi, 15, 132; Martagon, 493; Maximo- wiczi, 218: i^ei'yherrense, 218; nepalense, i50, 279 ; odorum, 16, 72, 102 ; Parryi, 12 ; pomponium verum, 493 ; speciosum. 102, 4^3 ; s. ^nd its varieties, 247, 276 ; s in pots, 205 ; Bulphureum, 265 ; Szovi'zianum, 493; tfcstaceum, 49s; Thunbergianuoi, 493; tl- firinum, 493 ; umbellatum, 493 Liliums, potting, 476 LiliLS at Oakwood. 53; for market, 15; garden, 492 ; in 1895, 395 ; Maitagon, 196 ; notes on, 3 24; potting, 447; T ger, 192; Tm-k's-cap, 37 Lilies, new Water, 386 Lily show at Manchester, 75 Lily, the Ma'ionua, 113 Lily of 1 he Valley, 338 Lime, effects cf, on Nymphajas and otter plants, 155 linmanthcmum indieura, 196 Limnocliaris Humboldti, 175 Lmaria alpiua albo-rosei, 71 ; hepAticaefolia, 245 Litton ia modesta, 85 Lobelia, a fine, 349 ; cardinalid Lord Ardi- laun, 192 Lobelias, herbaceous. 198 Luddtmannia Irloba, 388 Lycaste a meniaca, ii49 ; p'ata, 181 ; Skin- n"-!! rosea, 5 5 Lychi i-- fulgens Haaeeana, 175 Lycor.s aurea, 252, 348, 350 M. Macrotomia echioides, 267 Jlag^ot, the Collin moth, 253 Magnolia elauca, 12, 15, 112 ; Watsoni and M. parviflom, 256 ; tree, a large, 313 MaUow, the Tree, 136 Malva moschata albi, 20 Mandevilla suaveolens, 220 Manettia bicolor, 453 Market garden notes, 4S7 Marrows in the open, 45 Masdevallia Chimiera aurea, 428 ; Davisi, 240 ; Harryana, 2 ; ignea, 463 ; macrura, 468; polystieta, 285: tovartiisii, 38i Slasdevahias, small- flowered, 77 Maxillaria furcata, 129 ; picta, 305, 424, 503 Mazus Pumilio, 76 Meconopsis Wa licbiana, 75 Medicagoarborea, 286 Medinilla magidfica, 13 Medlar, Nottingham, the, 349 Melon, a new, 166; Anthonys Favourite, 34S ■ Epicure, 32 ; Golden Pe fection. 193, 235; Hereof Isleworth, 131; Hero of hU- worth, ItiO; maggot, 32 ; roots, diseaseJ, 61 ; The E^irl's Fdvnurite, 209 Melons at Hillside, Newark, 126 ; rot culture of, 5; S.ittou's Triumph and Gunton Oi-ange. 89 Mertensiavirgiuica, 21 Mesospinidium sangnineum, 485 Michaelmas Daisies, 293,322, 325 ; a new w.y to grow, 322 ; wild, 324 Michauxia eampanuloides, 51 Mignonette, pot, 167 Milla biflora, 75 Miltonia Cobbiana, 308 ; Moreliana purpurea, 423 ; spectabilis, 363 ; Moreliana, 182 Miltonias, 26 „ . ti ■ Mimulus, Hose-in-Hose, 20 ; Queen s Prize, 518 Minalobata, 310 „ , ., ^^ i f iQn Montbretia roie^, 171 ; SolcU Couchant, 130 Morello Cherry, the. as a bush tree, 45d Morello Cherries, 173 Molina longifolia, 329 Mormodes luxatum, 515 Muth, the winter, 454, 493 ^ Mount Usher, Co. ■Wieklow, notes from, -5 Mount in Ash, the, 260 . .„. ■ M».sa Enstte at Roukill, Fabnou'h, 40b, in Cornwall, 406 Muscats, inarching, 478 Mushroom culture in America, 287, house, the, 90 Mushrooms filling, 483 Mutisia decurrens, i:^^, 71 Mjddlelon House, notes from, lib Narcissus freak, 82: princep=i, 337; p. at Scarborough., 337 ;the Poets, 339 Nature V. Art, 20 . , Nectarine Vineux Henri de Monicourt, .J^ Nectarines, gooi early, 6,40 Nemesia strumosa, 136 Nepenthes Rijah, 490 Nephrolepises, 165 Nerines, 49 New Zealand garden, notes from a, 56 Newry, notes from, 20 Notes f . om the Upper Engadioc, 73 ; pleasure gi'ound, 394 November in South Devon, 480 Nyinph;«t coerulea out of do rs in Sussex, 349 ; Laydckeri rosea, 69 ; Marliucea Chromatella, 69 ; odorata rosea, 69 Nymphaias and other plant?, effects of hme on, 155 Oak, the Scarlet, 350 Oakwood, notes fiom, 37, 116, 450 Obituary — Bause, C. F., 303 Bruce FindJav. Mrs., 427 Crispin, F., 330 Gilbart, Richard, 427 Grieve, Peter, 272 Rabone, T. H., 72 Senihulz, Gustav, 172 Stenger, Herman, 252 Walters, James, 427 Wills, John, 32, 52 October in Soutti Devon, 408 Oiontoglossum aspeisum, 34*1 ; Cervanlesi, 445 ; cordatum aureum, 181 ; Coradinei albidulum, 314; trispum, impor'ed, 314; c. ro-eum, 392; c Triauie, 314 ; virginals, 504 ; Edwardi, 485 ; gloriotum, 485 ; gronde, 219 ; gr, nde, 212 ; g. superbum, 305 ; Harryauum, lv9 ; Humeanuoo, 485; In- seayi spleudeus, 423; lyngiossura, 384; maxillare, 305; r-iievium, 219; Oersled', 423 ; pulcLehuni, 504 ; fanneri-mum, 384; iiipudinnp, il9; t. xauthogotsum, 392 ; vexillaiium Constance Wgan, 30; ^\atti- auum, 129 "VOU THE GARDEN INDEX [Jan. 4; 1896. Odontoglossums in winter, 4 2 ; notes on, 26 (Enothera margina'a, 75 ; speciosa, 15 Offington, notes on choice hardy plants at, lOS Orchid floweis duration of, 181 Oichidsat Kew, 390] at Long Melford, 55; for gtoupirp, 33; for -winter flowering, 391 ; Eeasoiable notes od, 34, 117, 240, liSJ, 345. 444 Oncidiuni aurcs'^m, 281 ; barbitum, 3i>2 ; carthaginense, 392 ; crispum, 485 ; divari- catum, 305 ; Forbeti, 314 ; F. grandiflorum, 3S4 ; Gardneri, 502 ; hiematochilum, 363 ; Harrisonianum, :S5 ; Jonesianura, cSV ; I anceanijm, 30£ ; longipes, 159; Inridinn, lis ;omithorrhyn(hnm, 463 ; o. albiflonim, 78 ; loeum, 219 ; tigrinum var., 409; vari- cosuni, 345 Onion maggot, the, 3 Onions, a record wtight in, 259 ; large, ?36 ; spring sown, 216; spring, transplanting, 1'5 Onoclca sensibilis, 136 Onosma faurica, 36 Ostrnw^kia magDifica, 2'.i2, 35i, 435 Oxalis Bowieana, 49 Oxfoidshire wild flowers, 51 Ffeonii tritern-t', 132 Pafonies, sweet-scented, 20 Palms, useful, 411 Panax longissima, 167 Pancrat.um illyricum, 243; illyricum-'n Cor- sica, 246 Pansy Border Witch, 116; (tufted) Charm, If 3, 192, 238; J. F. Ridiog, 136; Purple Empresp, 156 Tansies and the drought, 08 ; good dry- weather, 92 ; tufted, 76, 116, 136, 170, 245 ; effects of the drought ufon, 156; from Scotland, 112; propagaticg, 74; their sportive habits, 153 Papaver glaucum, 215 Paphinias, 314 Parnassia calif orLica, 171 Parsley, transplanting, 107 Passion Flower, a seedling, 231 Passifloraprinceps, 231 Pea, a good autumn, 558 ; Daisy, 71 ; Hollo- way Rival, 236; Hundredfold, 66 ; Veitch's Eailiest Mprrow, 26 Pea (Sweet) Blanche Burpee, 69 ; Lady Gri- sel Hamilton, e9 ; Mars, 69 Peach BaiTington on a west will, 233 ; bor- ders, renovating, 496 : Dymond, 221 ; house facing west, 166; Noblesse, 222; talway, 311 ; the Nectarine, 358 ; tree, an old, and its crop, 310 ; Walburton Admirable, 313 Peach trees, black fly on, 434, 498 ; gumming in, 12S; pruning, 453, 498; scale on, 477 ; unnailing, 498 ; yellows in, 311 Peaches, colour in, 221 ; early, 18 ; on open walls, 89 ; good late, 311 ; in pots. 358 ; in town gardens, 332; open-air, 255: out- doors, 331; packing, 311; very late, on walls, 380 Pear Beuire Diel, 304 ; Bturr6 Giffard, 166 ; Black Achan and ethers, 453 ; Comtc de Lamy, 333 ; Conference, 274 ; Doynin^ Ov. Onnirc, 404 ; Duchesse d'Angnuleme, 333 ; Emilc d'Hey^t, 360 ; Flemish Beauty, 378 ; Flemish Beauty and root pruLing, 434; Forelle cr Trout, 496 ; Glou Morceau, 233 ; .largonellfl, 145 ; Le Lectitr, 274 ; Marie Guisse, 496; Marie Louise d'Uccle, 477; Marie Louise d' Ucch\ 476 ; President 3a- rabe, 470; Piesident dOsmonville, 431; Princess, 304, S'iO ; lii/m's Corcless, 497 ; Riha's Coreless, 497 ; tree, a Ja'gonelle, 127 ; free, a Jar6 ; floral decoration of, 250 Rain, waiting fo-, 2 Randiamacrantha, 493 Ranunculus aconitifolius ^f1.-pL, 506; aconiti- folius fl.-pl., 502; acris fl.-pl , 50j; alpes- tris, 601; amplexicaulis, 501; anem n- oid s, 501 ; aquatilts, 500 : asiaticus, 502 ; pfncialis, 501 ; glacialis, 501 ; gramineiis, 501 ; Lingua, ?00 ; Ij/nUi, 500 ; Lyalli, 501 ; Macauleyi, 487 ; montmus, 501 ; parna si- folius. 501; pelatus, 502; pyren» s, 502; rutaifolius, 5u2 ; scutatus, 502 ; Seg-uieri, 502 ; speciosus, 502 ; theJlorist>', 501 ; Thora, 502 Raspberry canes, rruning, 313 Raspberries, 173, 222; good, 88, 93, 146, 104; mulching, 406 ; profitable, 127 ; two good, 40 Reinwardtia tetragyna, 509 Rhapis humilis, 411 hlt-ododendron arboreum, 00 ; arboreum, 103 ; Auckbndi, 104 ; barbatum, 103 ; camelliaeflorum , 104 ; campanulatuiii, 108 ; campanulatum, 104 ; campylocarpum, 104; ciliatum, 104; cinnabarinum, 104; Dalhousife, 104 ; Dulhousia; 108 ; Edge- worth', 104; Falconen, lOJ ; Falconeri, 103 ; formosum, 104 ; fulgens 104 ; grande, 103; Hodgsoni, 103; Hookeri, 104; Ke:'/si, 106; Ke3-si, 101; ladt/ aVux litzwil/'am, 279; lanatum,101 ; lancifolium, H'3 ; Mad- deni, 104 ; niveum, 104 ; Numa, 388 ; Nut- talli, 101; retu«um, 168; Thomson!, 104; tnflorum, 104 ; Wrighti, 103 Rhododendrons, Himalayan, 103 Ithcitm Emodi, 206; otfivinale in flower, 20S ; ofl&ciuale in the garden at Castlewellan, 199 Rhubarbs, the, for use and beauty, 199 Rhus Michauxi, 340 ; typhina, 370 Richard GUbat, 42-1 Richa-dia Pentlandi, 3^0 Richardias, golden-flowered, 340 Robinia teo-mexicana, 169 ; Pseudacacia semperflorens, 15, 172 Rock garden, the, 8, 9, 34, 05, 149, ISO, 493 Rock garden notes from Kew, 155 Rock wood Lily, J 01 RoUu-ceid lily, the, 5C0 Root-pi lining, 87 Rosa indica, 171 ; polj-antba, 16 ; pyrena'ca, 75 ; rugosa Blanclie de Coubcrt, iS ; r. not fruiting, 2"j2 ; Wichuriana, 245 Roscuea purpurea, 172; sikkimen-^-is, 1*^6 Rose Catherine Mermet, 471. ; C. Mermet as grown in Paris, 410; Clio, 213; Christine de None, 213 ; Crimson Rambk-r, 28 ; Dr. Grill, 282 ; Emperor de Maroc, 42 ; En- chantress, 428 ; Francis Dubreiiil, 213 ; garden, Mr. Gray's, at Bath, 90; General Jacqueminot, 135 ; Haileybury, 31 ; Jean Cherpin, 136 ; la France, 250 ; Lady He'en Stewart, 252, 282 ; Laurette Messimy, 136 ; rideal, 136; Lorna Doone, 213; Maniau Cochot, 213 ; Marie d'Orleans, 213 ; Mine. Joseph Courbet, 213; Mrs. Anthony Waterer, 42; Mrs. John laing, 136; Ni- phetos, 352 ; notes from Colchester, 27 ; notes on the three N.R.S. shows, 135; Princess Alice de Monaco, 213 ; Reine Blanche, 58; Renoncule, 27 ; Sylphe, 213; the Macartney, 352, 410 ; Victor Hugo, 2S2 ; W. A. Richardson, 27 Rose?, among the, 164 ; at Bath, 68 ; atChes- hunt, 42 ; ac Kew, 196 ; autumn, 213, 256 ; prospects, 164 ; Bardou Job and Gloire des Ros'.nianes, 213 ; climbing, in France, 134 ; cluster and single, 27 ; Duke of York and Queen Mab, 214 ; fai ing, 212 ; Hybrid Per- petuals, for pots, 281 ; in a Surre// garden, 23; in pots, 164 ; insects on, 32 ; mulchiDg, 42 ; notes on, 306 ; October, 306 ; on a Suirey house, 28; pruning late planted, 471 ; robust (■. compact growing, 352 ; six good Hybrid Tea, 282 ; Tea, hardiness of, 28 ; Tea-scented, 403 ; Tea, verses in return for a bouquet of, 353; that do not droop, 28 I Roses, Christmas, in Surrey, 100 tvhascapcAiis, 126 ;laciniatus, 166 ;odorjLtu=", 51 Rudbeckia nitida and R. speciosa, 172; occi- dcntalis, 255, 291 ; speciosa, 196 B. Sdceol .bium Blunici Russullianum, 1 48 ; C(.l;lcst'^ 118 S'lad, small, 3 3 Salads, good, 258 Salix vitcllina, 450 Salpiglossis gra'jdiflora, 09 Salsafy and Scorzonera, 64 Silvia azurea, 369 Sambucus racemosa, 318 Sa raccnia Chelsoni, 203 ; Courti, 203 ; Dr. mmondi, 202 ; flava, 203 ; flowers, Ecent of, 265 ; formosa. 203 ; melanorrhoda, 203 ; MooreaLa, 203 ; Patersoni, 203 ; Popei, 203 ; psittacina, 203 ; purpurea, 2 2 ; rubra, 203 ; Stevensi, 203 ; rariolaris, 203 1 Williamsi, 203 Savoy Cabbages, 403 ; Earhest of All, 258 Sivo'ys lite, 376 Sixi'ragap Itata, ISS Scabiosa caucasica, 15 ; c alba, 100 ; gr mini- folia, 192 Sea- borough, a note from, 255 S-'illa canpanulaia, 3.4 Schizostyli- coccinea, 330, 386 Schomburgkiis, SO Sci tellarii M' cciniana, 85 Scuticaria St eli, 504 Sea Hollies, 71 Season, the mildness of the, 3.8 S-ed harvest, the, 10 ) Seeds, soaking, 101' ; powing, 177 Selenipedium Schl mi, 430 Senecio grandifoliu , 508; Heiit'eti, 141; m crophyllu', 15 September in South Devon, 307 Seiicographis Ghi^isbreghtiana, 393 Setaria alopecuroides nigra, 132 Shade, eff.ctof, 431 Shill'.ts, 216, 343 Shortia galacifolia, 325, 354 Shrub?, fori ing, notes on, 446 ; planting, 460 Silene quadrifida var pusilla, 245 Siphoctmpjloa Humboldtianus, 372 StJmmii j.ponica, 480 S ug-worm on Pear trees, 234 Smilaxa-psra. 328 Snapdragons from Hnwick. 132 Snowdrops, 395, 429, 440 ; i.u umn, 3C9 ; autumn Cr.icuses 'and Meadow Saffrons, 276 ; naturalised, 305 Fobolewskya c^a^ata, 354 Sobralia Lindeni, 308 Societies and Exhibitions — Crystal Piilace Chrysanthtmum, S67 C:rystal Falace fruit show, 302, 332 Gardeners' Orphan Fund, 11, 02, 5:0 Gardeners' Royal Benevolent, 10 London Pansy and Viokt, 50 National Rose, G'oucester, 10 _ National C^rnatiuii, 70 ---h" National Cbrysaathtmum, 170, 180, 272, 290, 3-10, 367, 410, 418, 470 ..„.. National Co Operative, 170 National Dahlia, 211 National Rose, 1.9 Royal Horticultuial, 30, 60, 120, 16?, 209, 307, 347, 387, 427 468 United Horticultural, 328 Soil, p epariug, for winter croppirg, 469 Solanum arboreum, 13s ; jusminoid-s, 291 ; Seaforthianum, 171 ; Wendlanoi, 315 Sophora japonica, 102 Sophionitid, 505; cernua, 505 ; grandiflo a, 505 ; violacea, 505 Sorbus Aucuparia fructu-luteo, 130 ; m j s- iicii. and S. nepalcnsis, 12 South Devon, November in, 480 Sparrows and Gooseberry buds. 453 Spinach, 66, 415; autumn, 107; failure f, 484 ; for lato spring, 258 ; the Carter, 376 ; winter, varieties of, 65 Spiraea ariasfolia, 49 ; astilboides, 356 ; Bu- malda, 48; Bumalda Anthcny Watp-rcr, 138, 221 ; Douglasi, 157 ; flagelliformis, 51 ; Lindleyana, 71 Squil'y the Spanish, 324 Staubopca grandiflora, 202 Stanton Harcourt, 137 Stapelia gigantea, 345 Starworlsfrom Ire'and, 250 Statice floribunda, 412 ; latifoli i, S37 Stephanotis leaves turning yellow, 14 Stcpbanotiees, pr ning, 492 Stock Princess Alice, 176, 223 Sto ks, 154 ; in northern gardens, 329 Stoie-iacyuuea, 255 Slomiar\. :o.-. -i.-t ,/-' COLOURED PLATES. ANGRyECUM LEONIS AFHELANDRA NITENS CALOCHORTUS LUTEUS CONCOLOR CATTLEYA HARRISONI^ CINERARIAS, A GROUP OF CYCLAMENS: 1, VULCAN; 2, BUTTERFLY ... CYMBIDIUM EBURNEO-LOWIANUM DENDROBIUM DALHOUSIANUM DENDROBIUM DONNESIiE GLADIOLUS MRS. EEECHER AND G. BEN HUIl IlELLEBORUS ALTIFOLIUS IlEMEROCALLIS AURANTIACA MAJOR IRIS GEUMANICA VAR. KHARTUT MAGNOLIA CAMPBELL: NVMPH^A MARLIACEA IGNEA Paoe ea 122 440 380 G2 182 2G2 222 222 420 0 400 242 142 323 PHL0XE3, THREE: l.ECNA 3, ADA LOUISA ... RANUNCULUS LINGUA RHODODENDRON GRANDE RICHARDIA PENTLANDI ROSE G. NABONNAND ROSE NARCISSE SARRACENIA FLAVA... SCILLA SIBIRICA MULTIFLORA SOPHRONITIS GRA.NDIFLORA SPH.ERALCEA (MALVA) ABUTIL0IDE3 TECOMA SMITHI TULIPA BOUrON D'OR TULIPA PICOTEE VILLARSIA NYUPH.EOIDES 2, GLOIRE D'ORLEANS; Pack 480 500 102 340 4G0 SCO 202 162 62 42 22 282 282 300 July 6, 1895.] VOL. XL VIII. Orchids. CATTLEYA SUPERBA. There is no doubt this beautiful Orchid richly deserves its name, being perfectly distinct and making a welcome change from the better- known species of the labiata group. The pseudo- bulbs are nearly erect, from 8 inches to 10 inches in height, furrowed and bronzy in appearance. Each bears a pair of similarly coloured leaves about 4 inches long and thick and leathery in texture. The spikes are produced from between these upon the current year's growth, and each bears usually from two to six flowers ; the sepals and petals deep rosy purple, the lip brighter in colour, spreading in front, and with a yellow and white blotch. There is no denying that this is a difficult plant to keep in health for a great number of years, but it might, if properly treated, be made much more of than is usually the case, It is well known that this Cattleya enjoys a higher temperature than most other species, and consequently it is too often given heat and moisture in abundance without proper care being taken to ripen and consolidate the growths. Owing to this the plants are very susceptible to checks, more especially during the winter, and frequently fall a prey to the un- sightly spot so common to the genus. To make matters worse the plants are kept too dry at the root, causing the pseudo-bulbs to shrivel, thus lowering the vitality of the plants altogether. All Cattleyas are difficult to bring round from this state ; with C superba it is practically im- possible, and the effect of it will be seen in the subsequent weakly growth and puny flower- spikes. Very small plants of this Cattleya are not worth having and would be dear at any price, especially if they were bits lopped off' old and weakly specimens ; but given a healthy imported or established plant and the chances are all in favour of the grower for at least five or si.\; years, after which the plants will probably begin to fail. The longest-lived plants will be those that during the first season take the best hold of the pot, block, or whatever is used for their support, while those that produce flowers before they are well established will in all probability be the first to go back. Personally I prefer pots or baskets to blocks for this species, for the rootb are quite as vigorous as those of the majority of the genus, and if freely produced there need be no fear of getting them to take hold of a little compost. Not much peat should be used in this, and that which is selected must be of the very best without a particle of sand or dust. This fibre used with Sphagnum Moss in the proportion of one to three, and with plenty of crocks and charcoal, will grow it very well, and a thin layer only is required. The plants must be stood in a light position in the warmest house and watered carefully until the roots are running through the compost freely, a full supply being needed when the growth is active and from then until the flowers are past and the pseudo-bulbs well filled out. Then as , the temperature is gradually decreased the ; water supply must be in a like manner les- sened, but at no time must the plants be abso- lutely dry, nor must the temperature during the winter be allowed to go below C0°. A close, moist atmosphere is at this time especially to be avoided, ventilation being given every day when possible without causing a chilly draught. Very little variation is found in the flowers of this Cattleya, although some are brighter in colour than others. A white variety has been discovered in Brazil, and one or two others j have received varietal names. The present is its usual time of flowering, and if kept in a fairly dry atmosphere while in blossom the blooms last about a month, this treatment serving also to harden the pseudo-bulbs. R. L^LIA PURPURATA. The earliest plants of this magnificent Orchid are now in full beauty, and anyone fortunate enough to be possessed of a good stock of plants may look forward to a flowering season extending until the middle of August. This species is most satisfactory in large roomy struc- tures with such kinds as L. superbiens and Cat- tleya bicolor. None of these large-growing spe- cies thrive so well in narrow, low houses, the foliage being apt to suffer from too much sun- light unless the plants are arranged at least 2 feet from the glass. Shading will prevent this, but it the light is too much subdued the growth is not satisfactory. Where there are only small houses, I would advise growers to arrange the plants as far from the glass as possible and to always ventilate as early in the morning as may be, as the oftener the air of the house is changed the better, this also allowing of the blinds being kept up a little later. Frequently damping down between the pots and occasional light dewings overhead serve also to keep the foliage cool. As soon as this feels warm to the touch the blinds must be let down, otherwise the leaves soon take on an unhealthy yellow tinge, even if not actually scorched. L. purpu- rata thrives in pots in a rough open compost, and in repotting keep the leads as near to the centre of the pot as convenient ; this does away with the need of potting for three or four years, provided a little of the compost is removed an- nually and fresh substituted. Good drainage is essential, and in large pots a smaller one may be inverted over the drainage hole in the bottom, filling up to and around it with pot- sherds. The pseudo-bulbs being heavy must be firmly staked and tied— at least until the new roots form a natural support. In the best va- rieties this Orchid grows to a height of 2 feet 6 inches and has fusiform ribbed pseudo-bulbs, each bearing a single leaf. If care is taken not to wet the flower?, they last from three weeks to a month in good condition. L. pur- purata is a very variable species, some of the better varieties being very expensive, though the commoner, not less beautiful kinds are cheap enough to be within the reach of all who have a glass house. L. p. ALBA is the nearest approach to a white variety and a very chaste and beautiful kind. It occasionally appears among importations of the species and has white sepals and petals. The labellum is also whitish in ground colour with veins of rosy purple. L. P. ATRO-PUBPUREA is a deep coloured ana handsome form which is in itself variable, as may be seen by comparing the flowers. In this the sepals and petals are deep rose, the lip very deep in colour with an orange-yellow throat. L. P. AUROREA is a singular form that has flowered usually with me at the end of July or early in August. The narrow wavy sepals and petals are of the faintest tinge of rose, while the lip is intense deep purple in front and veined with rose. , . ., , iu L P. Brysiana is somewhat similar to the last named, but a superior variety. The sepals and petals are rosy lilac, the lip deep crimson. ^ L. P. ScHRfEDERiU is a large nearly white form with a distinctly marked Up. This is, I believe, etill rare, though not so much so as for- merly. . _ , . , L. V. Williamsi is a magnificent variety, proJDably the strongest growing of all and the THE GARDEN [July 6, 1895 largest flowering. I bloomed a very fine form of this from an importation some four years ago. The sepals and petals are broad, bright rose, with deeper veins and pencillings. The lip is large and spreading, yellow in the throat with a deep crimsou blotch on the front lobe. All the varieties are natives of Santa Caterina, in Brazil. H. BURLINGTONIAS. While some despise the smaller - flowering Orcliids such as are contained in this genus, others admire them, and certainly where any- thing approaching a representative collection is aimed at they ought to be included. It is only a small genus, comprising about seven or eight distinct species, these being rather small-growing pseudo-bulbous epiphytes. They may be grown in either the East India or Cattleya house and are most satisfactory in shallow suspended baskets. The flower-spikes are produced at various time.s from the base of the pseudo-bulbs and bear a number of .small flowers, the sepals and petals usually rather insignificant, the lip being the most showy part of the flower. The roots are not large, but very plentifully produced when the plants are healthy, and they like a very open compost consisting largely of Sphag- num Moss and charcoal, which is apt to get too close if used in a greater proportion than one to three of Moss. About an inch of this ma- terial is sufficient for medium-sized plants, using a little more for large specimens or made-up baskets. It is in the atmospheric treatment that growers usually go wrong with Burling- tonias, these small-growing Orchids not being able to withstand fluctuations of moisture so well as grosser growing and feeding species. When the atmospheric conditions are right many of the Burlingtonias push out their roots over the top of the compost, and these serve the purpose of auxiliary conductorsof moisture to the plants, and are jiossibly as important as those in the compo.st below. They do not like disturbance at the roots, and in basketing the plants, especial care should be taken with the drainage, thus obviat- ing the necessity of frequent repotting. All the species are very subject to the attacks of white scale, this being most diflicult to eradicate. The plants must be frequently sponged, and even then probably some will remain at the bases of the leaves and among the roots at the junction with the pseudo-bulbs. Cleaning must, however, be per.severed with, or but ill-.success wOl be the result, as no plant can make a free growth with the continual drain upon its resources that the presence of insects entails. A deal of atten- tion is needed in watering during the time the plants are in active growth, a good washing from the syringe being very helpful on bright days. Burlingtonias like a clear light and only need shading when the sun is very bright, the foliage being thicker and more solid than on some larger-growing jilants. While at rest they must not be allowed to remain dry at the root long, as the pseudo-bulbs soon waste under this treatment, which is not necessary to induce them to flower. I have seen Burlingtonias well grown on lilocks with Sphagnum alone, but a good deal more attention is required if grown in this way. The species most generally grown are — B. CANDIDA, a very graceful and pretty plant when in blossom. The racemes are pendulous, bearing from three to six or more beautifully marked flowers, each about 1.', inches across, pure white, excepting a yellow stain on the lip. This is usually the first to bloom, being generally in full beauty in May, and the flowers last about three weeks in perfection. It was introduced from Demorara in 18:i4. B iiEfoitA is the most didioult to keep in health, as its straggling habit of growth makes it necessary to peg the pseudo-bulbs down to the compost frequently. If this is not attended to they get weaker every season and soon have a very untidy appearance. This produces longer racemes than the last species, the sepals and petals being very pale rose, the lip pure white. This is very inconstant in its time of flowering, but is now at its best in some places. A larger- growing, brighter-coloured form is B. decora picta. The typical plant was introduced in 1852 from Brazil. B. FRAGRANS, as its name implies, has scented flowers, but their fragrance is not liked by everyone. It is a compact-growing, free-flower- ing plant, introduced from Brazil in 1850. The blossoms are pure white, excepting a stain of yellow on the lip. Grower. MASDEVALLIA HARRYANA. This is one of the best, if not the best, of the showy-flowered Masdevallias, deservedly popular and everywhere admired. Good plants of this species with a dozen or more flowers are most beautiful objects in the cool house, and form a striking contrast to the quieter tints of the other occupants. The cultural requisites of this kind are similar in all of this section, as represented by M. Lindeni and M. Veitchi. It enjoys a cool, moist, and well- ventilated atmosphere all through the year, and it requires very careful watering, the roots being easily injured by over-abundant moisture. On the other hand, it must not be dried, or the plants will be so weakened that they will probably not produce many flowers. The great point is to keep a sweet and sound root-run, and, if necessary to do so, the plants are better re potted annually than to allow the compost to get into a sour or waterlogged state. M. Harryana is a free-rooting species in this description of com- post, and if the roots are kept intact and healthy, the plants are sure to do well. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance ; the pots should be fre- quently scrubbed and the foliage kept quite free from insects. The chief enemies are scale and yellow thrips, the latter almost invariably making its appearance just before flowering time. Where a fairly large number of plants is grown it is best to lightly fumigate them twice on successive evenings after sundown, choosing a calm evening for the operation. This should be done before the flowers show colour. If this is neglected and the thrips are allowed to run over the plants, the majority of the flowers will be ruined in appearance by the white marks left by these active little pests. There are several pro- prietary articles now advertised for fumigating that are much more effectual in their operation than tobacco paper and safer in application. Should green-fly make its appearance, this may be easily got rid of by dipping the plants in a solution of soft soap and tobacco water, syringing them afterwards with clear soft water. For scale, sponging will be necessary, and this must be very carefully done, as the leaves are brittle and easily snapped ofl' at the bottom, often bringing away with them incipient flower-spikes. All through the summer, the plants, of course, must be heavily shaded, but in winter a clear light is of great importance, and the plants should be brought up as near the glass as possible. The temperature ought never to go below 45°, and if 5° higher it is all tlie better, as the species can never be said to be ([uite at rest. The plants are usually safest in rather small pots, as the larger the specimen, and consequently the more peat and Moss used about the roots, the greater the danger in winter. Large specimens may easily be made up at flowering time by selecting a suitable number of small plants, grouping these in pans and surfacing with Sphagnum to hide the rims of the pots. M. Harryana is a very variable species, the type bear- ing flowers .3 inches in diameter, bright magenta- crimson, with a yellow tube and throat. Splen- dens, regalis, and atro-sanguinea are among the best varieties I have seen, .-md all are natives of New (irenada, whence the lype was introduced in 1869. p. Kitchen Garden. WAITING FOR RAIN. There ha^ been much important work deferred this season in the hope that a change from bright, dry, hot weather to a rainy time, but which never came, might take place. In some few districts rain fell in appreciable quantities, or sufficient to admit of seed sowing and plant- ing being carried out under somewhat favour- able conditions, but in the majority of cases waiting proved of no avail. Those who missed putting out Brussels Sprouts, Borecole, and such like just when the plants were fit have since had to do this work under worse condi- tions than prevailed a few weeks earlier, as their plants were drawn and leggy and the ground hotter and drier than is often the case even in July or August. Old hands seldom make such mistakes. When plants in seed beds or which are pricked out receive a tho- rough soaking of water at the roots, they soon after transplant readily enough, and only those of the latter, moved without a ball of soil about the roots, flag badly for any length of time. I put out Brussels Sprouts, Bore- cole, Cauliflowers, and early Broccoli directly after early Potatoes were moulded up, and about three waterings since have been sufficient to give them a good start. They will not be overtaken by any plants put out a month or so later. It is much the same with Celery. If the trenches were got out, as they should be where possible, several weeks before they are req uired for the plants, there need be no great difficulty in getting them into a suitable condi- tion for planting. Should the soil disposed over the manure be rough and hard baked, give enough water to soak the clods, and all will then break down readily enough. On no account ought Celery plants pricked out in beds to remain where they are till they press against each other, as this means drawn-up leaf stalks and an inevitable severe check, moved when they may be. While yet sturdy and nearly or quite clear of each other, give the soil about them a good soaking and soon after transplant with as much soil and roots as can be saved with each. Well fix in the trenches or beds, give a good watering, and, if it can bs done, shade lightly with Pea stakes. The plants will not flag much even if no shading is given, but they ought to be given an overhead water- ing in the evening of every hot day and an occasional soaking at the roots thenceforward. More Celery has been spoilt by those re- sponsible waiting for rain before attending to the planting than from any other cause. It should also be remembered that rain when it does fall must be very heavy indeed if it is sufficient to well moisten the soil about the roots of Celery in trenches. More often than not Celery suflers from an in- sufficiency of water at the roots during a showery season than it does in very dry weather. It is astonishing how rapidly the plants exhaust the moisture in a trench, and it is the condition of the soil well below the surface that ought to decide the point as to when to water, and not the surface. Waiting for rain is a risky pro- ceeding in the case of plants newly put out, but after they are once well established water- ing may cease with advantage unless thorough soakings can be given. The value ofagocd mulching of strawy manure. Grass from the mowing machine and such like cannot be over- estimated this season, these when timely applied doing far more good than driblets or even drench- ings, more especially of cold well or spring water. Where the ground is very poor the crops are July 6, 1895.] THE GARDEN failing badly this season, no matter how often water is given, this showing how necessary it is that they be given something stronger than water to live upon. Waiting for rain is equally unwise in the case of seed-sowing and thinning of crops. It is true much seed has been sown that has not as yet shown signs of germinating, and many seed- lings have come up only to be destroyed by in- sects before they have formed rough leaves. Where large breadths of land or whole fields had to be sown with Mangold and Turnips, those who were late in doing this have, apparently, little likelihood of being compensated for their pains, but gardeners have a better chance of combating against excessive heat and dryness. They, as a rule, ought to be able to get their ground into a finer free-working state, and, thanks to spade labour, their ground is not nearly so quickly exhausted of moisture as is the case with ploughed land. In addition to this they are in a position to well moisten the drills previously to sowing the seed, and when thus treated ger- mination takes place far more quickly pnd surely than when the seed is sown in dry drills, covered with soil and then watered. The dry weather ought not to deter anyone from sowing salad- ing, notably Lettuces, regularly, or say every fortnight, thinning out and leaving the plants where they are to grow, thereby avoiding trans- planting ; but, on the contrary, is a very good reason why this practice should be persevered with. More Carrot seed (giving the preference to Horn varieties) ought also to be sown, the aim being to keep up a good supply of tender young roots throughout the autumn and early winter months, and there should be no further delay in the matter of sowing seed of small, quick-growing Cabbages or Coleworts for plant- ing thickly, as these are most acceptable in the autumn and winter. There certainly ought to be no waiting for rain in the case of such an impor- tant crop as spring Cabbage. Seed of reliable varieties — EUam's Early Spring and the true Wheeler's Imperial — should be sown during the second or, at the latest, third week in July, a succesaional sowing being made a fort- night or three weeks later. It is true the Tur- nip fly is very troublesome in dry, hot weather, young Cabbage seedlings sometimes suffering badly from its attacks, but an occasional water- ing with only moderately strong liquid manure will hasten growth and check the ravages of the fly. This is the best remedy I have yet tried, and it answers well in the case of Tur- nips this season. A showery time is sometimes waited for in the case of sowing for the princi- pal crop of Turnips, but we may easily err in waiting too long, especially when that excellent hardy variety Chirk Castle Black Stone is grown. In the colder districts winter Turnips ought to be sown in close succession to early Potatoes, but in the more favoured southern localities they may well foUow second early Potatoes, levelling, breaking down the ground, opening the drills, watering these, and then sowing the seed, no matter how dry and hot the wea'her may be. When the weather happens to be very hot and dry in July and A ugust, sowing of winter Spinach is often deferred till it is too late in the season for the plants to attain to a serviceable size before severe frosts intervene. The ground ought to be early selected and prepared for this very important crop, plenty of sunshine and air greatly benefiting it, while should a soaking rain fall before the time has arrived for making the first sowing, the opportunity ought to be taken of breaking down lumpy fground with rakes, this keeping in the moisture and admitting of seed sowing being done when the proper time arrives without much further trouble. Should the ground be very dry about the second week in August, seed must yet be sown then, using the watering pot for moisten- ing the drills. Very many Onions have been spoilt owing to those responsible waiting too long for rain before thinning. This was a mistake, even if rain had fallen when most anxiously expected, as quite small Onions, as well as Carrots, Par- snips, and Turnips draw readily enough, no matter how hard the ground may be, and early thinning would have made it better in every way for those thaD were reserved. Runner and Kidney Beans came up very regularly and strongly, and ought to have been freely thinned in very many more cases than was done. If rain falls heavily before these notes appear it will yet be too late to thin out, as the plants have already twined round each other and will continue to smother and rob one another as long as they live. A. Rovek. Celeriac— This must now receive attention both in the matter of drawing out any suckers that may form at the base and thoroughly drench- ing with liquid manure. Scarcity of root mois- ture induces a tough, bitter-flavoured stick, more so even than in Celery. The Celery fly is likely to attack the foliage, and must be removed by hand-picking, all insecticides proving useless. If any late sowings are yet unplanted, no time should be lost in getting the young plants out, giving a good rich larder and watering frequently after the removal. A good mulch on either side of the rows where planted singly will be of much help in preserving the moisture until the plants are established, when manure water must be given as recommended for the earlier plantings. After ijlanting, shade from hot sun with evergreen boughs. Some may deem this waste of time, but I find from experience that crops so shaded at midsummer make quicker and better progress generally than those which have to take their chance. Be sure to soak the bed well the day before removing the plants.— C. The Onion maggot. — During hot, dry seasons spring-sown Onions invariably suffer more from the attacks of the dreaded maggot than when a maximum amount of rain falls ; consequently a sharper look out is needed and more frequent dressings of soot given. One of the best ways of applying soot is by soaking the ground over night with clear water and sowing it broadcast the following morning, again watering liberally. As is well known, soot, as well as being a powerful insecticide, is also a good manure for the Onion crops. Beds of Onions sown late for producing bulbs for pickling may now be thinned, but only moderately, as the smaller the bulbs the better. The same precaution is needed in keeping oft' the mafgot as with the main crop. The Que:n is a capital variety for sowing for pickling, being very mild, and the colour a beautiful white. Shallots must also now have another good drenching with liquid manure ; this will carry the crops on to maturity. — N. Value cf deep cultivation.— Never were the remarks of " H. C. P." (p. 437) better exem- plified than in a field of Potatoes close to where I write. The instance here quoted is a field of Potatoes 'under what I will term farm culture. The land" was a two-year Clover ley. The first week in April of this year it was ploughed and the Potatoes dropped into the furrows as the plough- ing went on. A small quantity of artificial ma- nure—kainit, I think— was scatteredalong the rows with the I'otatoes. The land being wet at the time, and heavy naturally, the bailiff considered he would be keeping the moisture in the soil by so managing it (?). The result is the Potatoes took an enormous long time to pusli through the soil owing to its hardened state ; in fact, many never came up. The growth since has been, as might be expected, exceptionally slow. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a worse looking Potato crop anywhere. In land of this character Potatoes do not require much rain ; in fact, when it is deeply cultivated little is required until the Potatoes are forming at the base. I never saw Potatoes in the garden here looking better than at the present time, in spite of the fact that one-eleventh of an inch of rainfall has been recorded here since April ■26.— E. M. November Cabbage.— In some gardens it is a common practice to sow at the present time seed of some of the small quickly-hearting Cabbages for a supply during November, and such is a capital plan, as they prove most useful just at that particular period before the Coleworts are at their best. A little frost improves the flavour of these November Cabbages, and they are as a rule much appreciated in the dining-room. To be success- ful, however, with this batch, good rich, cool ground must be selected for sowing the seed, a quick growth being indispensable for keeping at bay insect pests during the autumn months. Thin out the seedlings as soon as fit to handle and prick out the permanent plants on to a convenient plot where their wants can be attended to. Allow them to remain here till of good size ; then take up carefully with a trowel when in a thoroughly moist state and plant on good land, watering once or twice with liquid manure. Two of the very best Cabbages for the purpose are Wheeler's Imperial and Cocoa-nut. Where Cabbage quarters have been cut over, and it is intended to leave the old plants for supplying useful sprouts in winter, those that form now and for some time to come must be removed in quite a small state, to reserve vitahty for a later date. Any that have run to seed should at once be pulled up and thrown away, as all side sprouts issuing from them are sure to run to seed also. — C. N. Field Potatoes.— In many districts these were badly injured by frost on the night of June 16. Being thus weakened, all possible care should be taken to give them any chance of outgrowing it and of bulbing in satisfactorily. Earthing up must not be postponed until the haulm has grown con- siderably, or the plough or hoe will do much damage amongst the extended rootlets. If favoured with showers a good surfacing of some quick-acting manure will help them greatly just at this time, another being given as soon as the tubers are as large as Walnuts.— J. C. TOMATOES NOT SETTING. I HAVE a cool house for growing Tomatoes and I cannot understand why the Tomatoes do not set, they have bloomed well and have had plenty ot air. I have planted several of the same kind out- side and those are doing well.— J. H. B0RT. *„* There are several causes of non-setting in Tomatoes, but those requiring advice upon the matter should always give fuller particulars as regards varieties grown and method of treatment. J. H. Burt merely states that he has a cool house for growing Tomatoes in, that he has also planted somi outside, these latter doing well. From the fact of his having a house specially for growing Tomatoes I should say the plants are not unduly shaded by anything growing overhead, but want of abundance of sunshine and light may yet be the cause of failing to set. When the plants smother each other the flowers open feebly and are very deficient in pollen and either drop off wholesale or fail to set. The heaviest crops as a rule are «et on those plants trained thinly up the roofs of houses, and at this time of year there is no necessity to tap these smartly towards mid- day the pollen effecting a perfect set without this' aid. At the same time, if J. H. Burt has not tried this plan I should advise him to com- mence now. Either tap the bunches of flowers with a hazel twig or else the stems of the iilants generally with a stick padded with cotton wool If the flowers are not sufficiently exposed to the light, partially shorten the leaves the better to admit more sunshine. Crossness of plants is al^n a frequent cause of failure to set well, and it J H Burt's are extra rank growing, reducing the THE GARDEN [Jdly 6, 1895. leaves to about half their original size will tend to check this, giving less water than previously helping in the same direction. It does good to allow very sappy plants to flag from want of water occasionally. Some varieties. Early Ruby in particular, usually set such very heavy lower clusters of fruit that this weakens the growth considerably, and the later formed flowers fail to set in these cages. The remedy would be more liberal root treatment. It may be the variety cultivated is at fault. With me Hack wood Park set very badly this season alongside other varieties that have done remarkably well. Amateurs would do well to cultivate Ham Green Favourite or varieties of that type, including Al and Challenger, leaving it to others to experiment with the more doubtful setters. It should also be added that diseased plants fail to set good crops, and there are some mild forms of diseases that are only observable in the effect they have upon the growth of the plant. Applications of disease remedies, whether these be at the roots or to the top growth, invariably check Betting for a time. — W. I. EARLY PEAS. Owing to such a severe winter many Peas that were sown in the open ground in the autumn perished through the long spell of frost, and those which survived were so eaten by the slugs during the showery weather in April, that many failed to grow, thus causing many blanks. Those who sowed in pots with a view to plant- ing out will have found such sowings most ser- viceable, and there will be little cause for com- plaint, as the plants are both strong and well- podded. I have long since discarded the round- seeded varieties, and only grow such as are well-flavoured, selecting, as far as possible, the most productive. This .season about a dozen of the early wrinkled varieties were tried, and amongst the best of the tall ones was Exonian. Though the pods are small they are well filled, and the plants continue bearing for a consider- able time. Gradus came next, and was ready for use early in June, and this was followed by the Duke of York. Peas have not grown to the same height with me this season as they did last, for we have only had four-tenths of an inch of rain since April. Amongst the dwarf kinds Chelsea Gem still holds its own, the pods being produced in f uch abundance, and though not large are well filled ; the flavour also is very good. I tried several kinds of more recent introduction, and amongst tlie.se I may mention Sutton's Seedling. The haulm, about 2 feet high, is of a pale green colour, well clothed with pods of medium size that are well filled with Peas excellent in flavour. This variety when it becomes known will doubtless be much sought after as an early kind on account of its dwarf habit, it being well adapted either for frames or narrow borders. Heady with me on June 15. This may not be considered early by some, but when we take into consideration the lateness of the season before the Peas were able to grow, it is certainly an advance on a great number of kinds that were .sown (m the same date. Sutton's Favourite is also another grand new variety. The haulm reached 3 feet in height, and was well clothed with pods to near "the ground ; both foliage and Peas are rather light in colour, but the flavour is all that can °be desired. Daisy also had another trial, but was not so early as either of the forenamed. Sutton's Early Marrow is still well worthy of a place where good Peas are appreciated. It is an abundant liearer, pods large and well filled with I'eas of a deep green hue. Peerless sowed at the same time grew to the height of 3 feet ; both foliage and pods are dark, the latter being from 4 inches to 4^ inches in length, slightly curved and well filled with Peas of most excel- lent flavour. As a second early or main crop this will prove a good kind ; ready for use June 21. Conqueror grows to the height of about 4 feet ; the pods are borne in pairs and are either straight or slightly turned inwards, a peculiarity of this variety ; they are deep green in colour .-md well filled with Peas of most excellent flavour._ To have vegetables of any kind in per- fection it is necessary that they be well grown, otherwise they will lack that freshness so essen- tial to please the cultivated palate. Peas should not only be grown in well cultivated ground, but should be gathered as soon as ready for use. If gathered in the cool of the morning while the dew is on the pods and taken to a cold cellar till wanted for use they will be far more tender than when gathered in the heat of the day when all the juice is extracted from them by the sun, particularly in hot dry weather when the ground is parched. If not wanted for use when ready, better gather and take to a cool cellar in the early morning than allow them to remain on the haulm till they get old and tough. H. C. P. DEFOLIATINti TOMATOES. One of the ideas gained from a visit to the Channel Islands is that Tomatoes generally should be de- foliated, and not a few amateurs and others have come away with the impression they have gained very important knowledge. As a consequence, defoliation has been carried out in a most reckless fashion and under a variety of circumstances to the no small detriment of the plants operated upon. This season I have already seen scores (I might say hundreds) of plants completely denuded of their foliage right u p to the first cluster of fruit, and even the primary leaves, or those on the main stems, were freely shortened, so that the plants looked like mere skeletons. They reminded me of a large number of plants being grown under glass in a famous fruit-growing establishment in the west of England that unfortunately h.ad been over- run by Cladisporium soon after this muchtobe- dreaded disease first showed itself in this country, on these being nothing but fruit and quite young leaves. In this instance the crop failed to swell to a good size or to ripen properly, and if we re- move the greater portion of the healthy, fully- developed leaves from plants only just commencing to swell off their crops, we are almost certain to so paralyse their root action and to cut oft' supplies of sap that the fruit will be neither large, solid, nor good in quality. How can it be otherwise ? The Channel Island Tomatoes are not famous for their good quality, and if the growers defoliate half so severely as do their imitators on this side of the water, the wonder is that they can make fruit-growing pay at all. Not a few of those growers are quite new to the work, and doubtless imitate one another to the best of their ability, but if wecannot do better than follow in their footsteps, gardening has fallen to a very low ebb indeed. In all probability, however, very few of them com- mence wholly removing the lower old leaves soon after cropping commences, nor do they follow up the practice of shortening the leaves so very closely at first. Tomato leaves are so formed as to admit of their being either lightly or somewhat severely reduced in size, and only when the foliage unduly smothers the fruit ought it to be very severely shortened. Under glass there has been and still is a tendency towards close planting. It is a mistake I have made ; it is a mistake nearly every grower on a large scale has made ; it is a mistake too many beginners will make; and nothing but an experience of the ill effects of close planting will bring about a more rational practice. When, therefore, the rows of plants are less than .'i feet apart, lli inches or less apart in the row.s, and ranging from 4 feet to 10 feet in height, they simply smother and ruin each other. It is then when a certain amount of foliage shortening must take place, or otherwise little or no sunshine will reach the fruit, and without this aid it will be hollow, poor in quality, and, worst of all from a market grower's point of view, light in weight. Going to the extreme of making a wholesale re- moval of leaves has much the same effect. When plants are given good room and otherwise liberally treated, they grow rather strongly in spite of the heavy crops the majority of them produce, and seeing that no good cultivator allows any superfluous side shoots to form, the excess vigour communicates itself to the leaves, these attaining great dimensions. Even in this case I do not favour the practice of severely shortening the leaves, removing, it may be, two-thirds of each, but consider the ease well met by the removal of a third to one-half of each large leaf, doing this at twice rather than giving a single severe check. Open-air plants are great sufferers from this idea that defoliating is the right thing. There may be some excuse found for novices who have already cut away the lower leaves and shortened the rest, but gardeners ought to know better. By all means keep side or superfluous shoots closely snipped out, but do not weaken the plants by taking away that portion of them that has to finish the work begun by the roots. Nor do I believe in a wholesale removal of leaves after a heavy crop of fruit has been formed, but not ripened. Diseases that affect the stems and leaves are also equally at home on or in the fruit, and if we severely shorten or wholly remove the primary leaves, we take away what has hitherto afforded a certain amount of protection to the fruit. Be content, therefore, to practise shorten- ing of the leaves, and not resort to wholesale defoliation. Trimming off all or the greater por- tion of the leaves is about as sensible a proceeding as drying off Melons. The best Melons are cut from plants well furnished with healthy foliage, and the heaviest crops of richly flavoured Toma- toes are had from plants also well furnished with healthy leaves. W. Igoulden. Asparagus Late Purple Argenteuil. — This is a capital variety and especially useful where a prolonged supply is needed. It merits the title "late," not from its being behind other varieties in commencing to produce its grass, but from its habit of continuing to produce it after such sorts as Giant Battersea, Conover's Colossal and Reading Giant have ceased. When well treated it produces extra large heads having a beautiful delicate purple tip — hence its name. Purple Argenteuil. Anyone purposing increasing his stock of Asparagus next year would do well to give this variety a trial. — J. C. Transplanting Celery. — Important as it is to have good stocky, healthy plants of this vege- table, good results cannot be expected unless pains are taken at the time of removal into the trenches. The great drawback in so many instances is lifting the plants when in a semi-dry state. When this is done many of the best roots snap off and are left in the frame, while the rest suffer very quickly if exposed for a short time to sun and wind. Such plants also when planted never go away freely and often lose their lower leaves. Then, again, the trench itself is often insufficiently moist, and often watering is done in a half-hearted manner. Under these conditions there can be little wonder at so much Celery bolting away to seed. The chief point to be observed previous to removal to the trenches is a thorough moistening of the soil of the bed in which the young plants are growing. This should be done the day before, the trenches being treated in the same way. Planting completed, a final watering home should be given, and if in a very exposed situation, a few evergreen boughs fixed in the soil on one side of the trench and overhanging it will afford grateful shade until growth is resumed. In watering, mere driblets are of very little use, these often leaving the bottom roots untouched. Occasional thorough drenchings are what are wanted, the plants then standing some time without being dis- tressed. Celery, if healthy and sufficiently moist at the roots, will stand, and in fact enjoy, any amount of sun with impunity. — J. July G, 1895.] THE GARDEN Orchard and Fruit Garden. EMPEROR ALEXANDER APPLE. This is one of the handsomest Apples in culti- vation when well grown, and a great favourite with exhibitors, as its large size, good shape, and lovely colour make it a telling dish in a col- lection. In the back row of a collection its rich red colour is very striking if staged be- tween two dishes of a green or golden colour, and many visitors to our leading shows make a careful note of the name with a view to ox-der- ing trees of the variety when the planting season arrives. When these trees are planted for private use only, no harm is done, as the variety crops fairly well on good soil, but when required for market the result is somewhat dis- appointing, as the variety is not so productive all varieties, and although the above kind, as stated, is supposed to only bear every second year, it crops regularly in the orchard men- tioned. When grown in bush form, close or severe pruning ought to be avoided, as a mass of wood is made with little or no fruit, but by disbudding or thinning out the shoots in the growing season, so that each one left gets plenty of light, and allowing it to remain nearly full length at the final pruning, fair crops of large highly-coloured fruit will be produced most years, unless climatic influences are against the same. W. G. C. Fig Osborn'8 Prolific— Mr. Wallie, of Keele Hall, Stafford, had in hie collection of fruit at the York show a magnificent dish of Osborn's Proli6c Fig. On finding that I did not grow it, he said, "You certainly ought to do, as it is a capital cropper and of very good flavour." The fruits in Apple Emperor Alexander. From a pUotogiaph sent by Mr. Norman Blahe, Bedford. as many other cooking sorts, and when there is a crop, and it must be consigned some distance to market, it is fouud that the Apples are so soft that they travel badly ; consequently, owing to the bruised condition of the fruit, it realises a low figure, and every day that the Apples are kept after reaching the market the bruises become more pronounced. In some parts of the west of England there are many trees of Emperor Alexander Apple grown, chiefly in standard form. These trees, as a rule, bear a moderate crop every alternate year, but, as previously mentioned in The Garden, there is no reason why such crops should not become more frequent, as it is simply a question of feeding. In one of our orchards in which sheep are fed with rich food to get them into condition for show and selling purposes ; we find a marked difference in the annual crops and the size of the fruit of question were large, of a somewhat greenish cast, and in shape somewhat like well-grown fruit of Negro Largo. Some of the earlier forcing Figa, which have been introduced since the old Brown Turkey, are rather small in size. Osborn's, how- ever, by all accounts is the reverse, as well as being (as it3 name implies) prolific. — J. C. The Gooseberry caterpillar. — There are few gardens which are not annually troubled in a greater or less degree with this terrible pest. Its ravages not only affect the present year's crop, but are the forerunner of puny wood and buds in the future. Many so-called remedies are recom- mended, many of which are positively dangerous, the insecticides themselves being of a poisonous nature. My plan, and which has proved effectual year after year, is to thoroughly well dust the lower portions of the bushes with soot and lime, doing it in an upward direction, and, of course, directly the pest is noticed. Use the soot and lime in equal proportions ; this fetches all the caterpillars down to the ground, when a second dusting can be given them, which proves fatal. Tins stops any further progress, and the few fruits which unavoidably become covered with the mix- ture are easily washed before being used. Any- one troubled with the Gooseberry caterpillar will find this a safe and efficient remedy if carried out in earnest on the first appearance of the pest. I certainly have a great antipathy to any poi-onous mixtures being used on anything that has to be eaten afterwards. — J. Crawford. POT CULTURE OF MELONS. Although growing and fruiting Melons in pots is by no means a new practice, it is one which does not receive the attention it deserves. Pot culture, although profitable at all times, is doubly so early in the year for the first crops, and those who have proved its value will not readily abandon it. Some favourite varieties also which are prone to make strong growth do not always set their fruit so freely as is desir- able when planted out and allowed a bed of leaves to root into, especially in a duU sunless spring, when growth is often rampant and bloom scarce. The best lot of Melons in pots I ever saw was in a Kentish garden, the variety being Heckfield Hybrid, still one of the best of its class. The pots, 12 inches in diameter, were plunged in a narrow bed of oak leaves beneath which was a chamber for hot water pipes, and although the spring was not one of the best, and the temperature of the house lower at times than was desirable, the plants ripened off' a splendid lot of fruit, large and of capital flavour, each plant carrying from three to four fruit. Since then I have always grown a portion of my crop in pots. It may be thought that the limited body of soil a 12-inch pot can contain is insufHcient for the roots of a vigorous Melon plant, but if firm ramming is resorted to when the final shift is given, and judicious mulching and feeding when once the fruits are set, the plant will carry and mature four or even more fruits. If I want the fruit to ripen extra early, I place the pot on a jjiece of slate when plunging, and by screwing it round occasionally prevent any roots from penetrating the bed of leaves beneath. This of course hastens maturity. Melons when grown in pots always make a harder and more wiry growth than when planted out, and the fruit can often be secured on the first laterals from which it more often than not parts, when the plants are grown in the ordinary way. I always think, too, that the flavour of pot-grown fruit is superior. In houses where bottom-heat pipes are not over- plentiful Melons often fail to set, and swell from an insufficiency of root warmth, but if the pot system is adopted more fermenting material can be rammed in round the pots just when the plants are coming into bloom, and thus an easy and free set secured. Of course, there is a good deal of labour in watering inseparable from pot culture, as Melons (like pot Strawberries), if once allowed to get dry at the roots after the fruit is set, might as well be thrown away. Twice, and in some cases three times, a day the ball must get a thorough moistening, once being with liquid manure. The smaller-sized Melons, which do not make so much growth, are admir- ably adapted for pot work, as they are easily supjjlied with all the nourishment they require ; while the more robust, rampant-growing sorts (for second early crops) are by pot culture re- stricted and made more prolific. If fruit of the very largest size is required larger pots can be given, and I have heard of some growers using Seakale pots, these being deep, but not wide, so as to monopolise the room. I have always found canker to be less prevalent in pot-grow B THE GARDEN [July G, IS! 5. plants, the hard and wiry character of the roots and growth generally, doubtless, accounting for this. Later in the season Melons may be grown very profitably in pots without the aid of a hot bed. On the kerbs of Pine stovts or similar structures where the sun can shine directly on the pots they will do well, if allowed to carry only some three fruits each and well nourished. Beauty of Syon, Gunton Orange, Hero of Lockinge, Scarlet Premier and Baron Hamilton, a grand new scarlet-fleshed variety, are all well adapted for fruiting in pots without any actual bottom-heat. J. Crawfoed. Eirly Rivers Cherry.— Recently when out for a day I passed a cottage with a Cherry tree on its wall so heavily cropped and the fruit so large and striking, that I went to the door and asked the occupier what variety it was and how she accounted for the fruit attaining such an extraor- dinary size, though the crop was so great. The answer was, " The name is Early Rivers, and the only reason I can give for the big crop and large fruit is that every time I am washing I always throw the soap-suds about the roots, and if any blight appears I send the suds over the leaves." I further learned that she could always sell all the fruit in either plentiful or scarce seasons at six- pence per lb., the demand always exceeding the supply, people coming to fetch the Cherries from the house. Several lessons may be learnt from this old woman's experience. First, that even in country districts miles away from a town or good market cottagers can realise a high figure for pro- duce of more than ordinary merit ; in fact, such produce practically sells itself. Secondly, the immense value or importance of a plentiful supply of plant food to fruit-bearing trees. I cannot say what the manurial elements are in soap-suds, but no doubt potash predominates, and the quantity applied by the means of a weekly or perhaps fort- nightly soaking all the year round must amount to a very considerable total in twelve months. It was very evident there had been no excess, as the fruit, wood and foliage were as good as they possibly could be. Thirdly, the bene6t of having the wails of houses or other buildings covered with fruit trees of profitable kinds instead of permitting them to remain bare, ugly, and unprofitable was evident. — R. H. Notes on Currants. — Probably Black Cur- rants will be of more than ordinary value this year, as complaints are becoming common about the fruit dropping to a serious extent. One large grower writes me this morning (June 2.5) that he is losing half his crop through the drought. Through keeping the surface soil loose very few berries have fallen with me and the crop is fully up to the average. Ogden's and Lee's Pro- lific are bearing the heaviest crops, the fruit being large, firm, and of deep colour, and both varieties are excellent for home use or market. Red Currants are a very heavy crop, all sorts being well laden with fruit. Raby Castle is a well- known good variety, but decidedly inferior to La Conde, and no doubt, as this gets more widely known Raby Castle will be superseded by it. The growth of La Conde is strong and well furnished with large clusters of berries, fine in size and colour. The old Red Dutch and (irape varieties are also remarkable for their prolific habit and general excellence. It must be a vile season for any of the above to fail, each variety beiiigvigorous and producing foliage early that protects the fruit in the embryo stage from frost. Reine Victoria is the latest variety that I have had any experience wiih, and it will hang in a perfect condition for a long period after ripening if protected from wetaiid birds. Amongst White Currants the new variety named Champion promises to be an acquisition, the bunches atjd fruit being much superior to those of any soit that > have, also producing the same freely. White Dutch is a well-proved old favourite, and is perhaps more universally grown than any of the whites, but, with all its pofjularity, I think Champion will take its place in tl e future. It would be a mistake for intending growers for market to plant White Currants on an extensive scale, as the demand is very limited. Sometimes one may dispose of a few hundred- weights at satisfactory prices, and again it happens that they will scarcely sell at any price. If there is a good market annually for White Currants 1 have yet to discover where it is. — W. G. C. Strawberry Royal Sovereign.— I do not wonder that Mr. Salter is much in favour of this Strawberry for forcing, seeing that it is such a grand variety in every way. Perhaps it will not prove to be so valuable as some other kinds for early forcing, but for ripening its fruit in May it is doubtful if any other can rival it. From plants in 6-inoh pots I gathered at the end ot May fruit each weighing l-J ozs. It is also an excellent sort for growing in the open. Upon one plant put out last year after being forced 1 counted to-day fifty-five fruits, not taking into account the small ones. Several of these weighed 1| ozs. The colour is bright and taking in appear- ance. The flesh is firm and of pretty good flavour. It is a Strawberry that carries plenty of foliage, thus enabling the fruit to swell to a large size. When better known I am sure it will be much grown. It ripens early out of doors. My first fruits of it were gathered on June 11 from a west border — by no means an early position. — E. M. nouncement as to its being sent out ? I have heard that it is not recommended as an outdoor Nectarine, as it does not do well in the open, whereas Early Rivers does. I have no interest whatever in either of the fruits, only having grown one— the Early Pavers, but I do think that Lord Napier is deserving of better treat- ment, as it is a fine fruit indoors or out and forces readily. To get Lord Napier in May, I start it early in December, allowing nearly six months. I have yet to learn that the newer Nectarines require only about four months, but if so, it is a great gain. I have forced Lord Napier in a little more than five months, but one cannot expect long-lived trees with such treat- ment. It is very different to grow fruits for exhibition, and, as far as I could judge, none of the fruits were very ripe or they would not have travelled. " W. G. C." tested the flavour and described its quality, and nothing can be said against it as regards colour or appearance, but can you call a fruit good which is stated to crack badly in the open ? Lord Napier does not crack, and I send this note as a plea for an old well-tried kind that has served us well. Fkuit Gkower. GOOD EARLY NECTARINES. I DO not quite agree with " W. G. C." (p. 395) as to the terms used for the new Nectarines Early Rivers and Cardinal. I fear he was so much impressed with the small fruits on a small tree in a pot placed by the side of a basket of Cardinal (the last new one) that he at once came to the conclusion it was so superior. Our old friend and favourite, Lord Napier, was staged in such a condition, that it cut a sorry figure by the side of the newer Cardinal. Now it is scarcely fair to stage a Nectarine such as Lord Napier beside the newer Cardinal in such a small state. There is not the least difficulty in having ripe fruits of Lord Napier in May ; in fact, first-class fruits have been staged several times at the Temple show. Last year good fruits of Lord Napier were staged equal to those of Early Rivers in quality, colour and size. If the Lord Napier, as was stated, had been given the same treatment as the Cardinal staged, the dif- ference would not have been so marked as in the fruits exhibited. I have made inquiries of noted growers ; some say Early Rivers is a few days earlier, but not to the extent of the fruits of one being ripe when the others are not half-grown. In this case it was Cardinal that was staged by the side of Lord Napier, not Early Rivers, but the same test was applied to Early Rivers last year or two years ago. Every- one now knows that Early Rivers forced is not a month or six weeks in advance of Lord Napier. We have not got to that perfection yet of having Nectarines so much earlier. Car- dinal 1 have not tried ; it may be as early as was stated, but our old favourite. Lord Napier, should not be shown in a small state —little larger than Cob Nuts on May 21, a.s there is no difliculty in having ripe fruit at that date. Cardinal must have been forced to be ripe, as it is out of the question without forcing to lave ripe Nectarines, however pre- cocious, at the date named. " W. G. C." tells us that new early varieties do not drop their buds. I have had no experience of bud-casting in these fruits, so was not prepared to find that a recommendation. Others may ; I never have in the course of long experience at Peach and Nectarine forcing. Peaches are sometimes troublesome,but with me Nectarines are exempt. Cardinal, he also states, is equal to Early Rivers in every respect, but why was there no an- Garden Flora. PLATE 1021. THE GREATER CHRISTMAS ROSE. (with a coloured plate or HELLEBOatli? ALTIFOLIUS = H. NIGER MAXIMUS.*) This noble plant, formerly portrayed by Mrs. Duffield in The Garden, and also known as H. niger maximus in some places, is by far the boldest and most robust of all the Christ- mas Roses at present in cultivation. The finest flowers of this form I ever saw were sent to me from Newton Abbot, in Devon, by Mr. T. H. Archer-Hind some years ago, each bloom being 5 inches in diameter and nearly pure white in colour, though, as a rule, there is some rosy purple colouration in its flowers. H. altifolius is, 1 believe, as above indicated, the very best of all the Christmas Roses for rough-and-tumble culture in all soils and situations. After it I should place the Riverston variety, as distri- buted from Mr. John Poe's garden at Riverston, Nenagh, some few years ago. As a dainty queen of Christmas Roses St. Brigid s variety is exquisite, perfect in its pale green foliage and purest of white flowers, but, alas! like other beautiful things, it is a little capricious, and does not do equally well m all soils and situations, but as seen at its best it is one of the very finest kinds. The Manchester var called H niger angustifolius, not the true H. nige> angustifolius of McNab and the late Miss Hope, of Wardie Lodge, Edinburgh, is also a pure white, very efl'ective and free flowering kind but its leaves are more acutely serrate than in St. Brigid's form, and there are other differences very evident to the practised eyes of Mr. Walter Ware, Mr. Veitch, of Exeter, and others who grow and think much of these pearly winter blossoms. As I have said, there IS generally more or less of rosy purple suttu- aion in the blooms of H. altifolius, but there is another form of it called H. niger Apple- blossom bv Mr. Ware, a narrower-leaved form, bearin<^ a "profusion of rose-tinted flowers very sucnestive of the flowers of a rosy- blossomed Crib or Apple tree, as suggested by its varietal » Drawn for The Garden by H. CI. Moor,, at Gravetye M-inor, Sussex. Lithographed and printei by Guillaume Severeyns. J^'^^ •'' 1895. , fTHE Gakden. The Gakdex.] [JuLi- 6, 1895. ^s««a^-.">ii HELLEBORUS ALTIEOLIUS JitLY 6, 1895.] [The Oaedkn. / ^?^ ^ .^■> *, . /V \' EDOUARD F. ANDRE. M. Edouard F. Andre, whose name is widely known in our country as botanical traveller, horticulturist, and one of the leading landscape-architects of his time, was born at Bourges, in the department of the Cher, France, July 17, 1840. He began to study horticulture at a very early age with his father, who was a nurseryman in that town. Having completed his classical studies at a very early age, his decided taste for horticulture induced him to stay a year in the establishment of M. Leroy at Angers. Then he went to Paris in 1859, and spent another twelve months in following the course of botanical instruction and in practical training at the Museum of Natural History, under the direction of Professor Decaisne. This was the first period of Mons. Ed. Andre's exertions in horticulture and botany. In the year 1860 he was called by Mons. Alphand to a post under the Municipality of Paris at the time this remarkable man commenced the transformation of that city. The appointment of Mons. Andi-e to the post of Principal Gardener to the town of Paris, which position he held during eight years, enabled him to take an active part in the layiug out of the public gardens and parks of Paris, and during many years he was director of the well-known municipal establishment "Fleuriste de la Muette." Mons. Andre's principal part in these important works was the planting of the Park of the Buttes-Chaumont, perhaps the most picturesque public park in the world, with its high cliffs, abrupt slopes, gigantic grotto, powerful cascades, mountain scenery and natural planting. In 18GG the Corporation of Liverpool, having acquired a large piece of land from Lord Sefton, opened a competition for the laying out of a public park, and invited artists of all countries to take part in it. Two prizes were offered — one, three hundred guineas, the other, one hundred and fifty. The area of the park was 370 acres, and the competition was not only for laying out the park itself, but the arrangement of boulevards and roads and the disposition of the land around it for building. A large number competed, and among the 29 selected by the jury, Mons. Andre, who had adjoined to him Mr. L. Hornblower specially for the department of architecture, was unanimously awarded the first prize by the Corporation of Liverpool on April 20, 1867, and also appointed to direct the carrying out of his plans. The work lasted five years, from June, 1867, to May 20, 1872, when the park was formally opened by the Duke of Connaught (Prince Arthur). Since that time the works executed by Mons. Andre can be counted by hundreds, not only in his own country, but through- out the world. Among them may be mentioned the drawings of Wood house-Moor Park, Leeds, the parks of Saumarez Hall and Melrose, (}uernsey, Mr. Allain's in Jersey, Allerton Priory, Liverpool, Impney, near Droitwich. In Holland he planned and superintended the curious reconstruction of the grand French Louis XIV. parterres in the domain of Weldam belongmg to the Count Bentinck, and also those of Amerongen, the Baron de Heeckeren's. In Denmark, the park of the Count de Friese at Friesenborg. In Russia, Otrada, Count Orloff-Davidoff's. In Austria, the parks of Prince Lichtenstein and Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild at Eisgrub, Hohe Warte, and in Vienna. In Madeira, the public gardens at Funchal. In Bulgaria, those of the residence of the reigning Prince Ferdinand. In Switzerland, M. Hiibner's park at Sissach, and Vorpilliere, Count Riant's, M. Micheli's at Crest, Baronne Adolphe de Rothschild's at Pregny, and M. Ern. Andre at Crassy. In Italy, the squares of the Piazza Bianca and the Quirinal in Rome, the plans of transformation of the great park of universal fame called "Villa Borghese," the parks and gardens of M. Hiiffer at San Pancrazio near Lucca, those of the Count de Rigo at Menaggio, &c. One of the most interesting of Monsieur Andre's undertakings was the transformation of the Citadel of Luxembourg into a public garden. The Grand Ducal Government was compelled, in virtue of the Treaty of London in 186G, to erase the fortresses of the town, The Garden.! [,j,-ly 6, 1895. and entrusted to Mons. Andre the portioning and laying out of the land into a public park, botanic garden, boulevards and squares. The work was begun in 1872, and was only completed in 1892. The jjark of the Hospital Pescatore was laid out by Mons. Andre, who also greatly changed the thermal establishment of Mendorf, and gave the plan for the reigning Grand Duke's park of Walferdange. In 1890, the Government of Uruguay requested Mons. Andre' to pay a prolonged visit to their country, and to prepare them plans for the remodelling a part of the ancient town of Montevideo, and planning a new city in better proportion with the rapid increase of the population and the requirements of modern taste and civilisation. This great undertaking comprised three public parks of 100 to 210 acres, ten squares, and a vast, number of avenues and boulevards. These plans were sent, and the realisation of them is being gradually carried out. The beautiful gardens of Monte Carlo, laid out by Mons. Andre, have acquired a universal repute, not only for their elegant design, but for the numerous plants of tropical origin planted there, and which thrive admirably under the Mediterranean skies. To the same author belong the designing and laying out of the following parks: Ermenonville, Laversine, Avauges, Mt^gaudais, Le Lude, Les Crayeres near Rheims, St. Roch, Prye, Bois-Renault, Briare, Beauvoir, Coiu-ville, Peyrieu, Melzear, Ansennes, Iville, Pinon, Germancy, Captan, MaroUes, Toussicourt, Mignaux, in France ; Sentheim, Guebwiller, Liitzelhausen, in Alsace, Hayange and Joeuf in Lorraine, and many gardens on the shores of the IMediterranean. He also laid out squares of the towns of Chaumont, Cognac and Poitiers, and made capital alterations in the disposition of the thermal town of Bagnoles, creating boulevards, avenues, elegant villas, a church, race-course and a market-place. It is natural enough to think that such works should be followed by the publication of a book detailing the artistical prin- ciples, the theory, and the practical views of the author. In 1879, Mons. Andre pul)lished in Paris his '• Art des Jardins," a general treatise on the formation of parks and gardens, which is illustrated with eleven chromolithographs and 520 wood engravings, and has become a classic work in France and Belgium. In 1892 Mons. Andre was appointed by the Government Professor of Horticultural and Landscape Architecture to the National School of Horticulture, being the first time in France that official instruction in these branches of horticulture has been given ex professo by a specialist, which innovation has proved of much good. The career of Mons. Andr^ has been as much that of a horticultural writer as a landscape gardener. In 1864 he published a treatise on plants which grow in peaty soil. In 1865-66-07, throe volumes of reviews entitled "Horticultural Movement." In 1866 a work on ornamental foliaged plants. In 1867, "Fern.s," in collaboration with Messrs. Roze and Riviere. He published an account in 1869 of a part of his travels in the East called "A Month in Russia." From 1870 to 1880 he was editor of "ITllustration Horticole," published at Ghent, and the eleven volumes of this period are almost entirely from his pen. A large number of our readers know the results of Mons. Andre's travels in different parts of the world. He was sent by the French Government on a scientific expedition to South America, and he travelled in 1875 and 1876 through the richest and some of the least explored regions of New Grenada and Ecuador. He also went to the West Indies, Venezuela, Peru and to North America. Mons. Andrt^ brought back with him a considerable number of new plants, both living and dried, among which a certain number are known in cultivation, such as Anthurium Andreanum, Anthurium Dechardi, ^chmea Drakeana, Billbergia Breauteana, Billbergia vexillaria, Bromaria Kalbreyeri, Caraguata Andreana, Caraguata conifera, Caraguata cardinalis, Caraguata Morreuiana, Caraguata sanguinea, Caraguata Van Volxeini, Coutarea Scherffiana, Epidench'um arachnoglossum, Eupatorium serrulatum, Ismene Andreana, Loasa vulcanica, Philodendron Andreanum, Philodendron gloriosum, Philodendron Mamei, Senecio leucostachys, Senecio sagittifolius, Solammi Poortmani, Tillandsia Arequitae, Tillaudsia Lindeni tricolor, Tillandsia umbellata, Verbesina Mameana, Nectandra angustifolia, Lathyriis pubescens, Neumanma arcuata, Onoseris Drakeana, Podachjenium andinum, PassiHora atomaria, Phyllanthus salviiefolius, Puya glgas, Sicana atropurpurea, Tillandsia Armadte, Tournefortia cordifolia, &c. Mons. Andre published an important account of his voyage in the Tour die Monde ("Round the World"), and a scholarly monograph where he described, among 143 species brought home by him, the suggestive number of ninety-one new Bromeliads wdiich he discovered in S. America — " Bromeliaceae Andreauae." One portion of his botanical collection, comprising more than 4300 species, has been published under the supervision of eminent specialists, such as Passitloracec-e, Dr. Maxwell Masters; Lichens, Dr. Miiller Arg.; Melastomacese and CucurbitaceE, Cogniaux; Cyperacea;, Maury; Araliaces, Marchal; Piperaceje de Candolle; Amaryllidea;, J. G. Baker; Alismaceze and Lcgununosae, Micheli. In 1882 Mons. Andre was appointed co-editor of the Revrie Horticole, the oldest and most important of the French horticultural jmimals, which was founded in 1829 by Vilmorin, Poiteau, &c. For the last twelve years Mons. Andre with M. Carri^re has been the leading spirit of this paper, which he has made artistic, practical, and scientific. In recognition of his services, in 1892 Mons. Andre was elected titular member of the National Agricultural Society of France (the agricultural institute of that country). He is also Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, Officier de la Couronne de Chene in Holland, Chevalier de I'ordre de Leopold of Belgium, Officier de la Couronne of Italy, &c. He is as active as ever in the performance of his duties and in the development of his artistic and scientific career, and we are pleased to know that his eldest son, M. Rene Ed. Andre, is a distinguished engineer who follows faithfully his father's steps. July G, 1S95.] THE GARDEN name. As seen at its best with the pure white St. Brigid, or with the icy cold-white of Mme. Four<;ade, this Apple blossom is a most beauti- ful and distinct thing, and one to be grown extensively by all interested in winter flowers from the open air. Some few years ago Herr Max Leichtliii sent me a seedling of slender habit, which usually opens its first flowers in August. Tiiey are small in size, but pure white and most profusely produced. It is an ideal button-hole flower, and also the most certain seed-bearing form I know ; hence it might be useful to those interested in the rear- ing of new Christmas Roses from hybridised seed. For growing in bulk for cutting one might do worse than plant half an acre of the true Bath major, a form largely grown by Mr. Walter Ware. It is not remarkable for size or purity of flower, but it is a splendid grower and produces a rich profusion of its snow-white flowers. St. Brigid is far finer, but does not, as I have indicated, do so well everywhere. Riverston is finer, but, alas ! you cannot get 1000 Riverston just when you want to plant them, and this brings me to the kernel of these notes, viz., for planting in quantity use alti- folius, Bath major, Apple-l)lossom, and Mme. Fouryide, and for extra choice blooms grow St. Brigid and River.ston. But we are not nearly at the end of the Hellebores of the H. niger section, since many growers are raising seedlings every year, and there are now many varieties as rare as the best Odontoglots or Catlleyas, and almost, if not quite as beautiful, and they are also for ordinary gardeners about as difficult to procure. This is one of the joys of the outdoor gardener, this rearing of choice variations from seed. Your correspondent " L. E. L," whose "Garden Sketches" have betn read and enjoyed by gardeners in both hemispheres, has a superb collection of choice seedling Hellebores, and there is a set of them in the beautiful gardens of Glasnevin that are a pleasure to see every year — flowers of all sizes and of varying form, some stellate, others as solid and as pure as the finest forms of Chysis or Cattleya, or as the Odontoglots of Colombia, and, moreover, of a purity comparable to that of the long-flowered Lilies of Japan, of Ber- muda, or even of the Eucharis Lily of the South American streams. this is a gap filled up for the most part by Christmas Roses in pots or tubs and the early forced bulbs. One might say much more as to the beauty, the variety and the cultural adaptability of the best of the Christmas Roses, but it would not be at all easy to say too much in praise of these old-fashioned and historical inhabitants of our gardens, which have been popular from the most classical of Greek times, have lingered with us through the days of Turner, Gerard, Shake- speare, Queen Elizabeth and John Parkinson, and are with us now in a beauty, a quantity and in a variety never known nor so highly appre- ciated before in human times. It is not neces- sary for me to say that the plate by Mr. Moon gives a faithful picture of H. altifolius. As will be seen from the context above, the size of the flower is by no means exaggerated. F. W. BuRBIDIiE. The Week's Work. Christmas Roses may be grown in various ways. One way, and the best way if soil and climate are genial, is to plant them out in rows, 2 feet apart or more, in sheltered spots, and they enjoy mulching with leaf-mould or manure in the spring, so as to conserve the natural moisture of the soil just as the growth begins in March or April. Heavy waterings with weak liquid manure are especially beneficial about the same time, as on a free and luxuriant leaf- growth all after-success of profuse blossoming of course depends. If the soil in which you must perforce plant your Christmas Roses is drj' and sandy or gravelly, or if you are on limestone, then the chancesare that a half- shady spot will suit these plants best. If, however, you have a deep, rich soil full of moisture and humus, then a sunny position wUl, in all pro- bability, be the most beneficial to them. Another way, and a convenient one, is to grow these plants iu tubs, large or small as the case may be, planted in good loam and peat and watered occasionally with weak soot and cow manura. The growth and flowering are very fine, and one has the element of portability, for it is often a convenience to move the tubs of Helle- borus niger into the cool greenhouse after the Chrysanthemums are over and gone. The diffi- cult time fur choice cut flowers in most gardens is from New Year's Day until Good Friday, and KITCHEN GARDEN. Markows in frames. — These, where planted out as soon as the earliest frame Potatoes were lifted, will now be in a bearing state and of such a size as to require much more root moisture and nourishment than before any fruit was formed. If the plants have reached the sides of the frames the lights must be entirely removed and the IMarrows allowed to ramble over the sides and ends. Go over the plants and thin out any weakly growths, these being of no use, but rather a hin- drance by excluding sun, air and light from the more robust fruitful growths. It is a good plan at this stage to mulch over the surface soil for some distance round the stems with good rotten manure, as Marrows want much moisture. A good soaking of farmyard liquid, diluted to one half its strength, once in ten days or a fortnight will be of immense benefit to Marrows. Do not allow any of the fruit to remain on the plants when fully grown, as this has an impoverishing effect, and Marrows will keep in a usable condi- tion for some considerable time if placed in a dark cool place on a brick floor. Where a few Marrow plants have been grown in large pots under glass for early fruit they may now be thrown away, those in the frames taking their place. Leeks— MAix crop. — It is now high time the final planting of Leeks was made. These are best grown in trenches, except on strong retentive soils, when planting on the level is advisable. In any case work in plenty of the richest manure procurable, that from the piggery suiting them well so long as it is not in a green, rank condition. Some growers when ground is scarce plant three or even four rows in each trench, and good Leeks may be so grown, great care, however, being ne- cessary in earthing up to prevent the soil from falling into the hearts. The trench or level plot should be well soaked with water the day before planting, and the seed-bed also, the young plants being carefully lifted with the aid of a small hand fork in order to preserve intact all fibrous roots. When ])lanting cut a small portion of the top olf with a sharp knife and sink the plants in holes made with a dibble, so that the foliage is just below the ground level, watering afterwards with a rose, and if in an exposed situation, afford shade for a fortnight by means of evergreen boughs as re- commended for Celery trenches. Of course, where ground is no object, the one row trench is the best from every point of view. If any young plants are left after all the trenches are filled, they may be planted somewhat thickly on any spare well-manured piece of ground, these proving very useful for drawing early in autumn for flavouring purposes. The Lyon, Musselburgh and Ayton are all excellent sorts, Musselburgh being perhaps the best keeper and less liable to run to seed in hot, dry seasons. Debbie's Champion, a newer variety, is also excellent and especially adapted for exhibition. Pe.4S. — The past few weeks have in most locali- ties proved most trying to second early Peas, owing to absence of rain and parching winds. In very large gardens where labour is not over- abundant mulching and watering cannot always be carried out, and on light, porous soils the haulm soon gives way at the bottom, the first lot of Peas do not swell to their normal size, while secondary blossoms fail to set at all. In such places, however, there is usually a considerable quantity of Grass mowings, and these when wheeled off the lawns may be taken to the Pea plots and tipped in heaps, being afterwards levelled equally along the sides of the rows. One good soakino- of water over this will often work wonders and keep the haulm in growth until rain comes. On moist ground where any tall-growing sorts have out- grown the stakes, topping the terminal shoots may be practised, this preventing the haulm from falling about and encouraging the pods to fill up quickly. If the growth has fallen through between the stakes, strong string may be us id to keep it in its place, this being secured to a stout stake at intervals. May crops sutficiently grown should be staked without delay, as if once they fall over they never do so well after. Where it is desired to make another sowing for extra late purposes, Chelsea Gem will be found as good as any, the rows being about 3 feet apart. Keep all pods closely picked from rows now yielding, as this will give the successional pods an opportunity of filling properly during such hot, trying weather as we are at present experiencing. Let all first and second earlies be cleared from the ground as soon as the crop is gathered, if only for appear- ance sake. The ground will often come in useful for late greens, or the earliest plantings of Rosette Coleworts. Assisting crops. — As weeds are not so trouble- some as usual this summer, and are soon destroyed when hoed up by the hot sun and wind, all spare time may well be utilised in feeding all growing crops, either by the use of liquid manure or ap- proved fertilisers. If the latter is used the best way is to water the ground around and between the crops the day before, then put on the manure, again watering it home. This is far more effec- tual than sprinkling it on perfectly dry ground and then watering. Globe Artichokes, Seakale, Asparagus beds, and, indeed, all similar rooting subjects can scarcely have too much moisture during the growing season. If any more offsets have issued from the Seakale plants since the growths were reduced to two or three, they must be removed at once, watering may also then more easily be performed. All small-growing subjects, such as Parsley, Radishes, Lettuce, and salads generally, are all the better for being watered in the evening, the roots then getting the full benefit of it ; whereas if carried out during early morning much of the moisture is lost in evaporation. Watering Celery. — The earliest planted rows of Celery will now be growing freely, and must not on any account be allowed to suffer from want of water. Feeding also will be needful, but strong manurial liquids such as blood, so much in favour amongst some cultivators, are not to be recom- mended, these imparting an unnatural and un- pleasant flavour to the Celery. Their use also lays the crop open to disease and rot by promoting a sappy growth. Nothing surpasses good farm- yard liquid for Celery ; this may be poured into the trenches through a rose, and thus lashing the soil away from the root avoided, as is sometimes the case when spouts only are used. After watering with roses, however, a good overhead cleansing should be given with clear water. Earliest Tomatoes. — In many cases these will have now reached the limit of their trellis room, and fruit will have set up to that point. In cases where fruit set badly towards the lower parts of the plants, a few shoots may be laid in over the old stems, removing a portion of tlie foliage to avoid crowding. These may be pinched when they reach that portion of the plant bearing green or half ripened fruit. Our earliest plants are fruited 8 THE GARDEN. [July G, 1895. in a lean-to structure occupying a shelf close to the front lights, and are trained up a trellis on the single rod system, all side laterals being removed as they appear, while the leader is allowed to grow on till the top of the trellis is reached. Beneath the shelf in question, however, and at some 2 feet distant, there is a second which accommodates an additional row of plants brought on at a later date. As the crop ripens and is cut from the lower parts of the first batch of plants the growths of the others are trained up immediately by their sides, the leaves of the former being removed by degrees. By this double batch system even in a moderately sized house the quantity of fruit obtainable is as- tonishing. The one-rod or stem system has much to recommend it over the pinching or many- branched, inasmuch as the fruit, though pro- duced in somewhat less numbers, is much finer, and the aggregate weight is as great. I am growing Webb's Sensation this season and find it a capital variety for table use, being so round and hand- some and of a most brilliant colour ; it is also a good cropper. Should the dreaded disease appear, dust the foliage over with dry flowers of sulphur, keeping a dry atmosphere ; this if not actually curing it will certainly greatly mitigate it. J. Crawford. ing, as during the next two months they will be at their best. Time will also be gained at the planting season if the trees are marked and planted early. Man.^gement OF WALL TREES. — These will now require more attention. The trees where well attended to have made a splendid clean growth, and thus will now require to be carefully nailed or tied and the terminal shoots placed in position. If due attention was paid to disbudding, the shoots may be readily placed in position, but crowding should be avoided, and it is far better to cut away growths not required for furnishing to the third or fourth leaf in preference to nail- ing them in. It is also well to stop at this season gross wood, and so divert the flow of sap into weaker shoots. By giving the terminals more space, strong lateral growth, which is often cut away, may be nailed in and made fruiting wood. By this means a wall is furnished much sooner, and there is less trouble with gumming and canker. Should the trees grow too strong, the same measures may be taken as advised for Apricots. Watering and mulching and Morellos will still be necessary, and if in- fested with fly, the remedies advised above will be beneficial till the fruits colour. If Morellos are heavily laden with fruit, it is advantageous to remove small, poor fruits, thus allowing those left more space. The trees should be gone over and any foreright shoots cut back to a few eyes ; this will make the wood into fruiting spurs. The trees should be mulched, as advised for other fruits, and watered. G. Wvthes. Flower Garden. lEIS ATROFUSCA. This fair member of the attractive group of Cushion Irises was discovered in the spring of 1891 on the mountainous region which extends along the east side of the river Jordan. Broadly speaking, it may be described as an Iris with much deeper coloured flowers. HARDY FRUITS. Apricots. — The trees in this district are not heavily laden with fruit, but they require ample attention itv the way of moisture, stopping or pinching. The shoots should now be pinched quite hard, as this will give more light to the fruit, causing it to colour and swell freely, and the trees will make fruiting spurs for another season. Much better leaders will be secured by timely stopping of useless wood, and these shoots should be lightly secured, leaving space for each to swell, as if checked in growth, gumming and canker will ensue. With regard to young trees, much better results are secured by allowing a freer growth, nailing in laterals, and allowing the main shoots to cover a large space in one season. By this plan the wall is more quickly covered and there is less disease. Young trees in some cases do not make a good start the first season, but when they do they should be encouraged, and not checked in any way by pruning; pinching lateral growths will be sufficient. If in time grossness should prevent free fruiting, it is well to lift in the early autumn before the leaves change colour rather than use the knife severely. My advice may be contrary to the usual practice, but I have to treat these trees dif- ferently on account of the frequent loss of branches, and I have found by allowing free growth there is less of this trouble. It is well to grow a few young trees to take the place of old ones, as the latter are so uncertain in their behaviour. With pro- tracted drought few fruits require more moisture. On light soils the trees often suff'er, as after the severe drought of 1S93 the trees the following season lost many branches. Mulch heavily and water freely, doing the work in the evening, as then the moisture is retained longer. The mulch for young trees should not be rich, strawy litter being best. Peaches and Nectarines. — YouNc tuees. — I have rarely seen these trees more healthy and 80 free from fly, curl, or blister. This may not be general in all parts, but in many trees it is hereditary. As new trees can be grown so quickly with generous treatment, I would advise giving more attention to those kinds which do succeed, removing those which are trouble- some and bad growers. Where Peaches and Nectarines do thrive it is well to grow good hardy kinds. Lord Napier is my favourite inside or outside Nectarine. Such Peaches as Early Alfred, Hale's Early, Dymond, Barrington, Belle- garde, and Noblesse generally do well, and among the now Nectarines, Rivers' Orange, Dry- den, Humboldt, Advance, and Pine-apple pro- mise well. My object in giving this selection now is to enable these who wish tj purchase to see their trees in a growing state, and in a measure judge of their mode ot growth and fruit- houTd"not bl^del'ayed,''espec'iaTly"on The accompanying engraving gives a good idea of the general appearance of the flower. The standards are of a dark lilac - brown with radiating veins of black, the falls are strongly recurved and of a blackish brown colour. When seen in good con- dition it is a really fine and strik- ing plant. As to culture, this spe- cies requires no more special care than the other members of this group, but it sometimes gets spoiled by late frosts, which nip the foli- age and cripple the plant. C. G. Van Tubergen, Jun. A ROCK GARDEN. I HAVE lately had the opportunity of inspecting the rock garden at Abbotsbury, Newton Abbot, South Devon. In the pool, which is con- tained within the confines of this garden, five varieties of Nymphajas were flowering, and formed an ex- ceedingly attractive sight. Nym- phiea Marllacea Chroraatella, with its delightful blooms of pale saffron ; N. M. carnea and N. M. rosea, the former suffused with a delicate flesh colour, the latter of a deeper tint, approaching a rosy pink; N. Ley- dekeri rosea, bearing blossoms of a lovely rose colour, no two blooms being precisely of the same tint, owing, in all probability, to the dif- light soils, thoroughly wetting the foliage as well , ference in age of the individual flowers ; and N iignt, son., Moiuug^^ y ^ ^ luxuriant '■ pygmsa alba, with its white chalices, completed Iris atrofusca. Engraved for Ihe Gauden Jrom a ■plwlu- graph sent by M. C. 0. Van Tubergen, Junr., Haarlem. a picture beautiful both in colour and in form ' such as is too seldom seen in our gardens. These in the evening. This will promote growth and keep red-spider at bay. Now good time to finally remove the fruits not intended ; o-^. riV'".j "" „„ri r^lani-Brl 'in annrt soil and to stone, as there need be no fear of dropping Lilies are all hardy, and planted in go^^^^^ now Any fruits hidden by leaves should be ex- in not too great a depth of water can scarcely lail now. rtii> iiuiuB iiiuuci. ijy c ^ ^^^^ ^^ „„„„„rl The piece of water in which these to '^'''-'-J:: fnTnl° Wrg^'of werplcel iTiliTs-weTe growing is i-gular in shape and of •'- . . _._'T'.i._.j u„„...; „n crrfint, extent. The edees of the pool are growth; fruits. Borders that are not moistened by syring- ing frequently should be flooded occasionally and well mulched, and should sudden changes of weather cause mildew to spread, lose no time in applying some mildew specific or dusting with sulphur. Cherries.— With ripe fruits hanging and the trees much exposed in light land, there will be trouble with black fly, and the terminal shoots will soon suffer unless cleansed. To prevent in .,„ great extent. The edges of the pool fringed with Iris, Mimulus, and Spiraja, the water that supplies it rising from under a large rook, its source half hidden by Ferns. After a short coui se over rocky slabs and beneath o\erhanging out- crops of stone, the streamlet reaches a rough rock staircase from 8 feet to 10 feet in height, and thence descends by the side of a craggy rock pile to the level of the pond, leaving it at the lower end to meander for a little distance through less rugged environment ere losing itself, as it sprang into life, beneath a rock. Around the streamlet, which is here and there jury to ripe fruit, dipping is the only remedy available, and quassia extract or tobacco water may be used, but whatever is employed must be I •-■- V i„v,=, ;,f ctnnB rpminrlimr one of used thoroughly, as a few insects soon breed and , spanned by great slabs °f f °"^' ^.^"^"/'b ?d "e, of cover the gr^ths. Foreright or lateral growth ; he -J^-f ~/ .^^^tt'on D^rtS Ld in a dirty state may be removed, but with young , '^'^„%^"™ound^ inequalities of the ground trees it is important to keep the terminal growth on the surrounoing mcquii _ _ g, or leaders clean till the season is advanced and growth more matured. Syringing late varieties many plants were in bloom. On one rocky mound the Iceland Poppies, yellow, orange, and white ; July 6, 1895.] THE GARDEN. on another, Papaver pilosum. A fine plant of Romneya Coulteri was showing its flower-buds. (Enothera Youngi was in full bloom, and the chaste (E. marginata expanding its large white cup=. Tree Lupins, varieties of the Cistus family, Saxifrages in quantity, Heuohera sanguinea, with its ruddy flower-spilses, Campanulas, Aubrie- tiaa, Centaureas, and Coreopsis added their varied tints to the grey of the stones and the green of the Ferns that grew in the interstices of the rocks. Near a clump of the American Cowslip (Dodeca- theon Meadia) a colony of Edelweiss had ex- panded its quaint flowers, and in a damp spot the Cotton Grass (Eriophorum) waved its heads of white, feathery down. Where the roclis ceased or became more broken, the Day Lily, Alstro^- meria, Erigeron speciosus, and Inula glandulosa were in flower, while in the background clumps of Delphinium reared their tall blue spires. S. W. F. THE ROCK GARDEN. X. June 18. — The weather has been warm and rather dry for the last few weeks, and rock plants of every description are now blooming in such abundance that to give even a list of their names alone would occupy a very con- siderable space. I will therefore mention only the best of such plants as are now in bloom in this county (Devon). Choice Rock Plants now in Bloom Suitable FOR Select Paet or Rock Garden. Perhaps one of the smallest and neatest plants now blooming is Saxifraga ctesia, which does best planted in a sloping position wedged in between stones. The very minute silvery rosettes form a compact, hard cushion, from which spring nnmerous flower-stems about 2i inches or 3 inches high, each bearing a corymb of eight or ten white flowers. Dianthus alpinus is now past its best, but other gems are taking its place, the best and choicest among them being D. callizonus, D. neglectus, and D. Reuterianus. D. callizonus is still very rare. At Exeter it is flowering side by side with D. neglectus. The flowers of the former are larger than D. alpinus and of a similar shade of bright pink, but the centre of the flower shows a very distinct dark zone spotted with white. D. Reuterianus has flowers similar to D. neglectus, but the foliage resembles D. alpinus. Phyteuma comosum requires a position similar to that just recommended for Saxifraga csesia ; it is now at its best, and its large purple flowers of peculiar shape make it an object of great in- terest. The Siberian Edelweiss (Leontopodium sibiricum) is also in full bloom. Three of its woolly bracts are nearly half an inch wide, and as they are longer than the rest, the flower has an almost triangular appearance. The taller Himalayan Edelweiss is only just opening, but the well-known alpine variety has been in bloom for a week or more. All three do best in calcareous soil fully exposed. Poten- tilla nitida, with its silvery carpet of leaves and large white or pink flowers close to the ground, is very beautiful, and forms a capital contrast to Edraiauthus pumiliorum and E. graminifolius, which are still very showy with bright purplish blue flowers. A good yellow companion to these is Vella spinosa, with Draba-like foliage and bright golden yellow blossoms. Asperula nitida (described on page 417 of The Garden) is just passing out of bloom, but its neat cushion of crumpled leaves is highly ornamental, even without the pink flowers. Very pleasing just now are the bright pink flowers of that pretty little evergreen, Aoantholimon glumaceum and the large pink flowers of Geranium subcaulescens. Several plants now in full bloom, though certainly in their right place in the select part of the rock garden, require, nevertheless, more space than those mentioned above on account of their spreading shoots, which should be allowed to fall gracefully over the stones. Of this class I will only mention the mauve Androsace lanu- ginosa, its white carmine-eyed variety, A. Leicht- lini, the Fire Pink (Silene virgiuica) and the beautiful yellow Saxifraga flageUaris, described in The Garden of June 22. Larger choice plants of more erect growth now in bloom are Lithospermum graminifolium, with tubular flowers of bright cobalt blue ; Lithospermum petraeum, of more shrubby habit and broader leaves ; Androsace foliosa, which requires a sheltered nook and is the largest of all Andro- saces ; and last, but not least, that bright yel- low flower, Haplocarpha Leichtlini, referred to in The Garden a week ago. Flowers by the Waterside. Of the numerous bog plants now in bloom I will mention only a few of the best. Piugui- cula longifolia and P. Reuteri are both charm- ing plants for the bog bed, but owing to their very small size they deserve a prominent posi- tion where they could not be overrun by some of the taller and coarser kinds mentioned here- under. P. Reuteri has large pale pink flowers and a darker throat striped with purple, while P. longifolia has smaller, but deep blue flowers. Probably there are several other Pinguiculas in bloom, but those mentioned are the only ones which have come under my observation. Among Orchids now in bloom I noticed the white sweet-scented Habenaria oephariglottis (from America), Gymnadenia odoratissima (alpine meadows). Orchis maculata, and Orchis foliosa. Of Primulas, the large flowers of the well known Primula japonica and the yellow P. sikkimensis are now the most conspicuous ; both prefer a shady nook. Of the plants now in bloom several kinds suitable for the bog garden grow so large, that they must be kept at a suffi- cient distance from the choicer rock plants, and as they are most eflfective they are well worth a little extra care. For single specimens I would recommend Spiraea gigantea, which grows 6 feet or 8 feet high ; Senecio japonicus, with deeply divided leaves and large yellow flowers, and the well-known Podophyllum peltatum, all of which are in full bloom at the time of writ- ing. Many waterside plants more effective in groups than as single specimens are also now at their best, as, for instance, Spir;ea pal- mata, S. p. alba, Astilbe rivularis, Spiraea fili- pendula, S. astilboides, and many varieties of the Day Lily (Hemerocallis). Iris germanica is just passing out of bloom, but the I. Ksempferi varieties are only just beginning to expand. Dianthus now in Bloom. I have already mentioned a few of the smallest and choicest kinds of Dianthus now in season, and will here enumerate some of the .stronger-growing kinds suitable more for efTect among the rocks generally than for the select part. The number is so great, that a full de- scription would be far beyond the limit of these notes. The tallest kinds now in bloom are Dianthus atrorubens and D. cruentus, both with deep blood red flowers ; D. plumarius, D. glaucus, D. Seguieri, and D. arenarius are white, changing to pink. Of the D. hybridus multiflorus type, two capital representatives in full blossom are D. Napoleon III., fiery crim- son, and D. Marie Pare, white, striped with pink. Of smaller kinds, I will mention D. al- pestris, pink ; D. annulatus, white, with deep crimson ring in centre ; D. integer, fringed white ; D. superbus, pink, deeply fringed ; D. sylvestris, bright pink ; D. suavis, white ; and last, but not least, the charming little Cheddar Pink (D. cwsius). All the varieties mentioned are now blooming simultaneously, and the efi'ective combinations that may be produced by skilful grouping are without number. Campanulas in Bloom. Campanulas are excellent companions to the Dianthus both with regard to season of bloom- ing and contrast of colour. In rook gardens where a large number of Dianthus are grouped together in one part, and Campanulas of all kinds adorn an adjoining group of rocks, the effect is most striking, especially if the blue, white, pink and crimson tints of colour are allowed occasionally to intermingle with each other as we might find them in the Alps. The Campanulas now in full bloom are very numer- ous indeed. Some of the smallest and choic- est are C. Raineri, C. cenisia, C. Erinus, C. Waldsteiniata, C. pulla, C. turbinata, C. G. F. Wilson, C. garganica, C. garganica alba, C. alpina, C. pumila and C. pumila alba. As none of these spread very fast they may be planted at a short distance from each other. The follow- ing, however, require more room as their habit is more robust : C. Portenschlagiana, C. mollis, a grand form with large blue flowers 6 to 8 inches high ; C. rhomboidea alba, a splendid white variety about 1 foot in height ; C. hirsuta, pale blue ; C. barbata, porcelain blue ; C. csespitosa, C. carpatica. Besides these there are now many taller varieties in bloom which would be most suitable for a background or for isolated specimens among smaller plants. One of the grandest forms for the latter purpose is C. persicifolia alba grandiflora (Backhouse's variety), which altogether eclipses the well-known ordinary white and blue forms of C. persicifolia The bright purple C. glomerata dahurica looks best in groups perhaps adjoining Iceland Poppies, with which it flowers simultaneously and forms a capital contrast of colour. C. celtidifolia and C. macranthaare both excellent for background work. F. W. Meyer. Exeter. (To be continued.) FLOWER GARDEN NOTES. P.i:oNiES.— Peonies followed very closely this year on the heels of Pyrethrums, and in many cases were contemporary with the latter flowers. Few herbaceous plants have come more prominently to the front in a comparatively short time than the single and double Pseonies, the latter especially in great variety, being found in the majority of gardens where a brilliant display and plenty of cut flowers are required. When cut it is advisable, both in the case of the double and single flowera, to cut the blooms as they are emerging from the bud stage, or at most about three parts expanded, and if wanted for packing to send a considerable distance on a given day, they should be cut the previous night and placed in water. Moisture and shade are sometimes said to be essential to the growth of Pa^onies, but this is hardly correct. The very fine display at Messrs. Barr's at Long Ditton is on a dry sandy soil and in the full blaze of the sun, and, so far as soil is concerned, our clumps are similarly situated. As a matter of fact, Pajonies will do well anywhere if at planting time they get the benefit of deep tilth and a liberal dose of good manure. If the natural soil is somewhat light it is advisable to press it very firmly about the plants, and also to give a good heavy mulch- ing when the planting is finished. Pot plants for the flower garden.— These we have to use rather extensively to make up for a scarcity of flower beds, and I never remember a better display so early in the season. The situa- 10 THE GARDEN [July 6, 1895, tion being bleak and liable to be windswept, I find zonal Pelargoniums in variety and Marguerites the best plants to furnish the colour required. The Pelargoniums are the plants that have already done service through the winter months ; they get a special top-dressing early in spring and bi-weekly feeding with a fairly strong stimulant as soon as they come into flower. To secure bushy plants they are cut over rather hard about the latter end of February, withholding water for a time previous to that date to ripen the wood, and shoots as they advance are pinched back especially in the case of strong growers. The free flowering doubles in various shades are, however, the most useful for this out door pot woik. Marguerites possess the merit cf growing quickly to a largesize (if one can keep the maggot from them) or they will flower jjrofusely in 5-inch pots. Trained specimen plants grown are Fuchsias, Heliotropes and Aloy- sias. In shady situations a few nice plants of the Sweet Tobacco do admirably, and form an admir- able coi:tratt, cspecia'Iyinthe crol of the evening, to the blight colours of the Pe'argonuirs and Fuchsias. When large masses of the Tobacco are required a little seed is sown early in February, the plants shifted as soon as they can be handled, and potted on for a final shift into 6-inch pots, pinching out the centre to secure several breaks. A similar wealth of Francoa ramosa, another very useful plant for the work, is secured by retaining old plants and staking out the spikes a9 they develop. The two best Fuchsias for specimen work are the old Rose of Castile and Duchess of Edinburgh, a very vigorous variety with a large purple corolla and brilliant scarlet sepals. Where tummer groups of plants are required and house accommcdation is limited, the desired end can be partially attained by utilising a collection of hardy plants, as scarlet Lobelias, Funkias, Heme- localhs, Spiritas, Lilium candidum and the like. They should be potted up in early autumn in a bit of good soil and kept in a cold frame free from frost through the winter months. Vases and window boxes.— These should bo kept if possible full of flower and in all cases scrupulously neat and tidy, blooms past their best being promptly removed not only for appearance sake, but that the rapid succession of flower can be the more readily secured. It is always advis- able to leave a little stock of plants to fill up any gaps that may occur. This year, for instance, we lost several Ball of Fire Tropsolum that were used as an edging to white Marguerites, but were able to fill up the gaps with some good plants of a double pink Ivy-leaved Pelargonium. A great point in the filling of vases and boxes is to use thoroughly good sturdy plants that have also been well hardened off. They come away quickly and soon furnish tho places assigned them. I have before referred to the value of Petunias for such work, and this year they are doing remark- ably well ; the varieties grown are Giant of Cali- fornia and Empress, both very free and vigorous, and throwing flowers of extra size and quality! East Lothian Stocks are by no means to be de- spised for the back and centre of window boxes with something planted in front as a trailer. It may be noted in connection with boxes and vases as also with all pot plants used for grouping! that so soon as they are full of flower something in the way of a stimulant must be employed to keep existing growth healthy and fresh and to encourage the steady progress of the same. The majority of artificial manures leave behind them an odour that would be very objectionable in the immediate neighbourhood of the dwelling-house, and I have found nothing better as a stimulant than liquid manure made with fresh cow manure ; there is a staying power in this that is just the thing for all soft-wooded pot plants. CARXATI0N.S.— As the stock of border Carna- tions saved over from the winter of 18!)l-95 is not in the majority of places a large one, some varie- ties having totally disappeared, every bit of grass, however small, will have to bo utilised for layering. It ii not likely to be a matter, as in IH<.I\, of choosing a few of the best shoots from each plant. I have before noted the advisability of putting a small quantity of soil nearly all over the border rather than heaping up high mounds immediately round the plants. Our four most reliable sorts. Countess of Paris, Raby, Mrs. Reynolds-Hole, and Murillo, have come through the winter very well, and to these may be added Goldfinder and Sir Beauchamp Seymour. The old crimson and the white Cloves in one or two varieties have suffered most. Where, in" the course of layering, a slip of the knife leads to the severance of a shoot, it will doubtless be found advisable to ineert it as a cutting, and it may go in the bed prepared for the Pinks, taking care to water and shade for a short time until root action has commenced. E. Burrell. Claremonf. Societies and Exhibitions. NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. Gloucestek. Jdne 27. Roses have come on so rapidly during the past fortnight, and the weather has been so hot and dry, that we shall not be far wrong in saying the season of their most general beauty and greatest quantity is fast disappearing. There is usually a period of from two to three weeks when almost every grower is in " full cut," and this has been earlier than for many seasons. The chief event of last week was the National Rose Society's exhibi- tion at Gloucester, where a most successful show was held in connection with the Gloucester Rose Society. So good were the Roses throughout and numerous the competitors in most classes, that more than one looked upon it as the best pro- vincial show held by the N R.S. Messrs. R. Harkness and Sons, Bedale, York- shire, were the winners in the premier class for trade growers, staging a magnificent forty- eight single trusses of distinct varieties. As no less than eight competed here, and such redoubtable growers as G. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, F. Cant and D. Prior and Sons from Colchester, also G. Mount, Canterbury, and The English Fruit and Rose Company, Hereford, were unsuccessful, it is proof of the sterling quality of the winning stands. Messrs. Harkness had the silver medal Hybrid Perpetual here, but the winners of these will be described in due course. Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester, was a good second. The same order was observed in the class for twenty-four varieties, three of each, but ten or eleven com- peted in this case. The twelve blooms of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam that took first for Mr. B. R. Cant were simply magnificent. Tho class of the day, however, was one of twelve singles, open to all amateurs, and here Rev. J. H. Pemberton won the silver cup presented, a silver-gilt medal going to Mr. E. B. Lindsell, who was somewhat unfortunate not to be first, and would un- doubtedly have been so a couple of hours later. The silver medal and the bronze medal went to Mr. J. Parker, Hitchin, and Mr. W. Drew, Led- bury. There were sixteen competitors, and all of the stands were good. The class for twenty- four singles was also strongly contested, Mr. Walter Drew beating Mr. E. B. Lindsell. Eleven competed in a class for six trebles, dis- tinct, and here the order was reversed, Mr. E. B. Lii'.dsell having some of the grandest flowers in the show. Mr. George Moules, of Hitchin, was fortunate enough to carry off two first prizes with the only two boxes he brought, and this in by no means weakly contested classes — a great encouragement to small growers. Horace Vernet was shown well, most of the leading stands con- taining this giand dark Rose; so also was Her Majestj'. When we come to the Tea and Noisette section it is difiicult to say enough in their praise, but we were sorry to miss the Oxford Roses here. None of those grand boxes of Comtesse de Nadaillnc were seen, although the variety figured well in various stands. The twenty-four blooms fr-om D. Prior and Son, Colchester, were simply perfect. In the premier class for Teas among amateurs the first also went to Colchester, Mr. O. G. Orpen being successful and beating the Rev. A. Foster- Melliar, who was second. There was a grand dozen of Marie Van Houtte staged by Messrs. D. Prior and Son for twelve of any Tea or Noisette. Mr. B. R. Cant, F. Cant and D. Prior and Son won the prizes for twelve distinct Teas (three of each), and open to all England, amateurs or nurserymen. We were not so much impressed by the garden Roses, nor by the "displays" as usual. No new Rose was put up worthy the name, and no award was made. The Penzance Sweet Briers were good, and we have evidently not ex- hausted or by any meanscometo their chief beauty. Among the new ones was a bright semi-double called Jeannie Deans, which is more promising than any of those yet in commerce. There was a very pretty arrangement of arches covered with Roses shown by Messrs. Phelps and Co., Cardiff, that drew much attention. Mr. Conway Jones, Hucclecote, was remarkably successful both in the general classes and those confined to local growers. The silver cup for eighteen singles, tho silver medal for six Teas, and the silver salver presented by the corporation for twelve singles fell to his share among the local prizes. Ernest Metz was good in many cases. It is somewhat singular that so often the silver medal Ro!es should be found in indifferent growers, or those that only produce a good bloom now and again. If we except Catherine Mermet, The Bride, A. K. W'illiams, Mrs. John Laing, Gabriel Luizet and a few more, we find weak growers and uncertain bloomers often giving us a bloom of extraordinary merit. Last season it was Cleopatra and Margaret Boudet. At Gloucester the Hybrid Perpetual in the nurserymen's classes was Comtesse de Ludre, a Rose seldom seen, although it was sent out so long ago as 1880. The specimen here was simply perfect in every way, but the usual growth of this variety is not what one would wish. The other medal Hybrid Perpetual was Horace Vernet, and all of us know what a disappointing grower this is, although it so often produces a magnificent specimen flower. La Boule d'Or and Ethel Brown- low (the two silver medal Teas) are not among our best growers, and it is only during exceptional seasons that we find really first-class blooms of them. GARDENERS' ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION. The annual dinner of this institution took place on Friday, June 28, in the Whitehall Rooms, Hotel Metropole, the Duke of Fife, K.T., in the chair. The subscriptions realised a large sum, not too large, however, to make one feel content that such an institution as this is receiving suffi- cient support. The tables were delightfully decorated with the choicest flowers and fruits contributed by many nurserymen and gardeners, and it would be safe to say that at no dinner are the tables more beautiful than at the annual gatherings of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. There was a large company present, amongst those we noticed being Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., the Rev. W. Wilks, and Messrs. G. A. Dickson, J. G. Veitch, J. Hudson, J. Douglas, G. Norman, W. G. Head, J. Protheroe, H. Turner, A. W. G. Wrecks, H. Williams, H. J. Cutbush, A. F. Barron, P. Barr, G. Gordon, G. Wythes, W. Poupart, G. Monro, J. Walker, David Syme, T. F. Rivers, W. J. Jeffries, N. Sherwood, and W. H. Cutbush. The Duke, who was received with tremendous cheering, proposed the usual loyal toasts, and the toast of the evening, " Continued Success to the Institution." He said that the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution "was the only one of its kind in Great Britain. Its great object was to assist the aged and infirm by means of pensions, and to inculcate the admirable principle of self- help by giving a preference to those who had sub- scribed to its funds." All gardeners, the chairman said, were not in the employment of the rich. July 6, 1895.J THE GARDEN 11 Most of them had to toil unceasingly, and, unfor- tunately, misfortune overtakes many of them. To assist such this society was founded in 1S38, and since then it had distributed in pensions and gratuities about £65,000. At the present time 156 persons were receiving permanent assis- tance— 77 men and 79 women — while there were 36 pressing cases on the list. The pensions were originally £16 per annum to men and £12 per annum to the women, but the amounts were increased in 1885 to £20 and £16 respectively — not, he thought, an exorbitant sum. Persons of 60 years of age and upwards if in- capacitated from work, and if they comply with the rules, or younger in case of total disability, are eligible for pensions. This toast was responded to, in the unfortunate absence of the treasurer (Mr. Harry J. Veitch) through ill health, by Mr. George A. Dickson. He said everyone, he felt sure, in the room would regret the absence that evening of Mr. Veitch, who worked so nobly for the insti- tution ; and in the course of a lengthy speech mentioned that the funded property of the insti- tution consisted of £25,000 consols. Of that sum £20,000 had been recently invested, with the re- sult that the income was increased by £50 a year ; but greater support was needed. Their assured income was only about £800, whereas their liability for pensions alone was £2804, to say nothing of funeral expenses, which were sometimes granted in exceptional cases. Out of 50 candidates at the last election only 14 could be elected. Mr. Dickson therefore said he must join with the chair- man in appealing for further support. An addi- tional assured income of £700 was necessary if the committee were to meet all the claims. " Horticulture" was the title of the next toast, proposed (in the absence of Sir J. Whittaker Ellis, Bt. ) by Mr. W. J. Jefferies, of Cirencester. Sir Trevor Lawrence responded, mentioning that great progress had been made of recent years in every department of horticulture. " The Health of the Chairman " was proposed by Mr. Sherwood, and the toast was received with great applause. "The Health of the Secretary," Mr. G. J. In- gram, was proposed by Mr. Dickson and received with enthusiasm. Mr. Ingram, in reply, said that in these days of depression it needed something more than stereotyped circulars to sustain interest in any institution. " The Stewards " was proposed by Mr. Arnold Moss, and responded to by Mr. G. Monro. In addition to the sums already acknowledged, the following were announced as having been re- ceived, making up a grand total of £1900 with the sums already advertised : The Duke of Fife, £30 ; Mr. C. Czarnikow, 10 guineas ; Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, £25 ; Mr. N. Sherwood, £21 ; Messrs. Rothschild, £105 ; Alfred de Rothschild, £10 10s. ; Mr. G. Monro, 105 guineas ; Mr.G. J. Brai- kenridge, 8 guineas : Mr. G. W. Dawes, 10 guineas ; Messrs. Protheroe and Morris, 5 guineas ; Mr. J. Coleman, 5 guineas ; Sir Trevor Lawrence, 10 guineas ; Mr. E. Stern, 10 guineas ; Mr. G. A. Dickson, 5 guineas ; Mr. G. Profit, .£21 ; Mr. G. Maycock, 10 guineas ; Wm. Thomson Memorial Fund, £98 ; part proceeds of 3rd edition of ' ' Cypri- pediums," by R. I. Measures, £7 10s. ; Mr. J. Lee, 5 guineas ; Mr. E. V. Low, 5 guineas ; Mr. W. G. Head, £5. A letter was read from Mr. J. Lee regretting his absence from the gathering that evening, but he had now retired at the age of nearly 90 years, after having attended every anniversary except one, and that occurred on his wedding day. Such a record is a notable one. The institution lias known no more devoted helper than Mr. Lee. Species," £7 10s. Od. ; Mr. A. Stirton, Wrexham, 5s. A cheque was drawn for £201 10s. Od., the quarter's allowance to the orphan children of de- ceased gardeners, an. amount which shows the value of such a fund to many widowed mothers left in difficult circumstances, and which should induce some who do not yet subscribe to at once do so. The Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund.— A meeting of the committee took place at the Horti- cultural Club on the 27th ult., when the follow- ing special donations were announced : From the William Thomson Memorial Fund, £65 13s. 2d. ; Mr. J. T. Anderson, Commercial Street, E., £1 Is. Od. ; Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, £1 Is. Od. ; Mr. R. J. Measures, proceeds of sale of third edition of " Cypripedium Hybrid NOTES FROM ALMONDSBURY. The drought here is very severe— '02 in. of rain since June 1— yet the garden does not seem to suffer very much. Roses have fairly survived the winter and their bloom is astonishing. No insect pests of any kind. The Bourbons are really mag- nificent. A hedge of mixed Japanese and Chinese, multiflora and rugosa, the Cherokee, R. Brunonis, and various Briers, about 30 yards long and in places over 12 feet high, is very charming. I find Michauxia campanuloides likes this weather very much and its strange flowers are the wonder of many. Iris ochroleuca is in full beauty and the bees revel in it. Then how gloriously the sun brings out the bloom of the old plants of Gera- nium of all kinds and colour ! Ipomn'a pandurata is struggling to get over a 14-feet wall. A seed- ling Crinum, with leaves 4 feet long and spike of bloom (delicate pink) a yard high, is in a corner of the greenhouse, and above it Ipom:t'a rubro- ca-rulea is climbing over the roof. This year sorne hybrid Streptooarpi have bloomed most freely ; in this heat I find they need to stand in water. The orchard is filled with bloom of Canterbury Bells and Evening Primroses— the result of emptying the ash-bin round the trees— the seeds arriving there from drawing-room blooms of previous years. On these hot nights the fragrance of Japan Honeysuckle is delightful about 10 p.m. Iris Kiempferi, from clumps bought in March, is full of buds. I grow all in tubs ne.ir a pump and water daily. Then Carpenteria californica, to my delight, is full of bloom in a corner of the kitchen garden. White Carnations promise well. Alstrcemerias are very tall and full of bloom. I am convinced that they like plenty of deep, damp soil and a hot sun. I have lost many clumps from neglect of this. I would place the next lot I have in a ditch filled up with rich soil, exposed to the afternoon sun. I have several clumps of pure white Iris anglica, and these have done well this year. Why does I. hispanica always fail with me ? I. Milesi in the open border has bloomed finely. C. 0. Miles. Notes from Baden-Baden.— Cnicus Fal- coneri is a stately plant ; the hanging big heads on a much-divided stem look very strange. The leaves are large, dark green, and the flowers are white. Lathyrus abyssinicus is attractive from its clear ultramarine-coloured flowers. Veratrum californicum is showy on account of its large white flowers. In Gerbe.'X Jamesoni we have one of the most showy composites ; its large brilliant crimson - scarlet flowers, which continue from April to November, are now at their best, enjoy- ing the warmth of summer. Tropa^olum Leicht- lini rambling over some boughs is clothed in grey and deep yellow. Gentiana Moorcroftiana blooms very freely ; the flowers are small, bright blue, and entirely hide the foliage. Silene Hookeri, now re-introduced, shows its starry white flowers, and a group of Calceolaria alba with its numerous blooms of purest white is quite charming. The succession of summer-flowering Gladioli is opened now by G. aurantiacus, bright orange ; G. Leicht- lini, deep red, and a new species, greenish yellow with bright red streaks and points. I may men- tion the germination and growth of one of the most remarkable alpines ever introduced. Cam- panula mirabilis, perhaps extinct for ever in its native home, is soon to adorn our rockeries with its wonderful flower pyramids. — Ma.k Leiciitlin, Ba/leji- Baden. Notes from Chester. — We sent you last week flowering sprays of several varieties of the Mock Orange. There is yet another that is just now exceptionally fine, Philadelphus laxus, which is of striking beauty, with its large flowers of pure white set so gracefully and emitting such a delicious fragrance. We think there is nothing finer in the range of varieties. The Spiraas are in fine array. Spirtea Douglasi is valuable on account of its compact, dense spikes of colour. S. callosa, with its bunchy heads of less pro- nounced pink, is also pretty. The sprig we send you of S. Anthony Waterer does not fairly repre- sent the character of the plant, though it gives the glory of its colour. S. flagelliformis is so dis- tinct as to render a second look needful to assure oneself that it is a Spira?a at all. Hypericum Moserianum is one of the showiest of the St. John's Worts. Its bold, brilliant flowers, with circlets of rosy tipped anthers, its finely arranged foliage, and its general habit make it a most desirable addition to this valuable family of hardy plants. Cytisus nigricans is a very showy species. Its long upright flowering spikes of rich yellow blossoms and its dark foliage give it a conspicuous appearance. Long rows of standards all in full flower makea quite unique featureintheornamental garden. The herbaceous borders and quarters are every day presenting new features. The English Iris is now in full glory. The Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum) is also very fine. Its flowers are distinct with their white petals and almost black centres. In passing through the glasshouses there are some very delightful things in full bloom. Dracophyllum gracile, Streptocarpus hybrids, and Tremandra verticillata are all beautiful. The heavy rain of Wednesday last (when our rain gauge re- gistered a rainfall of nearly 2 inches) has had a remarkable effect upon vegetation generally, and though fully expanded blooms were dashed and spoiled, everything now is looking fresh and healthy. — Dicksons. Notes of the Week. Geranium argenteum. — This is a dwarf, but pretty species that looks well in the rock garden. It hides the ground with tufts of shining silvery leaves and bears a profusion of pale lilac flowers in succession for several weeks. Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum). — How beautiful and free the Edelweiss has been this year. For the last six weeks the large heads of woolly bracts have been most interesting. I should think the severe winter followed by such warm weather has been in its favour. — J. W. H., Worcester. Lilium Beerensi is a pretty hybrid Lily now flowering with Mr. Ware at Tottenham. It is the result of a cross between L. chalcedonicum and L. excelsum, in leafage resembling the former parent, but the flower (more like that of L. excel- sum) is of a deep apricot colour, with long, prominent, orange-scarlet anthers. An Australian garden.- Mr. J. W. Porter sends us two beautiful photographs of his garden in Adelaide which show well the advances that have been made in gardening in this district and the fine climate enjoyed. The garden has only been planted about seven years. Sub-tropieal plants thrive admirably, fine specimens of Palms, Dracsenas and Cannas being prominent in the photographs sent. Campanula muralis var. Portenschlag- iana.— This Campanula has been beautiful during the last month and has been admired by all who have seen it. The plants, which cover a space of about 2 yards square, grow about 6 inches high, the flowers bright blue, shaded with purple, and much larger and deeper in colour than those of C. muralis which I have growing close by.— W. H. Helenium Bolanderi. — This, one of the earliest flowering varieties of this showy family, appears to be able to resist the drought much better than many hardy flowers of the present time. A large bed of it in Mr. Ware's nursery at 12 THE GARDEN. [Juj.Y 6, 1895. 1 Tottenham is a mass of bright colour. It ie a compact grower about 1 foot in height, the flowers rich orange-yellow with brownish black centre. liilium Parryi is a handsome Californian Lily that grows well and flowers freely in Mr. Ware's nursery at Tottenham. It belongs to the pardalinura group and has ricli yellow flowers spotted with black, strong shoots bearing a dozen or even more blooms. It is easily grown in moist peaty soil with the partial shade of shrubs near, and those who have a suitable place for it might plant a bold group. Codonopsis ovata. — This pretty Bellflower does well in Mr. Ware's nursery at Tottenham, and is now in profuse bloom. It lacks the rich blue colour of most Bellflowers, but has a quiet beauty of its own. Its large drooping flowers, borne abundantly on strong erect stalks, are of the palest blue shade externally, but the inner base of the flower is most distinct with a zone of rich yellow surrounding the black stigma. It is a good plant for the rock garden. Centaurea ruthenica is one of the vigorous growing hardy plants of the Composite family that few take any notice of, yet planted in a suitable position it would be valuable. The proper place for it is associated with shrubs in bold groups away from the beds and borders of choicer flowers. We noted a fine mass of it at Mr. Ware's, bright ■with many flowers, which are as yellow as those of the Sweet Sultan, quite twice the size and good for cutting. Sorbus majestica and S. nepalensis. — The Pyrus and Sorbus families contain several very handsome trees of moderate size, but bold and varied in outline and beautiful in rich leaf growth. Two that we specially noted at Knap Hill are those above mentioned. S. majestica is of a pyramidal habit and carries a very dense head of large, deep green leaves. S. nepalensis is quite as robust as the preceding, but its leaves are grey-green above, quite of a silvery tint below, and lovely when the tree is waving in the wind. Delphinium grandiflorum fl. -pi. —This old species is not often seen in gardens, and yet there is no more handsome flowering plant at the pre- sent time. A large bunch of it was conspicuous in Messrs. Veitch's group of hardy flowers on Tuesday at the R. H.S. , and among the fine kinds there thown not one surpassed this for beauty and depth of colour. It is almost as blue as the (!en- tian, and the flowers, although double, are prettier than tliose of the double florists' varieties, and gracefully disposed in branched heads adapted for cutting. Magnolia glauca. — This noble American Magnolia has been in the country about .^O years, and yet we very rarely meet wil^h it in gardens. There is a good tree of it in Mr. A. Waterer's nursery at Knap Hill, and we were charmed to see it there a few days ago bearing many lovely flowers. It is almost evergreen and handsome in leaf at all times, the leaves being of a polished green above and of a pronounced glaucous hue beneath, which is seen to advantage in a tree 15 feet high. It wants a moist peaty soil, but it is a pity niiire do not grow it. Zenobia speciosa and Z. pulverulenta.— These are certainly two of tlie most beautiful shrubs in the Heath faniilj', combining graceful growth with lovely lilossomsof wax-like substance and perfect purity of colour. Z. pulverulenta is peculiarly dis-tinct and charming with its silvery shoots, the leaves and stem alike in colour. Wo noted a large batch of pccdling plants in Mr. A. Wateier's nursery at Knap Hill, and although the seed was that of '/.. speciosa, plants of '/,. pulveru- lenta in its best form were also present in fair numbers. Weigela Eva Rathke is a distinct and beau- tiful variety tliat will bo valued not only for its deep rich colour, but for its late and successionid blooming. We saw a (|uantity of it in Mr. A. Waterer's nursery at Kmij) Hill, and the phints were gay with flowers, whilst (hero were many buds still to expand. Even small plants were wreathed in bloom, so that it flowers abundantly when young, but its eS'ect when the bushes grow large and throw out their arching wands will be superb. It should be noted as a shrub to plant by those who have not got it. Brodiaea volubilis.— This charming Brodiica, in addition to its peculiar habit, so different from that of all other species, is besides handsome in flower, and a quantity of it shown in the group from Messrs. Wallace, of Colchester, at the Drill Hall on June 25 attracted much notice. It is rarely seen at all either at shows or in gardens, and yet there is no more difficulty in growing it than there is other Brodi.^'as, only something for it to climb upon is most essential. The speci- mens shown were entwined around Bamboo canes .3 feet or more in height, and bore at the top of the canes close heads consisting of twenty or more flowers, which are of a deep rose colour. Public Gardens. month. Meanwhile they offer to sell us the entire property for £5100, or, as an alternative, the riverside portion only, about a ((uarter of an acre, for £1400 The larger scheme, therefore, is by far the most attractive, as there would be no road, both the garden and the mansion would remain intact, and tlie latter would be available for public purposes, as at Ravenscourt, Clissold, and Waterloo Parks. I appeal to your readers to place the association in a position to secure this riverside property during the six short weeks that remain I shall be glad to receive dona- tions, both large and small, towards the purchase of this site, which should be sent to 8.3, Lancaster date, London, W., crossed Coutts and Co., and I earnestly hope I may be fortunate enough to obtain a sum sufficient to buy the property before the end of next month. If unsuccessful, I shall, of course, return any money I may have received. One generous donor has already sent me £100." Boyal Botanic Society. — At a meeting of the council of this society, held last Saturday, it was decided to open their gardens, in Regent's Park, to'' the public on every Monday in July, August, and September at an admission fee of Is. The Thames Embankment. --"The Temple" writes to us : ''Can any of your readers explain upon what principle of forestry the Plane trees of the Embankment, all along the river from Westminster to Waterloo Bridge, have just been shorn of half their beautiful fresh foliage? The work of stripping the trees and destroying their grateful shade rapidly approaches mo, and I crave your protection, or, at least, some words of explanation from you." Lincoln's Inn Fields, says the Daily Xews, should have a little more attention from the County Council. It is not in a good condition. The poor people of the adjacent slums for whose benefit it was bought have shown themselves only too sensible of their new privileges. But the (irass — as much of it as the sun of June has left us— is rapidly disappearing, and altogether the garden presents a most forlorn appeararrce. This is a pity for many reasons. Something should be done, and that speedily, to give everyone his rights in the place — the children who want their playground, the grown people, the aged and in- firm who have an ei|ual need of their quiet walk or lounge with a sight of the flowers. A writer in the St. James'n Gazette says, and but too truly, that at present the children seem to have it all their own way, and that the garden is rapidly re- verting to the state of nature. The position of the ground and the circumstances under which it was acquired are peculiar, and the County Council must take care that the garden does not become an awful warning against the policy of further acquisitions of the kind. Metropolit n Public Gardens Associa- tion.— The Earl of Meath writes from S3, Lancas- ter Gate, under date June 21 : "Bordering on the Thames at Putney is an old-fashioned house standing in an equally old-fashioned garden of about 2 acres, known as ' Rivcrbank ' and con- taining some remarkably fine Elm trees, which form a prominent feature of the landscape, es- pecially when viewed from the river and from Bishop's Park, Fulham, on tho opposite shore. The property is now held under a lease expiring at Michaelmas, when the owner's intend to place it in the builder's hands. The mansion is to be pulled down, a road is to be made through the garden, and the usual style of small villa residences will be run up on either side. Thus this shady riverside retreat will be wiped out of existence. Can nothing be done to save it'; An open space adjoining the river is cijual to one of ten times the size elsewhere. At the urgent entreaty of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association the owners have agreed to stay their harrds as regards arranging with builders until (ho end of this The weather in West Herts.— In June the weather remained warm throughout the daytime and was on several occasions very hot, but on many nights the readings were below the average for the month. With the exception of the same month in 1S!)3, the ground was warmer than in any of the previous nine Junes, and about 3° above the mean for that period. The most note- worthy feature of the past month was, however, the scanty rainfall, rain falling on only eight days, and to the aggregate depth of less than half an inch. The average fall of rain at Berkhamsted for June during the past thirty-nine years comes out as 2| inches, so that the amount deposited last month fell short of the mean by nearly* 2 inches. During those thirty nine years there has been no June in which the rainfall has been as light. Taking May and June together we get a total of less than an inch ; whereas a seasonable amount would be i\ inches. Not a drop of water came through the 2^ feet of soil in either of the percolation gauges during the month. The atmo- sphere was, as a rule, calm and exceptionally dry. Besides being so dry, June was also an unusually sunny month ; indeed, we have to go back to the Jubilee year in order to find a June in which the sun shone for as great a number of hours. — E. M., Berkhamaled. "Variegated Elder (W. Jl/.).— The variega- tion is certainly of a distinct character, and de- cidedly pleasing if it remains constant. The Elder roots readily from cuttings. After the leaves have fallen make the shoot into cuttings arid put them in firmly in a safe place where they will not be disturbed. Probably every orre will grow tho following spring. Royal Horticultural Society.— The next meeting of the Boyal Horticultural Society will be held in the Drill Hall, James St., Victoria St., on Tuesday, July 9, when a special show of Roses will be an attractive feature. At 3 o'clock Mr. Francis Darwin will deliver a lecture err "The Effects of Darkness on the Forms of Plants." Ifames of plants.— 11'. U. C— 1, Lychnis vrs- caria ii.-pl. ; 2, llicnicium auriiutiaoum ; 3, Retoirica ^randifiora; 1, Lyclniia clialoeJorjica ; .5, Veronica .enbsessilis lorisiflora; G, Spanish Iris. G. B. IF. — Sidalcea Candida. Jan. ]l/firfin.— Cattleya gigas. jf. jg. D.-ewett. Pale form of Cattloya MossiEe. p, M. — Tracholium can-uleum. An engraving of i I appeared in Thk Gahukn of April 27 of this year. K. Jf.— Lathyvus grandiflorus and L. a/.ureus. (7. ,.|. J, — lj;vlia graiidis tenebrosa. Vera. — livimafbia clellirordes.— Ekn/kit /''. Clarlc.—l, Gera- nium saiiRuinenm var. lll^oa^^riprlse ; 2, an irdinary form of Jlasdpvallia Voitolii. lluy perliaps be better iis the plant increases in vigorrr. Tlie Campanula is not uneoramon. Streptocarpus too shrivelled. Mnhvctij. Ccphalavia tatarica. Cosmos. — Mose Princess Louise Victoria. The Wild Garden : or, Ihe Natxiralisation and Natural Qrimpiml of llardn Exotic Plants, with a chapter on the Garden of British Wild Flowers. Fourth edition, with wood engravinis from dmwitins by Alfred Parsons, revised and enlarged. Demy ivo, linen cloth. Price 12«. ; well bound in half morocco, 18l Through ail bookselUrt. THE GARDEN 13 No. J! 34. SATURDAY. Juy 13,1895. Vol.XLVIII. "TUsban Art Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but The Art itseu is Nature." — Shaktgpeart. Stove and Greenhouse. MUTISIA DECURRENS. I ONCE went 200 miles to look at a plant of this, reputed to be grown under hardy conditions for some years in succession. I never regretted it, though I did not quite find all I had been led to expect. The plant chanced to be in bloom, and the big composite flowers were so grand that I made up my mind to grow the climber by any and all possible means I could command. What I saw was a plant some 7 feet to 9 feet high and as much across on an open wall (I think a west as- pect), and the owner, the late Mr. Eraser, of Comely Bank, told me it was then getting worn out, that it had been there for some years. The plant, however. Lad been covered with mats in winter, but he doubted if the plant was any better for it. 1 believe it is the practice to grow this climber in cool greenhouses, but from what I saw and heard there cannot be room for much doubt as to its capabilities for standing out in the more favoured climate of Ireland, the south of England, and some places in the west. At present the plant is in flower with me in a cool greenhouse, and though there are some tempting Water Lilies in tubs near to it in bloom, the glorious flowers of this climber draw- first attention. The big Daisy-shaped flowers are each 4 inches across when fully expanded, the points of the ray florets more or less re- curved. The colour is even deeper orange than the rich hue of the darkest bitter Seville Orange, there is more scarlet in it, and the shiny character adds brilliancy to the effect. These flowers are produced singly at the points of the new growths, and though not very numerous, the plant keeps gay by reason of the long time the flowers last individually and follow on in succession. The foliage is singular, as implied by the name decurrent, and that to such an ex- tent as to impart a much-winged effect to the stems. Tendrils, long and very wiry, develop from the apex of the leaves, by means of which the plant fastens itself to any suitable medium. So characteristic is the plant, and so very eftective are the flowers, that I am sure were the plant tried in some of our most favoured districts it could not fail to reward its culti- vator. I feel sure from what I saw that it could be grown in such places out of doors, though 1 cannot hope to so grow it in Yorkshire. Woodrille, KirlcstaU. J. Wood. Medinilla magnifica.— Few indoor shrubs are as showy as this — that is, when it is in full flower, which is in many places the case at the present time. It is a bold growing bush, clothed with handsome foliage, while the large racemes of blossoms, which are borne on the point of every branch, are pendulous, thus adding addi- tional grace to the plant. The blossoms and the bracts which accompany them, as well as the flower-stems, are bright pink. An additional feature is that the flowers remain fresh a consider- able time. When large specimen plants were more in vogue than they are at the present day this Medinilla was very popular, as it formed a very imposing plant when well flowered. It is a native of the Philippine Iblands, and was intro- duced therefrom in 1848. It needs copious sup- plies of water during the growing season, but of course less is needed when at rest, for a good deal of the future display of bloom depends upon the thorough ripening of the wood, which is car- ried out by full exposure to the sunshine, and by giving less water than when growing, but at no time must the plants be allowed to suffer from want of water. This is by far the showiest member of the genus, but a very pretty shrub is M. ama- bilis, in which the panicles of blossoms are upright instead of drooping, thus presenting a totally different appearance. The little M. Curtisi, with panicles of white blossoms, is also a pretty shrub, and may be grown in less space than is needed for the other two. — H. P. Pelargonium Miss Louisa Coombs.— In the notice of a few select show Pelargoniums in flower at Mr. Turner's nursery on p. 445 last volume I did not see any mention of the new variety Mies Louisa Coombs, which was, I believe, sent out by Mr. Turner in the spring of the present year. It is of a good, freely-branched habit with ample foliage and very large trusses of flowers. The individual blooms, too, are large and bold. The flowers of this are round, the upper petals maroon, surrounded with bright crimson and edged with rose, while the lower ones are bright rose, the basal portion white, thus form- ing a white centre to the flower. The edges of the petals are rather undulated, thereby show- ing a break away from the smooth, unbroken edge of the show varieties. It is undoubtedly a good decorative kind, and partakes more of the character of some of those which are so popular for market work. The feature th.at militates against these high-class show varieties for general decoration is that it is difficult to get a small plant in a 5-inch pot well furnished to the base, and though the individual blooms are remarkably telling, the trusses are very small, and the plants therefore do not present such masses of bloom as the popular market kinds. Such an objection cannot, however, be urged against this variety.— H. P. CobBBa scandens variegata. — For houses of tolerably large dimensions this is a very useful climber. It quickly grows into a large specimen, and the effect of a mass of its variegated foliage is very good. It is one of those things that can live healthily and even extend in a root-bound condition. I have seen plants of it running up 20 feet high and covering some square yards with perfect leafage in a 12-inch pot. One great point in its favour is freedom from insect pests, which are generally troublesome to greenhouse climbers. -J. C. B. Hydrangea Thomas Hogg.— As stated by " B. D.," Hydrangea Thomas Hogg is a noble plant when grown as a large specimen. Some years ago I grew such an one as that described by "R. D.," there being exactly 100 trusses. They were thinned down to this number so as to gain size in the individual trusses. This variety will produce a flowering truss from almost every bud when well ripened. In the formation of large plants the annual growth must be encour.aged to form in the full sun. Being wintered in a cool house, these shoots of ripened wood should be tied around the flower-stakes, so as to form the foundation of the future specimen. Neat little plants are formed by inserting cuttings now, or later on in the autumn, after the embryo truss has formed. As soon as rooted the plants must be grown in the full sun in the open air, after being repotted and established in 5-inch pots. I gener- ally place three cuttings in a pot. These, when repotted into 6-inch pots, form nice plants with three heads of bloom. — A. Young. Crotons in small pots.— One advantage attending the culture of these fine-leaved plants is that they may be grown to comparatively large dimensions in small pots. This is of value in the case of plants that are employed for room decora- tion and that have to be placed in vases, jar- dinieres, &c. Crotons are among the most free- growing of warm house plants, only requiring a high temperature with abundant atmospheric moisture to induce a healthy leaf development. They demand more warmth and atmospheric moisture than Bracajnas and the usual run of warm house fine-leaved things. This is probably the reason why they are not so largely grown as would otherwise be the case. When there is suitaVle accommodation, however, and neat, bushy, bright- looking plants in small pots are required for rocm and table decoration, Crotons should be well cared for. We have nothing quite like them among ornamental-leaved plants.— J. C. B, NOTES FROM HIGHBURY. Orchids are so largely associated with the name of Highbury and thepopular owner, the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, that other phases of gar- dening often go unnoticed, but because Orchids predominate so largely it must not be understood that general gardening is not given much atten- tion. Plants other than Orchids are largely grown, but instead of endeavouring to fill the houses with numberless species and varieties of plants, large patches of a few kinds, according to season are grown so as to make each house effec- tive in itself. For instance, there was at the time of my visit one house filled with a splendid batch of Gloxinias in full flower, another was entirely devoted to Pelargoniums, a third to tuberous Be- gonias, and this same principle isapparent through- out the many bouses to be seen. What may be termed the show houses at Highbury are connected by a very long corridor, Orchids, fine-foliaged and flowering plants alternating so as to render them interesting. These houses are replenished from others outside, as well as pits and frames, so as to keep them always gay. Anthuriums, Amaryllids, and Clivias Mr. Chamberlain tales a great interest in, hybridising and seed-raising being closely watched by him throughout the Tea-scented and Hybrid Perpetual Roses are a strong feature, and are well grown both in pots and planted out. The American principle of planting them in shallow beds thickly indoors is under trial, cuttings being rooted and grown on for the purpose, while some are already planted and giving promise of a good return. There is such a demand for cut blooms of these, that suffi- cient has to be grown in pots to furnish them from the autumn until they can be gathered outdoors, and iudging from the t|uantities standing outside as I 'saw them, there should be no difficulty in doing so Chrysanthemums, both for large flowers and deco- rative bush plants, are represented in largenumbcrs, and their present state bespeaks a very fine dis- play in due course. Large batches of Cyclamens and Primulas were being forwarded in cool pits for early winter flowering, and were already large and enviably luxuriant plants, the Cyclamers be- ing half plunged in cocoa-nut fibre. In the spacious conservatory attached to the house there towers in the central bed a lofty Cha- majrops excelsa in fine health and vigour, smaller but vigorous Arecas forming the central plants in smaller groups. The rockwork fernery adjoining is equally interesting. Ferns, Mosses, Palms and other plants revelling in the moist recesses. In this house Anthurium Chamberlainianum is a striking plant. The corridor itself is at all times bright with flowering dwarf and climbing plants growing in the side boiders. Here the large specimen Orchids are displayed to their fullest advantage. Sobralias at the time of my visit were magnifi- cent both in the size of plant and ciuality and quantity of the blooms expanded. Among the Orchids one of the most noteworthy plants in the collection was Dendrobium thyrei- florum, which 1 was told this year carried no less than seventy of its delicate racemes. I have never before seen such strong spikes and vigorous plants of Epidendrum vitellinum or such freely flowered Masdevallias in several varieties as here. Fruit culture is not so extensively carried out as plant and flower growing, but the best is made of the space devoted to it, and good crops are I obtained. 14 THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. The vegetable garden not being very extensive, the most has to be made of it by close cropping, as the demands from the kitchen are heavy. In the pleasure grounds shrubs and trees have been freely planted in clumps, and this is being carried on round the park boundaries, so as to add colour to the distant landscape. Rhododendrons are a fine show in their season, as these are planted in bold masses. The borders are everywhere filled with flowers, so that in spring the grounds are bright with endless varieties and colours. In some spots, too, they have been thickly planted in the turf with good effect. At night the conservatories and corridor are all brightly illuminated by electric light, so that visitors are not confined to the house after night- fall, but can inspect the hosts of Orchids and other plants better even than by day. and this without going outdoors. Visitor. BEGONIAS AT FOREST HILL. So great are the advances that have been made in the tuberous Begonia within the last decade, that if the most recent kinds were shown beside even the best of those in cultivation ten years ago, some might feel disposed to doubt that so much had been accomplished in so short a time. There are now many growers who make a specialty of this flower, but none have worked longer among them or done more to raise them to their present state of excellence than Messrs. Laing, of Forest Hill. The present disjjlay at the Forest Hill nurseries is a grand one, several large houses being entirely filled with fine kinds embracing a wide range of colour in both single and double-flowered varieties. The older forms needed sticks to support the shoots, and the drooping flowers were often half hidden among the leaves, but the best Begonias of to-day are a marked contrast. The development of the flower has not been at the expense of the plant and its constitution, but the possession of a ro- bust habit has been rightlyconsideredas essential as size and distinctness of bloom. Thus we see to-day the finest flowers upon jjlants with stout self-supporting growth, the shoots short-joiuted, the leafage large and luxuriant, and the flowers all disposed so that they can be seen to the best advantage This applies not merely to the single kinds, but to the double-flowered varieties as well, which by reason of the greater size and weight of their blooms were even more dis- posed to hang down. Yet without undue shortening of the flower-stem the°e too have acquired a robustness that enables them to hold up their flowers boldly, and this is a marked characteri.stic not in a few kinds only, but in the majority of those grown. The single varieties of the present time have flowers of such great size that any further increase is hardly desired, but new and distinct variations of another character would be welcome and sustain the interest in these flowers. The round form and perfectly regular outline so dear to florists of the old school become monotonous. A distinct break away from this form of flower is seen in a new variety now flowering, and which we hope will have its counterpart in many colours. It has been named Duchess of Fife. It is a lovely kind combining graceful form with fine size and delicate colour. The flowers are rosy-pink, the edges of the petals beautifully and regularly un- dulated, a most distinct outline which .adds to the beauty of the flower. The form of this variety is quite different from that of another rather pretty variation tha,t has lately appeared, namely, a fringed edge to the petals. Laing's Fringed White is the finest of this tyi)e, a pure and pretty llower ; Grand Duchess of Hesse is a fine kind with hirgc pure white flowers ; Mrs. Ben.son is of a ro.sy-salmoi] shade and pretty form, the petals slightly crimpled at their edge ; Sunlight has large flowers that are white in the centre, the edge a bright rosy-cerise ; and Coun- tess of Brownlow is of a distinct bronzy-orange shade, arichandtellingcolour ; Britannia, orange buff ; Lord Brassey, cerise-red ; John Roberts, deep rose ; Marchioness of Salisbury, yellow, very good and the largest in its colour, were all conspicuous. Lady Esther Smith has a white centre edged with rose, and Lady Farquhar is a lovely shade of pink, very free flowering. Lady Wantage, pure rose, and the Hon. Mrs. Reid, blush-pink, free and fine, must be men- tioned ; whilst the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, dark crimson, and Colonel Henderson, of a brighter crimson-scarlet hue, are two noble red kinds. These are a select few of the newest and best single varieties, but many besides were seen well deserving of mention did space per- mit. The DOUBLE-FLOWEEED KiNDS vary greatly in form and colour, the flowers of some varieties being Camellia-shaped, with broad, flat, over-lapping petals, others thick rosettes with outer guard petals, but the ma- jority of those we saw were erect and self- supporting. Among the newest kinds we noted Duchess of Northumberland, with fine bright salmon-coloured flowers ; Duchess of York, orange-yellow, the bioad petals flushed with soft pink on their edges, free and robu.st in habit ; Prince Adolphus of Teck, deep crim- son-scarlet, with a flat-petalled Camellia-like flower, and which received an award of merit at the Drill Hall recently ; and Dowager Lady Williams Wynn, of similar shape, erect habit, and rich deep yellow in colour. Laing's Rose- bud is a distinctly pretty kind of a blush-pink colour, as refined and choice as a Tea Rose ; whUst Countess of Craven, double white, a perfect snowball ; Countess of Warwick, sal- mon-scarlet, large and fine ; and Lady Theo- dora Guest, a distinct shade of apricot-yellow, with prettily fringed petals, are all good. Duke of Fife is a free variety, with large rosy salmon flowers ; Lady Dunsany, a charming pink flower ; Lady Willmot, light salmon ; and W. Clifford, a Camellia-shaped, deep rose kind. Invincible is one of the best bright crimsons that has been raised, whilst the biggest flower is seen in Laing's Triumph, which is deep rose. Majestic, rose ; F. W. Soames, scarlet ; Mar- chioness of Downshire, dark crimson ; Mrs. Stoddart and Mrs. Regnart, both yellow, and W. A. Richardson, which in colour much re- sembles the Rose of that name, are all new or recent additions of great merit and beauty. Clitoria ternatea. — This stove climber was introduced quite early in the last century, yet some five years ago when a coloured plate of it was published in The Gardex it was recognised by very few, for, beautiful as the blossoms are, it was almost unknown outside of botanic gardens. One of the exceptions was at Syon House, where Mr. Wythes grew the specimens from which the coloured plate in question was prepared. This Clitoria is a native of the Malayan Archipelago, but it is now generally distributed in many parts of the tropics, where, rambling over bushes or festooning any support within reach, it forms a charming picture. Seeds can be obtained at a cheap rate from most dealers in such things, and if sown in the spring they will grow freely and flower throughout the summer, or frequently well on into the autumn. As a rafter plant for a sm.all stove or for supplying a screen at the end of a glass structure, this Clitoria is well suited. Care must be taken not to overpot it, and frequent eyringings are necessary in order to keep the foliage free of red spider, which soon dii-tiguies the leaves. Even though the pot.^ m\y be rather small, the plants must not be allowed to become stunted, and in order to prevent this as far as possible, they should be liberally supplied with manure water, taking care that it is not too strong, as it is better to use stimulants weak and often than in too concentrated a form. The intense rich indigo-blue of the flowers is most striking. Seedlings vary considerably, but the best forms can be increased by cuttings. Theio are, however, several well-marked varieties, the flowers differing greatly in colour, for not only are many shades of blue to be found among them, but there is also a form with white blossoms, and another in which the flowers are semi-double. There are several other species of Clitoria, but none of them are in general cultivation. — H. P. Impatiens auric oma. — This species of Balsam , which was recently introduced from Madagascar and distributed last year, has proved to be most continuous flowering, for the golden -yellow blossoms with a flush of crimson in the centre are borne for a lengthened period. It is also of a free, yet sturdy habit of growth and may already be met with in many gardens. As a garden plant this newer introduction is considerably inferior to the popular Impatiens Sultani, and the individual blooms are also le-s showy than those of I. Hawkeri, but still, by a judicious selection of seed- lings, it may yet be considerably improved. As might be supposed from being a native of Mada- gascar, ic requires stove treatment in this country, though during the summer it will succeed in an intermediate house. I. Hawkeri, of which great things were expected, has never attained the popu- larity that was predicted for it when new, as it cannot be depended upon to bloom freely, especi- ally in a small state, and the young leaves are very liable to be attacked by .a minute form of thrips, which soon injure the plant. I. Hawkeri , as far as I know, has not produced seed in this country. — H. P. STEPHANOTIS LEAVES TURNING YELLOW. I WILL be much obliged if the editor will tell me the reason of the enclosed leaves of my Stephano- tis turning yellow. It is a large plant and stretches nearly the whole length of a small stove. It is about four years old and has always been very healthy. At the present moment it is full of flower, but the leaves are gradually be- coming yellow, and, though the young shoots look healthy, the blossoms forming on them drop off. It is planted out.— M. M. *^* The leaves of the Stephanotis in question have been examined very closely, but no trace of disease can be detected thereon. Several reasons might be given which would tend to cause the leaves to turn yellow and drop off prematurelj'. Being planted out, the condition of the border would give rise to it ; either the extreme of excessive moisture, or that of drought, would cause it. Is the plant dry under the surface whilst to all appearance moist to the outward eye ? If so, that would cause the leaves to drop. Possibly the soil is in a measure impoverished. That too would produce the same effect. If the drainage be not good, the roots would get sickly and the same results follow. Indifferent soil would tend to the same end. The Stephanotis thrives best in about equal parts of good loam and peat, with plenty of sand, which should be made t|uite firm. The application of an excessive amount of an artificial manure in itself would be sufficient to cause the same illeH'eots ; weak doses at fairly good intervals during growth would do no harm (say once a week). A low temperature during the past severe winter would cause the Stephanotis to cast its foliage, but if this were the cause it should have happened sooner ; lower than rM" is never desirable. Too much exposure to chilling winds, or to the extreme of sunshine after dull weather, would be injurious. The foliage sent did not show any trace of insect pests, being, on the other hand, unusually clean ; this, therefore, could scarcely be the cause, unless July 13, 1895,] THE GARDEN. 15 a strong dose of any insecticide had been applied or severe sponging been resorted to. Whilst growing, a night temperature of from 05° to 70° at this season would suit this plant well, the syringe being freely employed at least once every day. Should the same thing continue, the stem should be closely examined ; an injury thereon might have taken place which is not thus far de- tected. A rather hard pruning given now would possibly result in a late summer growth, which would flower early next spring. If this were done, a good top-dressing of fresh soil after the removal of any that may be sour or inert would help to renovate the plant. — Grower. LILIES FOR MARKET. During the last few years the culture of Lilies for profit has much increased. The most valuable of the family for this purpose are undoubtedly longiflorum and its Bermuda form, Harrisi, and the old white Madonna Lily of cottage gardens. The suitability of the last-mentioned for culture under glass does not seem to have been known to the older generation of gardeners, and probably its merits in this respect might still be unknown were it not for the attention that has been given of late to the other pure white kinds. Of longi- florum it is impossible to speak too highly, and those who took up its culture extensively a few years ago made handsome profits. Like all things grown for the London markets, however, prices through competition have been lowered, but fine blooms of this fair flower still make tolerably gocd prices, especially in May and early June. I have never seen anything finer than the long ho uses in some of the London market gardens crowded with plants of this Lily carrying thousands of blooms, their purity enhanced by the deep lustrous green which characterises the foliage when the plants are well grown. L. Harrisi is very valuable on account of its early blooming nature, which enables market growers to obtain a supply of blooms quite early in the season and when higher prices can be made. This Lily was to have bloomed twice in the season, but the second crop of flowers is too scanty and too late to be of much value, and the bulbs do not retain this perpetual blooming charac- ter in this country. I know of one London grower who worked up a large stock of plants from scales, but when they came to flowering size the blooms did not differ to any great extent from those ut the old longiflorum either in form or manner and time of opening. Therefore those who wish to secure a crop of very early blooms would be wise to procure good imported bulbs as soon as they come to hand. Those who supply the London markets lose no time in potting the bulbs They are generally grown two or three bulbs' in a 7-inch pot, the compost consisting of good turfy loam, space being allowed for top- dressing later on. The old white Lily has to be potted during its short resting period. Earlv in autumn the young leaves appear, and before that time the roots should be working in the new compost. It is found, however, that the best results are obtained from bulbs that have been a year undisturbed. They start with greater freedom, and the flower -spikes are stronger than in the case of bulbs that have remained some weeks out of the soil. This Lily will take liberal doses of liquid manure when in full growth ; in- deed, in the case of plants that are grown for cut blooms and that have filled the compost with active fibres, liberal feeding is absolutely neces- sary. I have known bulbs to remain undisturbed without change of soil for several years and annually yield a profitable crop of flowers. One advantage of growing them in this way is that they do not get the disease that works so much havoc in the open air. The flowers are utilised in various ways, some being cut as they expand, these being employed for wreaths, crosses, &c. For other floral decorations, and especially for churches, the whole stem is cut, while a great many plants are sold in the pots. .J. C. B. Notes of the Week. Prunella grandiflora is a good variety that quite bears out the name, for its flowers are very fine at Kew, where a little group looks pretty in the rock garden. The flowers, borne in a long, thick head, are of a rose colour with purple bracts. Gladiolus dracocephalus, a Cape species from Natal, is now flowering at Kew. It has tall spikes about 5 feet in height ; these bear many flowers of a bronzy yellow colour, curiously mottled and spotted inside and out with a dull red. It is a very distinct species, of graceful aspect, but needs close inspection to see its quaint colour. Bravoa geminiflora is a pretty Mexican bulb now flowering at Kew in a frame. It has slender scapes, each about 2 feet in height, these bearing numbers of long drooping bells of a distinct coral- red colour. It is a free-blooming plant under congenial conditions, as there are nearly two dozen spikes of flowers from one little clump of bulbs. The common Chicory is rarely seen in the garden, and yet we know of no lovelier hardy flower. It is worthy of a little trouble to natura- lise it, especially as once this is accomplished it will take care of itself. The other day we stood beside a magnificent plant that was over 6 feet high, and the hundreds of lovely blue blossoms freshly expanded and glowing in the morning sun had a fine effect. Scabiosa caucasica is one of the very best hardy flowers in a soil that suits it, blooming continuously for months. On several occasions during the past few weeks we have noticed a splendid plant of it in the herbaceous ground at Kew, showing that a light free soil is essential to its well-doing. The flowers of the Kew plant are very fine. Both this and its lovely white form are very effective where they do well. CEnothera speciosa.— This is a neglected plant of great beauty, truly perennial and bloom- ing abundantly over a long period. It seems very happy in this season of sunshine, as even in the light soil at Kew a mass of it i' covered with flowers. Their effect is charmi. g in the bright sun, as they are almost transparent and of the purest white, shading prettily into cream at their base. It grows little more than a foot high, and makes a beautiful group. Lilium Grayi. — This new and beautiful Lily has been flowering well at Kew, some of the strongest shoots being about 4 feet high and bear- ing seven of the handsome flowers. It is allied to L. canadense, having similar drooping bell-shaped flowers in whorls, but the flowers are smaller, less expanded, and but slightly reflexed at the tips of the petals. They are of a deep rich crimson-red colour, profusely spotted inside with purple-brown. Laurus nobilis as a tree.— Though every- one who knows anything about trees and shrubs will at once recognise that I am writing about the Bay tree, can anyone send you, as I do now, a photograph of it in tree form ? We all know it as a bush, but I cannot remember to have ever seen it before as a tree. It is growing in this village. The garden in which it is growing is close to a road. The plant is about 20 feet high.— W. T., Binhopftteiijnloti. Lathyrus tuberosus is an uncommon peren- nial Pea, which in colour resembles L. latifolius. It is equally free- flowering, but has smaller blooms and thinner growth. There is a group of it in the herbaceous grounds at Kew, and at Knap Hill re- cently we saw a lot of it that springs up annually among the stones of a paved pathway and flowers as well as if it were under cultivation. It could easily be naturalised in a pretty way. "Verbascum Chaixi.— It is curious how some of the finest garden flowers are neglected and only seen in a few places. This noble perennial Mul- lein has been in the country long enough for everyone to have it if they wished to, and yet it is the exception to meet with it. In the rock garden at Kew and in the herbaceous grounds there are some splendid plants now in flower, the finest of them over 0 feet in height, quite half cf the plant a perfect column adorned with myriads of blossoms. Hymenocallis (Ismene) Amancaes. — A clump of this is now flowering well at Kew in the frame devoted to half-hardy bulbs. It is a very handsome Peruvian plant allied to and resembling the Pancratiums. There are four strong flower- scapes rising out of a mass of large deep green leaves, each bearing several blooms which open in succession. They are larger in the tube and have broader petals than those of the Pancratium, of a rich cream colour when first open, passing to white, whilst they have a delightful scent. Senecio macrophyllus.— This giantGroundsel is a striking plant, and a mass of it at Kew arrests attention both by the luxuriance of leaf growth and the bright effect of the tall spikes of flowers. To grow in groups along with other strong herbaceous plants, such as the Inulas, Telekias and Sunflowers, it well deserves atten- tion. Its immense broad spathulate leaves are each nearly a yard long, and the flower-spikes rise erect to 0 feet, the upper portion a dense club like mass of bright yellow flowers. Magnolia glauca, which we recently noted as flowering at Knap Hill, is also in bloom at Kew, where two flourishing specimens may be seen 'isolated on the Grass. In the bright sun- shine they are seen to advantage, with the strong light reflected from their polished leaves, a gentle breeze displaying their silvery under surfaces. Although the flowers are not so large and showy as those of the earlier kinds, they are very pretty and their delicious fragrance is (luite perceptible in the air around the plants. The Kentish Strawberry crop has been extraordinarily heavy, and the picking is still at its height. Reports from the Maidstone, Sand- wich and Swanley districts agree that the crop is about double the average. From Sandwich alone upwards of 100 tons were despatched last week. There is a great increase in the acreage under Strawberries this year as compared with last, and cultivation is increasing in a remarkable way. The satisfactory feature is that their cultivation is likely to be paying to the farmer, as the demand for the fruit increases also. Robinia Pseudacacia eemperflorens. - The False Acaciain its several forms is a beautiful tree, and one of the best of them is the variety which bears the above name. At present few seem to plant it, and doubts have been expressed as to the constancy of this characteristic, but it is main- tained. Long after all other False Acacias have ceased flowering this one continues producmg a raceme of flowers at every joint of the growing shoots. In Mr. Waterer's nursery we noticed that even young trees were flowering apparently at an earlier age than those of the type itself. Coreopsis (Leptosyne) maritima is a hand- some annual species, which we noted at Kew. The genus Leptosyne is now included under Coreopsis, and embraces the Western Air.encan representatives of the Coreopsis familv. This under notice is a Californian kind and npp.\rently an annual worthy of more attention. 'I lie plant grows about I foot high, its leave? being finely cut into numerous grass like segmenls. The flowers, entirely yellow both in the disc and rays, which number about twenty, are as large as those of Chrysanthemum maximum and borne singly on strong stalks over a foot in length, so that they are well adapted for cuttiig. Lilium Lowi and I/. Bakeiianum.— These two Burmese Lilies are now flowering in Mr. Ware's nurserv at Tottenham. L. Lowi is of re- cent introduction and a charming addition to the Lily family. It has drooping, funnel-shaped white flowers, the tips of the segments reflexing, the inner part of the tube abundantly spotted 16 THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. with purple. A coloured plate of this Lily appeared in The Garden of March 17, 1894. L. Bakerianum, although not exactly new, is rare in cultivation. It is apparently nearly allied to L. Lowi, but the flowers we saw were even more spotted inside, and a band of a distinct rosy shade runs down the centre of the petals externally. Genista setnensis. — This graceful south European Broom appears to have stood the past winter very well, and large spreading bushes of it nearly 12 feet high and laden with flowers are effective in some of the shrub groups at Kew. It might be called a miniature Spanish Broom, not as regards stature, but it has Rush-like twigs like the Spartium, only they are much more slender, and the rich yellow flowers, though smaller, more than make up in effect for what they lack in size. As a shrub for light, hot soils much might be s.iid in its favour. One only needs to see it as at Kew to be at once favourably impressed with its beauty. A coloured plate, which shows well its beauty and free blooming character, appeared in The Garden of March IS, 1893. Bosa polyantha is now, and has been for the last fortnight, a pretty feature. In any aspect it looks happy, whether on dry or moist banks. Growing against low trees, sending its long shoots, covered with innumerable heads of white bloom and the richest of green foliage, up into their branches and arching over to the ground, the eS'eot is very fine. On the banks of the lake, too, the snowy branches touching the water, with the reflection below it, is very beautiful. For any open space in the shrubbery, for covering a fence, or forming banks to shelter tender subjects, it is one of the best wild Roses. All that it re- quires is to have plenty of room to develop and show its graceful character and to be left alone.— M. J. Lselia elegans (Woodlands variety). —This superb variety is now in bloom in the Woodlands collection of Mr. Measures. Lailias are a special feature here, as Orchid growers well know, and this variety is one of the most beautiful of all the forms of L. elegane. A distinctive point is that the two upper lobes of the lip are of abnormally large size, the sepals and petals being French white and quite glistening in aspect, while the margin of the former is without any undulation, unlike the petals. The lip is unique for boldness and rich crimson in colour, which extends over the whole of the outer surface of the upper lobes, running in a band down to the ovary, the remain- ing portion being white on both surfaces. It is delicately fringed, also heavily fluted. The column is large and rosy pink in colour. Lilium odorum.— This noble Lily is now flowering grandly at Kew. There are two round beds of it behind the Palm house, and visitors to Kew within the next week should make a point of seeing it. The plants are healthy and robust, the strong stems terminated by, in most cases, two immense flowers disposed opposite to each other. They are quite as beautiful as those of the popular L. auratum, without the overpower- ing odour of that species. They are sweetly fragrant. The tube of the flower is of the purest creamy white, without spot or stain, but the ex- terior of the flower is stained with a deep choco- late hue. We noticed two immense flowers caused by the fusion of two blooms on one stem. They retain their single form, but have double the usual number of petals and anthers, and two stigmas also. It is a most striking and handsome Lily. Gunton Park, Lord Suffleld, and Water- loo Strawberries.— I herewith send you a few fruits of the above-named Strawberries. I con- sider Gunton Park the best all-round variety in cultivation. Lord Suffleld is a little later in ripening and forms a good succession. It is a capital cropper, the fruit being of exceptionally rich flavour and of a very dark mahogany colour. These, coupled with Empress of India, form the most valuable Strawberry trio introduced of re- I cent years. Waterloo is most useful where it ! succeeds, but it is somewhat capricious and never rnakes large plants. It does well on our rather light soil, well mulched in autumn. One of its best points is its non-liability to rot in rainy weather. If grown in porous soil on a north border it is useful for late work. I consider its flavour pretty good and the colour is very taking. —J. Crawford, CodiUmjIon Hall, Newark. Brodiseas at Colcliester. — Among the choice and little-grown bulbs that merit more popularity are these. They are grown well in Messrs. Wallace's nursery at Colchester. Some of the earlier species were over at the time of our visit, but two or three distinct varieties were still fresh and abundant. B. peduncularis was one, and is most graceful. It has a large umbel of flowers borne on an erect stem, each flower on a long slender stalk, making the heads quite 1 foot in diameter. The flowers almost exactly resembling those of Triteleia uniflora are white, with a distinct violet line down the centre of the petals outside ; a mass of it is most elegant. B. rosea is a new species of quite a distinct shade, having a neat umbel of light pink flowers on a dwarf erect stem. The old B. volubilis is quite a unique twining plant, that reverses the usual order of things in having climbing flower-stems, which, entwined around Bamboo canes, were here quite 5 feet in length and terminated by large umbels of beautiful deep rose-coloured flowers. Hemerocallis aurantiaca.— This is a very notable addition to our hardy garden flowers and merited the tirst-class certificate that was granted to it at the meeting last Tuesday. It was shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., of Colchester, who have introduced many good flowers, but certainly none finer than this, because it is a plant that everybody can grow and we feel sure will want to have when it is distributed. All the Day Lilies are characterised by robustness, and this essential merit is accentuated in the variety under notice. In appearance, vigorous growth and form of flower it partakes most of the character of H. disticha, and we might almost hazard an opinion that it is a deep golden seedling of this species. It originated in Japan, where it was first noticed growing in a mass of Iris Kwmpferi. Its leaves are broad and slightly glaucous, the flowers numerous on a very strong scape, and of extra stout sub- stance, the petals being quite fleshy. It most re- sembles H. disticha in its large, widely expanded flower, the broad petals distinctly recurved at their tips, but in its rich shade of apricot-yellow it stands out conspicuously as a most distinct, beautiful, and highly coloured form. Lilium giganteum.— This fine Lily is flower- ing now in the Bamboo garden at Kew. It is 8 feet high and bears about a dozen blooms, the stem being a couple of inches in diameter near the ground. A native of the Himalayas, and in- troduced over forty years ago, it has never be- come very common in cultivation. This is owing to its not succeeding well in many parts of the country and to the bulb dying after it has flow- ered once. The flowers are about 8 inches long and 4 inches to 5 inches across the slightly re- curved segments. They are white inside, tinged with reddish purple, and greenish yellow on the outside. The large cordate leaves are a feature in themselves, those at the base having a blade 1.5 inches in length, and borne on a petiole nearly as long. These large leaf-stalks are one of the most distinguishing features of this Lily ; in fact, the leaves differ from those of all other Lilies not only in this character, but in their size, shape, and reticulated venation. On the stems of flower- ing plants they become smaller towards the top until they are finally reduced to mere bracts. The noble habit of the plant with its imposing crown of flowers makes one wish it were to be seen oftener. It should be planted in a rich loam and be mulched during the summer. The only other Lily closely related to this is L. cordifolium, a Japanese species or, according to some authorities, a variety of giganteum. It is a smaller plant, and of not the same value horti- culturally. Ferns. RAISING FERNS FROM SEED. In reply to " W. H. M.," Warrington, the moat natural as also the quickest way of propagating Ferns is by means of their spores or seeds. These should be gathered when the capsules containing them begin to assume a brownish colour ; the fronds should then be cut, put into paper bags and allowed to dry for two or three days, after which time the spores should bs sown as soon as possible, although most of them retain their vitality for a considerable time. Although Ferns may be sown at any season of the year, the early spring is the most favourable time, as if properly treated, seedlings, or the generality of them, raised then have sufficient time to produce crowns strong enough to stand the following winter. Many ingenious ways of sowing Fern spores have been recommended, such as sowing on prepared flannel, &c., but, provided the materials used be of pure quality, either a piece of turfy loam, a piece of fibrous peat, or sometimes a mixture of both roughly broken and perfectly free from decomposition of organic matter is all that is required. An ex- cellent way of getting rid of vegetable or animal life in the material used for sowing consists in gently pouring the contents of a kettlef ul of boil- ing water over it. When the soil thus treated has been allowed to cool and drain it is ready for use, as eggs or larvae of insects, spores of fungi, &c. , are or should be all destroyed. The Fern spores which are exceedingly minute must be scattered on the surface of the prepared soil and covered with either a bell-glass or a sheet of glass and kept in a close shady place under a handlight if possible, but this is not abso- lutely necessary. There they should remain until the surface of the pots or pans which con- tain them becomes covered with a growth of Lichen or Liverwort appearance. From this singular growth the young Ferns ultimately develop, according to the different species, in a space of time usually varying from three to six months from the time of sowing. During that time the pots or pans in which the spores are sown should be kept in a uniform state of mois- ture, the watering should be done by partial immersion by standing the pots or pans in water for a few inches, so that the moisture rises to the surface. When Fern spores germinate freely, it is necessary that they should be several times divided, for if allowed to crowd and over- grow each other in the seed pan or pot they are very liable to damp oft". They should still be watered by partial immersion and no water should be applied overhead until they have produced fronds. They should be graduaUy inured to the air by tilting on one side the glass cover, which may in a short time be removed altogether. Until then it is best to keep the pots or pans at all times well shaded during sunshine, but not in dull weather. When fronds have made their appearance, the seedlings do not require any other shading than that to which the house is usually subjected. When the seedlings have formed a little crown and are provided with two or three fronds, they should be potted singly or placed in pans or boxes and kept for a time in a somewhat close atmosphere, well shaded and carefully watered until established. Greenhouse and stove Ferns require to be sown in a warm house ; whereas for British and hardy exotic kinds a damp, shady, but not dark corner under the stage of a greenhouse or cold frame is all that is required. S. G. July 13, 1895.] THE GARDEN 17 Orchard and Fruit Garden. WHITE BLA.CKBERRY ICEBERG. This new Blackberry was raised by Mr. L. Burbank, of Santa Rosa, California, by crossing a variety named the Old Crystal White with Lawton, which in America is considered the most productive Blackberry known. The berries of Iceberg, as may be seen from the engraving herewith, are large and freely pro- duced. They are said to be delicious in flavour and so transparent, that the seeds, which are easily mastered, is its obstinacy in colouring to the point. In Empress of India, one of Mr. Allen's new seedlings, however, this difficulty is overcome, as it colours well throughout, and is, moreover, quite equal to, and, in the opinion of some, superior to British Queen. All who esteem high-class quality should grow Empress of India. — J. C Summer-pruning fruit trees. — Mr. Iggul- den's interesting notes on mutilating fruit trees remind me of the fact that even those who use the knife in a practical manner often summer- prune their wall trees far too soon. For the sake of neatness they cut back all breast wood perhaps White Blackberry Iceberg. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph sent Mr. Luther Burbank, Santa Rosa, California. remarkably small, may be seen in the berries when ripe. The clusters of fruit are said to be very large and as firm of those of Lawton. We understand that this variety will be put into commerce by Messrs. Pitcher and Manda, of Short Hills, New Jersey. Strawberry British Q,ueen. — In Mr. Mcln- doe's fine collection of ten dishes of fruit at York was a good dish of British Queen . Strawberry grown in pots, and, of course, quite cool. It was quite a treat to see this old kind in good form, as one so seldom meets with it now-a-days. Mr. Mclndoe informed me that he had grown it in pots for late work for many years. The one fault with British Queen, and one which seems not to be by the middle of June ; consequently another free growth follows, the back eyes breaking into growth also on account of being so soft and green. No wonder then that their trees are poorly furnished with fruitful spurs and remain comparatively barren. Late summer pruning is, of course, more necessary in midland and northern localities, but I am convinced from personal observation that even in the southern counties the work is done in very many instances far too early. I myself do not take off the wood until July is getting well ad- vanced.— J. Crawford. Strawberry Royal Sovereign. — I am glad to see that " W." (p. 463) is of one mind with me as to the value of Royal Sovereign. In my first note on this variety (p. 262) I mentioned that as a forcing Strawberry it had proved earlier and a heavier bearer than Noble. I have been unable as yet to give it a fair trial out of doors under the same conditions as Noble, and I am therefore not in a position to state how it will compare, in this locality, with the latter variety a? to earli- ness in the open. I note, however, that Mr. G. Wythes (p. 441) and " W." have both found it to be rather later than Noble. That Noble is a pay- ing Strawberry there can be no two opinions, the fruits being full-sized, firm, and of splendid colour, while during this dry June they have certainly been far from flavourless, and as a good and early variety for the market this Strawberry is at present without a rival, but I shall not be sur- prised if, in the future. Royal Sovereign proves itself even more valuable, though I think that the Strawberry which ousts Noble will have to be possessed of many good qualities. The old Sir Joseph Paxton is still a favourite in this neigh- bourhood, and has, as usual, borne well, though perhaps not quite so heavily as Noble. John Ru?kin has been poor both under glass and in the open, and will not be grown again. Competitor has produced marvellous fruits, there being no difliculty in finding eight berries to make up a I lb. punnet. There seems to be much diversity of opinion as to the flavour of this Strawberry, some, amongst whom I must include myself, finding it insipid, while others prefer it to varie- ties possessing a more decided taste. Waterloo, with its dark, almost black colour, has not an attractive appearance, but it has the merit of a particularly pleasing flavour and is a favourite with many for this reason. Latest of All has been more affected by the drought than any of the earlier varieties, as at the time the berries commenced swelling the ground was at its driest, and no just criterion can therefore be formed of its comparative value in an ordinarily moist season.— S. W. F. , Torquai/. This new variety secured the first prize in the single dish class at York show, and was a truly imposing dish, the fruit being large and brilliantly coloured. Although I much prefer the deep mahogany colour as found in the Ounton seedlings, I shall certainly grow Royal Soveieign, as many gardeners at York spoke very highly of it from every point of view. From its firm ap- pearance I should say it is a capital traveller, which is a great point in favour of any Strawberry now-a-days when so much packing and consigning to a distance both by rail and parcel post have to be done. — N. A NOVEL MODE OF PRUNING BLACK CURRANTS. In judging cottage gardens in Essex the other day I came upon a lad sitting on the ground picking the Currants off a bough that had been broken off' by accident. Remarking on this comfortable method of picking Black Currants on a hot day, my fellow- judge said that he had improved on that simple plan for years. He prunes his Black Currants so soon as the fruit is ripe, and carefully removes the fruiting branches to a clean packing shed orpotting bench, where the fruit is picked under cover in cleanliness and comfort. The major portion or whole of the fruiting branches are then removed annually, the Black Currant bushes being pruned back to the young wood. The wood, being thus fully exposed in July, ripens thoroughly before the end of the season and produces full crops of the finest fruits. Of course, for this mode of cul- ture the single-stem style of training is abolished in favour of the production of few or many suckers — from six to a dozen. The bearing wood and bushes to a great extent thus become annuals, and renew their youth as well as their vigour every year. I have not hitherto adopted the early annual cutting back of my fellow juror. My ex- perience, however, in regard to the wisdom of renewing Black Currants from suckers entirely agrees with his. His earlier and more severe pruning is also altogether in favour of the im- proved strength and fertility of the young wood 18 THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. from base to summit, and his samples are mostly all alike good — a great point in dry seasons like the present. It is no exaggeration to affirm that nine-tenths of the Black Currants met with this year on bushes grown on the old crowded system are of no commercial value, the major bulk con- sisting of dry hard flesh, the skins being nearly as tough as an old shoe. But notwithstanding the persistent drought, the fruit on last year's shoots, where these have been fairly fed without over- crowding, is of average size and full of juice. And yet how many go on crowding Black Currants with old wood, cutting back the best of the young shoots into close spurs — a mere wanton waste of vital force and useful fruit. D. T. F. NEW STRAVVBEB,RY BEDS. Although some time will elapse before actual planting of the freshly layered stock for next year's fruiting takes place, many will have already selected the plot, if not prepared it, for their reception. Early preparation of Straw- berry ground is of much importance, as then a natural settlement of the same takes place before planting, and that a firm root-run is essential to their well-being has been proved over and over again. Put out two batches of plants, the one on fairly solid ground, the other on ground quite freshly trenched or even dug, and should the autumn prove dry it will soon be apparent which suits them best, and that, too, in spite of all the treading which may be given at planting time. True, ground cannot always be cleared of other crops soon enough to allow of this early preparation, but where prac- ticable it should always be done, even if only a fortnight beforehand. When living under that veteran Strawberry grower, Mr. Allen, of Gun- ton, I became convinced of the necessity of giving a firm root-run to young Strawbeny plants from the success he had from the prac- tice. His plan was to select a plot of ground in spring. This was trenched one spit deep, a good quantity of rich manure being dug in at the same time. The garden roller was then put over it, and in due time the main crop of .spring Onions sown in rows 2J feet apart. The frequent trampling of the ground to attend to the crop during the summer rendered it very firm and solid, and in August the young Straw- berries which had been layered from the pre- vious year's planted bed were planted out 2^ feet apart between the rows of Onions, the soil lieing well rammed in round the balls. This he did every year, and finer fruit than was pro- ° and 10° higher by day with air, closing sufficiently early to run the thermometer up to 100°, syringing all parts of the house to create a genial atmosphere, gently dew- ing over healthy plants which are fairly well advanced, but not filling the axils of the leaves full of moisture. Watering will require more attention for the next few weeks, as with plenty of sun the air will be drier and the plants require more moisture at the roots. If allowed to get too dry it is a difficult matter to get the soil saturated, and the fruits cease to swell, the green tops becoming elongated. Give food freely in the way of liquid manure or guano water. Strong plants making a lot of growth should not be fed ; indeed, they re<|uire quite the reverse treatment, keeping them drier for a time. I have found it beneficial to remove such plants into a lower tem- perature to arrest growth. Any plants of the late summer fruiters that may have been retarded should now be placed in the fruiting division and treated as advised for plants swelling their fruits. Strong plants from last season's suckers of the Smooth Cayenne section or Charlotte Rothschild pushed on now will furnish nice fruits at a season they are much appreciated, as if they show fruit during the next few weeks they will be valuable for winter dessert. Young Pines.— These will include those placed in fruiting pots recently. More care will be neces- sary with these, as having fewer roots, excessive moisture will soon sour the soil and a sickly growth follow. With free ventilation there should be no lack of moisture if the plants are robust and filling their pots with roots. The bottom-heat for plants at this stage should not fall below 85", and the temperature of the house may range from 70° to 80° during the day, with 7° to 10° lower at night, maintaining a moist growing atmosphere and well syringing all parts of the house. If syringed overhead too freely or kept too moist, an excess of sucker growth is encouraged, and the plants will probably give small fruits. With the thermometer at present higher during the day in the open than the temperature advised, fire-heat from 9 a.m. till 0 p.m. is not required, but if the bottom-heat is supplied by hot water this should not be turned off. A sharp watch must be kept for sudden changes, reducing the air. Shading will be necessary in most cases ; use a light mate- rial such as scrim canvas or netting, not a per- manent shade, which is most injurious. Young plants less advanced may at this season be grown in temporary structures or frames if a regular bottom-heat of 70° to 80° can be given. If there is not much top-heat cover the glass with mats on cold or windy nights to keep up the warmth, and in such cases less moisture must be given, less syringing and early closing being resorted to. Potting sd<'Kers. — This will be the most press- ing work for the next few weeks, as most of the early Queen suckers will be fit for potting ere this. I do not advise wholesale potting, as it is much best to do the work piecemeal as the plants are cut or cleared of the fruit ; and should the suckers be small, it is much better to leave them for a little longer on the old stools. The soil for the young stock should be prepared in advance, using good sound fibrous loam, with a small portion of bone meal. Give ample drainage and pot firmly, having the soil sufficiently moist. The size of pots varies according to the strength of the plant ; 6 inches to 8 inches are the usual sizes. If the suckers are strong most of them may be given a 7-inch or 8 -inch pot. Clear the suckers of the bottom leaves only, taking away the portion that would be buried in the soil, as the less trimming done the better. To detach the suckers from the plants give a slight twist, not using a knife. Plunge in a bottom heat of 80° to 90° and as close to the glass as possible, with ample shade during the hottest part of the morning, removing early and closing before the sun leaves the house or pit. Lightly damp overhead at closing time and water when required, but only sparingly till the roots get round the sides of the pot. If the soil is moist little water will be required till the plants are rooted. Melons. — The season has been most favourable for these fruits, but there is still a necessity for continued warmth in the hot- water pipes, as there are times when the temperature is much lowered owing to rain and other causes. From this date canker will be troublesome, especially so with crowded plants in old houses without means to keep up the temperature. If canker appears keep the plants drier, and dress the affected parts with fresh quick-lime, sulphur, and finely powdered charcoal. Closely watch ripening fruits and remove them just as the stalk is cracking. The thick- skinned varieties are much better flavoured after having been cut from the plants for a few days. Melons at the final swelling stage need more care in watering, as excess causes them to crack badly and they do not keep well. Manures must be w'ithheld, as the flavour is so (|uickly impaired. Plants with fruits just set and at later stages will alsoneed moresyringing overhead in such seasons as this. I never knew red spider more troublesome. Though a free use of the syringe will keep down the pest, it often makes toomuch headway, when spong- ing or covering the leaves with sulphur is the best remedy. Painting the pipes also with sulphur and milk or a little oil to make it adhere, and heating them late in the day will check both mildew and red spider.. Black fly if troublesome is also difficult to get rid of, and the plants suffer if smoked too strongly. Syringing with tobacco water will be the safest remedy, shading for two or three days after doing the work. There should be no lack of food to {ilants swelling their fruits, liquid manure being the best at this season. Top-dress- ing should not be omitted, giving a small portion of bone meal in the compost. Frame Melons. — Good fruit will this season have been secured without fire-heat, but to get these every ray of sun-heat must be retained by careful ventilation and early closing. In previous notes I suggested raising the growths by means of a simple trellis or support. This gives a free cir- culation of air round the stems, and the fruits, being near the light, do not crack and are much better shaped. With the plants in movable frames and manure as the heating agency, it is well to renew the outside linings frequently. The warmth in the frames can be retained by cover- ing the glass at night with mats. In watering much care will be required now, as the manure retains moisture freely and less syringing over- head is necessary. Watering should be done suHiciently early in the day to allow the leaves to get dry before nightfall. The stems should be kept dry and the lateral growths not required removed. Late Melons. — In some gardens late Melons are required, and, though often condemned as poor in flavour, I have had Melons in October as good as could be desired. Much depends upon the season and the means to grow the fruits. Like early fruits, they need more than ordinary care to get perfect finish. Now is a good time to prepare for late crops, as if the plants make ample root and top growth there is less difficulty in finishing the fruits. Pot culture may be resorted to with advantage where there is any difficulty in giving the roots the treatment desired, as then fermenting materials may be used. The roots of plants in pots being more under control, can be fed, the setting is more readily done and growth is kept more confined, allowing light and air to circulate freely round the plants. Late plants in pots or restricted spaces need more liberal feed- ing. Bone meal or spent manures may be used to lighten heavy clay soils. In sowing at this season raise the plants in frames as close to the glass as possible, a sturdy growth from the start being essential, and in planting be careful not to injure the stems, or canker will be troublesome. G. Wythes. Kitchen Garden. PEAS m DRY SOILS. The Pea crop this season has had a fight for existence in poor gravelly soils. In many places I note insects are attacking the bme, and, should rain fall in quantity, mildew will soon finish the work of destruction, and the late crop will be a poor one. Gardeners are often to blame in a great measure for failures, as the Peas are often sown so thickly that it is impossible for tlie plants to obtain the neces- sary food, especially in such seasons as we are experiencing. It may be said, why advise thm sowing when, perhaps, half the seed does not germinate i Most growers can at a glance tell ff the seed is good. I admit it is not always as well selected as one could wish, but, from my own experience, I should say there are few vegetables more troublesome to rogue. To get a. true stock is more difficult than many imagine. I was much amused the other day at being asked to explam tlie cause of failure of some rows of Peas sown on a sloping bank m soil which had not been manured for three years. The questioner stated that the seedsman wasat fault ; whereas the crop germinated well (in- deed, too well) ; as if only half the seed had J0LY 13, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 25 come through the soil the other half would have done better. I admit sowing on banks may be a gain for the earliest crops, but such positions for tall Marrow Peas are not suitable, as the moisture when given all runs to the lowest point. It is well known how well Sweet Peas thrive when sown thinly and in rich soil ; whereas when crowded the flowers are much smaller and soon over, and anyone would think the produce a different strain altogether. Some Peas may not be suitable for the soil, as. for instance, when I lived in the midlands, Veitch's Perfection was the best Marrow Pea, and grown in large quantities from June till September ; whereas now in a light soil on gravel it is a bad cropper and not worth sowing, so that it is well to take varie- ties into consideration and grow those which do thrive. Varieties. A few words as to varieties may not be out of place. I do not consider the small white kinds, such as Extra Early or Eai'ly Sunrise, pay for growing, as we have now so many really fine varieties and of equal earliness. Gradus is a very fine early Marrow and a great advance on the older types. This in a dry season on a sloping bank was fit for use in twelve weeks from time of sowing and not protected in any way. This is one of the late Mr. Laxton's hy- brids, and one he told me he considered the earliest and best of the many he had raised. With me it produced very hea\ y crops, in addi- tion to being early and of good eating quality. Another Marrow variety which will doubtless come to the front is Sutton' .s Seedling Marrow- fat, very dwarf — this season only 1 foot high — pods containing six to nine Peas. This I grew for the first time this season, and it was very fine, doing well in spite of the drought. As a forcing variety in pots it cannot be excelled. Another good dry weather Pea is Stratagem, a very fine flavoured kind and heavy cropper. It is a mid.season Pea and invaluable in such sum- mers as this. Daisy, a second early, 1.5 inches to 18 inches high, is a valuable new Pea, very free and noted for its good quality. This sown on light soil early in March follows Gradus and other first early kinds, one of its parents being Stratagem. For July cropping my best variety is Veitch's Main-crop, a very fine vigorous va- riety, pods large and the growth not too tall. This year it promises grandly. G. Wythes. Turnip Cardinal.— This variety is distinct from most others, having a deep cardinal colour, which not only appears on the top, but also covers the whole root. Of course, I do not re- commend it on account of its novel colour, but as a good variety in hot seasons and as a variety that does well in most soils. The Cardinal is of medium size, flat, with very short top, and of fine table quality. It is one of the best varieties I have yet grown on hot, dry land, not running to seed like some early kinds, and being quite sweet and solid at the time I write. It has been fit for use since the end of May. The Cardinal has a strong tap root, this doubtless protecting it from drought, and having thick, spreading foli- age the root is shaded. I have not tried it for late sowing, as Red Globe is the variety I rely on.— G. W. Lettuce in hot weather. — Those who require Lettuce in quantity have to adopt various means to produce good material for every-day cutting, and the usual system of planting out of the seed beds cannot be carried out, as the plants in light soils suffer badly in hot weather. The plants are often sown much too thickly and do not lift readily ; indeed, the tap root is generally broken when removing, and the plants get such a check that they require much attention in the way of shade and moisture to get them into a growing state, and often when they make a start they bolt. The best way to secure a long succession is to sow very thinly every three weeks in rich land, and my plan is to drop half a dozen seeds from 9 inches to 1 foot apart in flat drills .3 inches deep, and when the seedlings are above the soil to thin to the strongest ; the thinnings may be planted on a north border. The Celery ridges are very good for summer sowing. In summers similar to the one we are now experiencing planting out is out of the question, as so much time is taken up in watering and looking after the crop. As Lettuce of first-rate quality is more appreciated in hot weather it is well to give ample attention, and thus secure constant supplies. For midsummer I find none equal to a good type of Cos, such as Superb White, a large variety, which folds in closely and is a long time before it runs. The older Ivory's Nonsuch is still a very fine dry summer Lettuce and of very good flavour. A great favourite of mine is the Mammoth White or Balloon Cos, a grand summer variety with large firm hearts, and one of the very best of the newer types. This I have grown since 1893. Those who do not sow so often as advised, and have un- suitable soil or little moisture, would do well to use cow manure instead of other kinds. It is a valuable hot weather manure, retaining moisture longer. It is also advisable to sow on the flat, and for July supplies under a north wall. — G. W. S. EARLY CABBAGES. I WAS surprised to read "A. D.'s" note on the dearth of early Cabbages in the London district, as I never had a more satisfactory lot than I have this season in this garden, and not a single runner amongst them. I rely on two varieties for early cutting, these being EUam's Early and Mein's No. 1 — the former, as is now well known, being a neat little Cabbage of excellent flavour, and Mein's No. 1 of larger growth, but equally as early. Mein's No. 1 can be cut either as a small early, or, by waiting a week or two longer, as a later and larger Cabbage. This is certainly an advantage, for whereas Ellam's would burst if left too long, Mein's No. 1 would go on increasing in size for a considerable period. I should think this variety would make a good market Cabbage. As to its hardiness there cannot be any question, and to my mind it supplies what "A. I)." con- siders to be wanting. If "A. D." could induce any of his market gardening friends to give this variety a trial, I do not think they will be dis- appointed. For a private garden a good plot of Cabbage is of considerable value, as by a little judicious management a succession of Cabbage sprouts may be had without any trouble, beyond keeping the ground free from weeds and decaying foliage. Ellam's, however, is not a good variety for turning ort' an abundance of well-flavoured sprouts, but Mein's No. 1 is. The best variety I find in this respect is the Nonpareil, and Enfield Market is another excellent variety for secondary cropping. To encourage a good succession of small heads, care must be taken in cutting only to take the centre heart, leaving as many of the lower leaves as possible, as from each leaf a small head will form. As long ago as I can re- member it was an old custom after the head was cut to trim oS' the leaves and cross-cut the stump. Leaving as many leaves as possible is the best plan to follow so as to secure a succession of sprouts. Large old heads of Cabbage are liked by nobody, being hard, strong, and yellow-hearted, so much the most profitable plan is to cut off the heads so as to encourage the later growth. There is also much in the selection of suitable early varieties to escape the evil of bolting. Early sowings of such varieties as Enfield Market and Nonpareil will surely end in the greater bulk bolting. Ellam's Early and Mein's No. 1 are practically exempt from this evil. For the earliest batch and for this district I find the middle of July a suitable time for sowing. As seasons vary so, it is as well to have two strings to your bow, and as a safeguard against any emer- gency another sowing is made at the end of the month. It is quite as much an evil to be too early for the season as too late. It can easily be seen when the time comes for planting whether the plants are too large and forward to winter safely. The seeds must be sown very thinly over a good extent of ground according to the quantity of seed to be sown. Crowding the plants into a square yard or two of space will surely spoil them. The most suitable time to sow Enfield Market and Nonpareil is from the 16th to the 20th of August. A. Young. LATE-PLANTED WINTER VEGETABLES. It sometimes happens that late-planted Broc- coli, Borecole, Savoys, and such like prove nearly, or quite as serviceable as any got out much earlier. Especially is this the case when the plants have also been raised late, or prepared on poor ground quite in the open. Those raised early and thickly in the seed-bed — the positions being sheltered and the soil fertile — are apt to become very large if not crowded, or else, if crowded, very leggy, neither class of plants moving well. Starvelings from the open fields or poor allotments, if drawn a few hours after either a soaking rain has fallen or a good watering has been given, take to their fresh quarters surprisingly quickly, flag- ging but little in quite the hottest weather. Very leggy plants and any over-grown are scarcely worth the troiible of planting, or, at any rate, are very inlerior to those raised late or sturdy in character. Early and second early Potatoes will in far too many cases prove a light crojj. Two or three, or, it may be, five or six fairly large tuViers are found at the roots of most varieties, and numerous small ones not much larger than Peas. If they are left undug in order to give the latter a chance of growing larger, there is every likelihood of the large ones " growing out," and probably an attack of disease crippling the crop generally. Better, therefore, lift at once and crop the ground closely with winter vegetables. If justice has been done the Potatoes, cleaning, levelling over, and firming the ground is all the further prepa- ration needed for the succe?sional crops. Many Peas and Beans will also come oft' the ground early this season, and, though late in com- mencing to ripen. Strawberries have also failed quickly, this, where an early clearance of old plants is made, admitting of winter vegetables being planted in close succession. There ought to be no ground lying idle in a kitchen garden unless particularly wanted and undergoing special preparation, say, for winter Spinach. At the same time it should be re- membered that vegetables generally, and the Brassica family in particular, are great exhaus- ters of fertility, and if we crop closely and heavily we must follow the example set by market growers, that is to say, manure heavily. Grossness is objectionable in most winter vege- tables, but I would yet dig in manure for them rather than attempt to produce them on very poor ground. In order to have a full, heavy crop of Brussels Sprouts, the bulk of the plants of these ought now to be growing strongly where they are to remain, though I have known batches of plants put out as late as the middle of July give ex- cellent late crops of sprouts. This late planting is most desirable where the soil is not equal to sustaining plants throughout a full season. Bore- cole late planted will at least give a fairly strong top and some few greens, but if the Asparagus Kale is planted or even sown now where it is to grow Spinach fashion, a capital supply of sue- 26 THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. culent greens will be liad next April, May and June. The latter is one of the hardiest greens and may be either planted or thinned to a dis- tance of 12 inches apart in rows 2 feet or rather less apart. After the experience of the past winter we oug'it to find as much room as possible for the hardy Borecole or Kales, notably the Cottager's Kale and the Arctic Kales, as all these did good service and can always be de- pended upon. Not so Broccoli. I siippose we must always try to grotv some of these, but their culture must be regarded in the light of a lottery. Either there are more Broccoli available than we know what to do with, or else there are too few or none to be had after the early autumn varieties are over. Veitch'a Autumn Protecting Broccoli I consider should be much the most extensively planted, and any put out now on somewhat rich firm ground would most probably be available for storing under glass in November, hearting in some time in January or February. It must always be borne in mind that it is one of the least hardy Broccoli. Other varieties can be pre- pared to withstand a moderately severe winter. Ground newly cleared of Peas, Beans and Strawberries is a good site for these. Holes may be formed with the aid of a crowbar, or, better still, drills be cut with a heavy hoe and filled with water (twice if necessary), after which it will be possible to plant with either dibber or trowel. The rows may be at the same distance apart as the centres of the spaces between the late rows of Strawberries, and the plants 2 feet apart in the rows, as there is not much likelihood of their overgrowing each other. On the contrary, they will be short- stemmed, compact, and, to a certain extent, frost-resisting. I do not promise anyone follow- ing this advice, or who plants late on solid ground , large hearts next winter or spring, but he ought to have some quite large enough for most tables. Late-raised and late-planted Broccoli are usually hardier than any already growing strongly where they are to remain are likely to be, and if only leggy, early-raised plants are available, do not sink them in deep holes up to the leaves, but instead of this plant in a sloping direction, all the stem being covered with soil. Now is a good time to plant Chou de Burgh- ley extensively. Planted early on rich loose ground, a coarse, next to useless crop is the re- sult. We want hearts of the size of EUam's Dwarf Spring Cabbage, and during November and December they would then be fully appre- ciated. In some seasons they pass through the winter uninjured, the hearts remaining sound and good for a long time after they are fit to cut. Savoys, again, are of little value when overgrown. Who cares for the great coarse hearts grown in so many gardens '. Very few, probably, or otherwise fewer would be left to rot on the ground. Those of the Tom Thumb type are by far the best in point of quality, and next to these I place Dwarf Ulm and Gilbert's Universal, the Green-curled and Drumhead being grown principally because they heart in later. W. I. Veitcha Earliest Marrow Pea. — There is little excuse for growing I'eas that are deficient in flavour on account of their earlinoss, as some of the more recent introductions in the early section are (juite first-rate in this respect. The variety named above, which I am growing for the first time this year, has pleased me much, as its high (luality is most marked, the Peas being excep- tionally sweet. Probably it is not such a heavy cropper as some of the early kinds, but it has given a fair crop in spite of the drought which had con- tinued for so long until a day or two ago, and which tended to shorten the bearing season of early Peas. One of its good qualities is that it hangs for a long time after being fit to pick with- out getting bard or losing its sweetness and deep green colour. As a proof of its earliness I sowed in an open quarter on March 11 and picked a peck of good Peas from a row about 15 yards long on June 11, just three months from sowing. Alto- gether, I think it a worthy companion to that ex- cellent variety Chelsea Gem. The Peas indi- vidually are not large, but the flavour is equal to that of the best Marrowfat kinds.— J. C. Tallmk. ■Walcheren and Early London Cauli- flowers.— I have been much interested in the recent correspondence on the merits of these two Cauli- flowers. I must throw in my lot with those who maintain that Early London is both distinct from and earlier than Walcheren. I have grown Cauli- flowers for many years for early work, and have always considered these two varieties distinct, Early London being the first to turn in by some ten or twelve days. Lately, however, I have been so annoyed by buttoning in Early London that I have decided to abandon its culture. I think the fault lies in the bad stocks of seed owing to the great demand for this particular variety. Walcheren is a grand Cauliflower, and for successional work right through the summer I know of none to surpass it. — J. Crawford. Planting green crops. — Planting Cabbages, &c., will have been retarded owing to the drought, and unless special care be taken of the plants of the Brassica tribe in the seed beds, they will be much drawn and deficient of fibrous roots. It is now full late to advise transplanting or prick- ing off into lines to get dwarf plants with plenty of roots. The plants, if at all crowded in the seed- beds, get more injured at this date than earlier, as being much larger each one is fighting for existence, with the result that all but a few out- side plants are crippled. To avoid this it is well to plant out though we have a tropical summer, as the longer the work is delayed the more the plants suffer. Much the best results are secured by planting medium-sized plants with ample roots, as the larger ones are so much affected by lifting. It may be asked, How can one plant in such a season with the soil like dust ? My remedy for such is deep drills, these being tilled the even- ing before planting with water ; then plant and water when required at night. This will be far better than allowing the plants to run to waste in the seed bed. When we do get the much-desired rain, the plants, with the great warmth in the soil, will soon make up for any delay. By making drills a man with a large water-pot can go along each quickly. It is surjirising how long the drills retain the moisture when once well soaked. — G. Wythes. EARLY CAULIFLOWERS. Mr. WvTitEs' most interesting article (p. 456) will do something to clear up the confusion that now obtains with regard to the different varieties of Cauliflowers and their synonyms. Personally I beg to thank him for it, and will, if I can get it true, follow his advice to grow the Dwarf Mam- moth Erfurt when sowing this autumn. My ex- perience with the Erfurt has been somewhat simi- lar to that of Mr. Wythes with the Early London in that the seeds which I obtained on two or three occasions must have been from an inferior stock, the heads produced being loose and ungainly, and this decided me to stick to a good strain of Early London. On the other hand, what was sent to me as Snowball was too small for sale, though valuable to provide a few early dishes for private u-e. In the Chiswick trials Snowball and the Erfurt varieties were classed together. This trial of varieties at Chiswick loses something of its value, as Mr. Wythes says th.at it was not used as a test of earliness — an important point with Cauliflowers when we remember that their value is greatly enhanced by their earliness, as it is not unusual for prices to drop 4s. or !5s. per dozen within a week, or directly Peas come into the markets in quantity, and it was this that I had in my mind when writing my earlier note on the subject. I am pleased to see that Mr. Young supports my view that Early London is earlier than Walcheren. It has proved so with me each year. Walcheren, as I grow it, besides being later, runs taller and proves a most valuable kind for succession, though if seed of The Pearl was a little cheaper and not quite so scarce, I should prefer this to all others as a second early. The method of treating autumn-sown Cauliflowers adopted here is to sow a little later than is gene- rally recommended, leaving the young plants in the seed bed until sharp frost threatens. They are then lifted and replanted about 6 inches apart in good soil in one of the pits used for growing^ Cucumbers in summer, and here they winter very well, losses from cold or from early buttoning being rare. A mild time when the ground is in good condition early in spring is chosen for plant- ing, and no hand-lights are used for protection. I choose a warm border under a south wall for the plants and protect with a few twigs of Spruce or Laurel. This year I put out in this way about 280 plants on March 20, and these have been most successful. In a colder and heavier soil I prefer potting up the plants in autumn, but they lift well with me and take readily to the light and sandy garden soil. I should be glad to see from any of your readers notes that may help to clear up the confusion which there is now as to names and synonyms. J. C. Tallack. Orchids. NOTES ON ODONTOGLOSSUMS. If it were possible to ascertain the number of plants under cultivation belonging to each gsnus of C)rchids, these would probably be far ahead of all others. The numbers of such as O. crispum would be simply overwhelming, and the reason of this is not far to seek. Being so thoroughly at heme under cool treatment and so beautiful when in blossom, they are naturally much sought after by all classes of Orchid growers, and as the demand is so heavy, nurserymen and others engaged in importing find it to their interest to seek such plants. The risk of hav- ing the plants left on hand is reduced to a mini- mum, and this is no small matter to those who have to stock them. The majority of Odonto- glossums are not by any means constant in their time of flowering, but this is an advan- tage rather than otherwise, as it enables any- one with a fairly good stock of plants to keep up a fine display over a long season. The first six months in the year are the principal Odon- toglossum season, though many of them are still in full beauty, and others will carry on the display until the end of the year. It is- this latter section that I am thinking of more especially just now. A very beautiful kind, quite distinct from all of the crispum and simi- lar types, is O. r.K'TONENSE, the oldest species in cultivation, and a remarkably free-flowering plant. This when in good condition frecpiently produces spikes over 2 feet in length, bearing many flowers, each about 1| inches across. These are of vary- ing shades of yellow on the sepals and petals, with brown or purple spots, the lip lilac or rosy pink, heart-shaped, and irregularly frilled at the edge. This is of very easy culture, and although liking rather more heat than the crispum set, is not fastidious in this respect. It is a native of Guatemala and Mexico, and was introduced about, sixty years ago. The var. superbum is said to be a greatly superior form, with darker coloured flowers. O. GRANDE is the largest flowering in the genus, and one of the showiest and best known. This is one of Mr. Skinner's introductions from Guate- mala. The blossoms are produced on erect July 13, 1895.] THE GARDEN 27 scapes, each bearing from three to eight, these being upwards of 6 inches across. The sepals and petals are bright yellow, transversely barred with rich chocolate and brown, and they have a shiny, varnished appearance. The lip is whitish with brown lines and spots. The warmest and shadiest position in the Odontoglossum house must be given O. grande, and it also delights in a rough, open compost. The pseudo-bulbs and leaves seemed more than usually attractive to slugs, these pests attacking the young growing shoots with great avidity, frequently causing a great amount of mischief. O. grande usually rests awhile after flowering, and it ought not to be excited until it breaks naturally, unless it is desiretl in flower earlier than usual with a view to succession. If kept in a temperature of not less than r>'2° during winter and induced to make a free growth during summer, it never fails to flower freely during late autumn or early winter. O. grande superbum, O. g. magniticum, and O. g. pictum are all good, well-marked varieties of this favourite Orchid. 0. Insleaysi greatly resembles O. grande in habit and manner of growth. The flowers, smaller and produced earlier in the season, are yellow in ground colour, blotched with red, more especially on the sepals and petals. The variety leopardinum has a very richly coloured lip, bright yellow with crimson dots around the margin, the variety splendens being a rare and lovelj' kind with large, richly-coloured flowers. The type is a native of Mexico, introduced about fifty years ago. Both this species and O. SciiLiEPERiANUM, which it greatly resembles, will thrive with O. grande : indeed the latter has been described as a variety of this species, viz., O. grande pallidum, but it is usually known by the above designation. The flowers are very pale yellow, the sepals and petals being blotched and barred with purple, the lip small and marked with brown. This was introduced from Costa Rica in 1836. O. Uro-Skinneki was sent by the gentleman whose name it bears from Guatemala in 1854. It is a strong-growing, easily-grown plant now in flower in several collections. The blossoms are each 3 inches across, the segments yellow blotched with brown, the lip rosy purple and white. These are produced on tall spikes, and last a long time in full beauty. It requires abundance of water at the root, good drainage, and a cool moist atmosphere all the year round. 0. HASTiLABiu.M is Usually in flower during August, and therefore often used for exhibition. It produces a succession of flowers upon the up- right branching spikes, these being very fragrant and upwards of 3i inches across in the best forms. The sepals and petals are creamy white overlaid with brownish purple, the lip purple at the base, pure white in front. This requires more heat than any other species, being found naturally at a low elevation in New Grenada. The pseudo-bulbs and leaves of this species are very pale green, the latter broad and sometimes as much as 15 inches long. Introduced in 1843. Besides the above, many of the varieties of O. Rossi, O. maculatum, O. Edwardi, O. glorio- sum, .and others occasionally flower in the autumn, so that there is no lack of variety where a number of plants is grown. Great care is necessary with them all while in bloom and afterwards, and it may be taken as a general rule that from a fortnight to three weeks is quite long enough to leave the flowers on the plants, many of them lasting quite another fortnight when cut. R. Cypripediutn Sedeni. — Although of hybrid origin, this lovely plant is, fortunately, plentiful enough. It is extremely popular on account of its free-flowering habit and handsome appearance. The leaves of C. Sedeni are each about 15 inches in length, deep green, gracefully arched, and on healthy plants very attractive. The scapes rise from the centre of the growth, producing many flowers in succession. These are each about 3 inches across, the sepals being whitish, the petals twisted, bright rose, margined and sometimes streaked with white. The pouch is round, crim- son in front, the throat white, with crimson spots. It belongs to the Selenipedium section of the genus. The plants may easily be kept in a thriving condition by ordinary care, and, being a vigorous-growing plant, it is easily propagated. Indeed, it occasionally throws up a kind of up- right rhizome with a growth at the end, and advantage may be taken of this to increase the stock. The best time to repot Cypripediums is in earl}' spring, before the plants commence to grow. They may, however, if in bad condition at the root, be safely potted at any season, pro- vided they receive careful attention afterwards. Such plants must have all sour and rotten por- tions of the compost removed, and, after washing the roots thoroughly in tepid water, cut away all that are decayed and allow them to dry before repotting. The compost best suited to its require- ments consists of fibry loam and peat in equal pro- portions, adding a plentiful sprinkling of small crocks and charcoal, with enough chopped Sphag- num to make the mass spongy and light. Tho- rough drainage is essential, as a full supply of water is needed while growing. Spread the roots out carefully and work the compost among them, not raising the plants above the rim, as is usual with most Orchids. C. Sedeni is a restless Orchid usually, but resting can be induced by lowering the temperature a little during winter. It is not necessary to dry the plants at the root, as this serves only to weaken them. The Cattleya house temperature suits it well while growing, and after repotting, the plants may be dewed over with the syringe until the roots are taking to the com- post, when they will need watering almost daily. Rose Garden. ROSE NOTES FROM COLCHESTER. The lamentations that went up as the severe frost gave way might have led us to suppose that there were very few Roses left in the land, but the reverse is quite the case, and when call- ing at Mr. B. R. Cant's recently we found his noted Rose fields gay with colour. Of course, losses have been general and great, more so as regards old plants, but the dormant buds of last year's budding stood the cold, and now again we see the familiar nursery lines with very few blanks. There was no prettier picture in Mr. Cant's nursery at the time of our visit than the hedges and fences covered with the old cluster Roses, and it is a pity that they are not more used in this way where pretty dividing lines are wanted. Our chief object, however, was to see what was new, and although no notable addition to the great Rose family can be chronicled, several kinds of promise were seen in good form. Among H.P.'s, Mrs. Shar- man Crawford and Marchioness of Downshire are both distinct with full, well-formed flowers in shades of pink, those of the latter variety borne on very erect strong shoots. Marchioness of Duflerin, also pink and possessed of a good sturdy habit, is a new Rose of considerable merit. Clio, the new blush Rose sent out by Mr. W. Paul, is finding favour, and deservedly so, for whilst it is up to exhibition form, it has the most essential quality of robust growth, making large plants that will cover themselves with fine flowers. It is a most valuable addi- tion, as it flowers freely, opens well, and in its soft-blush white shade gives us a colour by no means common in this class. Marquise de Litta (Fernet and Ducher, 1893) Mr. Cant thinks a promising new Rose. It has a large petalled flower, of a rosy cerise colour. Mrs. Harkness, or Paul's Early Blush, was con- spicuous with many flowers, and will certainly make a gay garden Rose ; whilst Jeannie Dick- son, though not now considered as new, is a re- cent kind that may be highly recommended for planting in groups in the garden. Margaret Dickson we noted carrying fine flowers on some old cut-back plants, whilst the growth was most robust. Among the Teas the American variety named Golden Gate had some splendid flowers, and is clearly a worthy addition if it maintains the fine form in which we saw it. The name, how- ever, is singularly inappropriate, as there is nothing of a golden character about it. It is of a pale cream colour, shading to deeper yellow at the base of the petals, but flushed with faint pink at the edges. Corinna was easily dis- tinguished from the rest by its distinct colour, and it is very free-flowering. Medea, too, seems to be gaining favour. Kaiserin Augusta Victoria (Hybrid Tea) is a grand Rose, with all the re- finement and beauty of a true 'Tea, carrying full, shapely, cream-white flowers on strong shoots. Mme. Pernet-Ducher, of the same class, is a Rose to plant for eflect, the plants covering themselves with great clusters of bloom, the buds rich nankeen-yellow, the expanded flowers nearly white. Of quite an opposite colour is Marquise de Salisbury, anew kind much praised last year, but again justifying all that was said in its favour — a perfect marvel of profuse bloom. The little Polyantha varieties have come through the winter safely, and although free at all times, we never saw them promising a more abundant bloom than here, the plants being invisible beneath their mounds of buds and tiny flowers. Budding will now be general, and we must not fail to work the hedge Briers as the shoulders come ready, as the present dry season is already causing many of them to hang or bind. When I wrote last it promised rain here, but none fell, and we are now very much parched up, more so than in 1887 or 1893. — Ridcewood. Rose W. A. Richardson. — Your note (p. 4-29) on this Pvose is opportune. In this neigh- bourhood many fine plants of it are to be seen growing up the front of cottages. I never saw any Rose bloom more freely, and this season the leaves can hardly be seen for flowers. It requires so little pruning that it is just the Rose for cot- tagers to plant ; another point in its favour is the easy manner in which it grows from cuttings. — E. M. Rose Renoncule. — Away from cottage gar- dens and nurseries, how seldom do we see this old Rose. It is one of the best of the climbing sec- tion for covering a wall, fence, arch, or pillar. On the front of a cottage in this village at the present time a grand plant of it is now in bloom. It is fully 2U feet high and quite as much across in the widest part. The flowers are after the style of those of a Ranunculus— white tinged with pink, hence its name. The dark green foliage with the red tinged bark of the branches enhances its value. It grows freely from cuttings. — E. M., Siranmore Park, Binhop'-t Waltham. Cluster and sing^le Roses. — Few gardens contain even a tolerably good collection of- these Roses. Although the beautiful Hybrid Perpetual, Tea and Noisette Roses are so generally cultivated, there is yet room for a representative collection of these. In a collection I lately saw I noted the following : the Blush China, bright pink, singularly beautiful ; Harrisoni, with its fine golden yellow flowers, most telling in a mass either upon the plant or in a vase, and Brennus (belonging to the Hybrid China section), brilliant crimson in colour, reminds one of that charming H.P. Marie Baumann, a reall}' fine pillar Rose. Rampant, pale pink, has neat little blooms freely THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. produced in clusters ; and Red Damask is very showy, semi-double, reddish crimson. Village Maid resembles York and Lancaster, except that the stripes are much darker : Dundee Rambler, blush white, well represents the Ayrshire type of Rose ; and Fellenberg, with clusters of rosy red blossoms, is a most charming variety. Mme. Plan- tier bears pure white blooms in large clusters and is suitable for pillars, but is, perhaps, better de- scribed as a bush. Microphylla, the single white form of the curious prickly-hipped Indian Rose, is pretty ; likewise Ruga, one of the Ayrshire section, of a pale flesh colour and very fragrant. r^licite-Perpetueiswellknown.and Vivid, crimson, is a capital pillar Rose. Waltham Climber No. 1, with rose-coloured blossoms, is a free, bright kind : and Sweet Brier Lady Penzance is one of the best of the new Sweet Briers, the colour copper, with a peculiar metallic lustre and bright yellow at the base of each petal. — E. M. Bose CriisEOii Ham- bier. — At Gunnersbury House this Rose is con- sidered well worthy of a place in the conservatory, and Mr. Hudson grows it to perfection. It is suit- able for pillars or for cloth- ing the bays, and in either case must be grown very strongly in order to have great sprays of bloom, or such as can be cut for large vases in abundance. It is a summer Rose, and Mr. Hudson after the flowering period is over cuts back the wood to below the flower - breaks, thereby causing the formation of the requisite strong growth for flowering the following season. This Rose also suc- ceeds admirably in pots. —I. Koearugosa Blanche de Coubert. — This is a charming variety of the old Rosa rugosa, in which the blossoms are of that beautiful pure satiny white common to Rosa rugosa alba, but the flowers of this newer form are double, or, perhaps, by comparison with many other Roses, semi-double would be the best expression to use. The blossoms are certainly very charming, without any sus- picion of lumpiness. A great deal of the value of R. rugosa is owing to the fact that, left to itself, it will form a handsome bush and soon attain considerable dimensions by reason of the sturdy suckers, which are pushed up so freely. These newer varieties are, however, gener- ally grafted or budded, so that they cannot increase in the manner common to this Rose. Though plants on their own roots are, of course, preferable to others, I have seen very good results attained in the case of the single white variety (when it •was scarcer than it is now) by layering the shoots directly they were long enough, and after that allowing them to remain untouched. The result was that each rooted layer pushed up suckers of its own when sufficiently strong, and in this way a bed of the white variety on its own roots was established. — T. Hardiness of Tea Roses. — Now that my Tea Roses are in full bloom and better than I have had them before, I should like, in order to encourage others, to say that though the glass, which is alongside of them, fell one night to 2° and many nights to 7° and 8", out of about 100 dwarf Teas, including even such tender kinds as Niphetos, Devoniensis, and Comtesse de Nadaillac, I only lost two plants. They are mostly grown on beds raised at planting some 2 feet, and now standing 1 foot above the level of the lawn, and had no other protection but a very heavy mulch of manure. The whole, including the hardiest, Mme. Lambard and Marie van Houtte, &c., were when pruned to the green wood almost invisible over the mulch, which was mostly left on the beds for another month or more, but all are in bloom or showing good buds, and many have very long shoots. They were most of them exposed to the full blast of the north wind off the hills, but rather protected by the house, &c., from other quarters. I have not been much troubled this year by either aphis or caterpillars, but, unfortu- nately, my few Hybrid Perpetuals have at this planted about two years I had occasion to build on that side of the house a tile-roofed verandah some 5 feet wide and without any light over- head, and also paved with tiles, leaving only a very narrow border against the Rose trees. As the trees grew I carried the long shoots across overhead, up under the eaves, and thus on to the roof of the verandah, and I am pleased to say that they have for several years now been a great source of pleasure to me as June comes round, being each summer covered with hundreds of buds. Nothing could look much prettier than the Banksian the day the photograph was taken (June, 1894), each tiny shoot having its several fairy-like, pinkish white blooms and buds waving gently in the breeze. The Ayrshire is rather Roses in a Surrey garden. Engraved for The Garden frotn a photograph sent Sy Mr. A. Trower, Wiggie, Eedhill, Surrey. early season already some mildew. Crimson Rambler has proved exceptionally hardy, as the twelve feet shoots, trained over an open trellis through which the north wind howled, did not show the least sign of frost even to their tips, and every eye is now a mass of buds. Ophirie along- side was badly injured, as likewise an old white Cluster Rose. What suffered most were the plants on the lowest w.ill of the house, where the sun was so hot that there was a variation of temperature of 40° in a few hours. Several perennials which I have had here for many years have entirely disappeared. — J. R. IX, liciijate. ROSES ON A SURREY HOUSE. The Rose trees shown in the engraving were planted on the south side of the house some ten years ago, one on each side of a French window, the one to the left being a white Bank.sian, the one on the riglit a white Ayrshire. After they were later, and, as can be seen, was not in its full beauty. I am pleased to say that in spite of the severe winter neither of the trees has sufifered to any great extent ; this is no doubt owing to the protection they get from the verandah. The Rose trees growing up the pillars have since been planted, and are not yet up to the roof. As the two Roses under the verandah never get any rain, I occasionally give them some water, but the border is too narrow to give them any manure — in fact, they do not require any. A. Trower. Jledhill. SHORT NOTES.—BOSES. Single Bose Beine Blanche. — This is one of the best single-flowered Rosps, a» i1 in the bud state it is indeed cliRrmiiipr, the ivoiy-nhite, briuht carmine- edged shell-like petals peculiar in colour and moat July 13, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 29 pleasinff. It makes splendid button-hole bouquets, as the buds are so long in opening. — E. M. Societies and Exhibitions. NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. Crystal Palace, July 6. It would be almost unfair in such a season as this to contrast the exhibition of last Saturday with preceding ones, yet there were many more entries than we might have expected and good competi- tion in some of the classes. The flowers were, however, rather small, and lacked the fulness and freshness that characterise Roses in an average season. Especially was this noticeable in the crimson and dark-flowered varieties, but the light coloured kinds were in many instances finely shown, notably Her Alajesty, which received the medal for the best Hybrid Perpetual in the show in both nurserymen's and amateurs' classes, two fine flowers of great depth and superb finish being shown by Mr. B. R. Cant and Mr. E. B. Lindsell. The two medal Teas were also magnificent flowers of their kind, Mr. Frank Cant receiving the coveted award in the trade classes with a very fine flower of Comtesse de Nadaillao, and the Rev. A. Foster-McUiar in the amateur classes with a large, deep-coloured flower of Mar&hal Niel. No new Rose appeared of sufficient merit to receive the gold medal. Nurserymen's Classes. In the great class for seventy-two distinct varieties, one flower of each, there was again a very close fight between Mr. B. R. Cant and Mr. F. Cant, the noted Colchester growers, the former being eventually adjudged the winner of the trophy and first prize, but only by four points. The best varieties in this exhibit were Her Majesty (the medal bloom), Susanne M. Rodocanachi, Duke of Fife, Duke of Wellington, Captain Hay- ward, La Fraicheur, Marie Baumann, Etienne Levet, White Lady, Boildieu, Gustave Piganeau, Charles Lefebvre, Comte de Raimbaud, and Countess of Rosebery among H.P.'s. Luciole, Ernest Metz, The Bride, Mme. Cusin, and Mare- chal Niel were the best Teas. Mr. Frank Cant's stand had some notable flowers ; in addition to the medal Tea we noted Mme. de Watteville, Catherine Mermet, La Boule d'Or, Innocente Pirola, Captain Hayward, A. K. Williams, Gus- tave Piganeau, and Comte de Raimbaud. For forty distinct varieties, three of each, the position was reversed, Mr. F. Cant being first with a fine, even lot, and Mr. B. R. Cant second. The best flowers were Her Majesty, Horace Vernet, three good blooms of this rich dark Rose, Marie Bau- mann, Victor Hugo, brilliant in colour, Duke of Fife, Marchioness of Dufierin, Mario Verdier, Reynolds-Hole, A. K. Williams, Salamander, and Gustave Piganeau H.P.'s, and The Bride, Ethel Brownlow, Niphetos, and Comtesse de Nadail- lac. Teas. For forty-eight distinct varieties, single trusses, another Colchester firm came to the front, Messrs. Prior and Sons being first, their stand containing noteworthy blooms of Lady Mary Fitzwilliam, Victor Hugo, E. Y. Teas, A. K. Williams, Reynolds-Hole and Merveille de Lyon. The second lot came from Southwell. For twenty-four distinct varieties (single trusses) Mr. J. Mattock, New Headington, Oxford, was first, his best flowers being Her Majesty, Reynolds- Hole, A. K. Williams, Gustave Piganeau, Ernest Metz, and Mme. Hoste. Mr. S. Tresider, of Car- diff, was second. For twenty-four distinct (three trusses) Messrs. G. and H. Burch, Peterborough, were first with fine fresh flowers, Her Majesty, Merveille de Lyon, Horace Vernet, Earl of Duf- forin, Mme. de Watteville and Innocente Pirola being the best. Messrs. Prior and Sons, Colches- ter, were second. An extra class for exhibitors who only showed in the above classes was for eighteen bunches of any H.P., Hybrid Tea and Tea or Noisette variety. Messrs. G. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, were first with excellent bunches of S. M. Rodocanachi, Abel Carriere, Alfred Colomb, Capt. Christy, Bacchus, Mrs. Paul and Etienne Levet. Mr. G. Mount, Canterbury, was second. In the trade classes for Teas we missed the name of Mr. G. Prince, doubtless owing to the dry season. Mr. Frank Cant took premier honours in two classes, namely, for twenty-four distinct single trusses and for eighteen distinct, three trusses of each. The two exhibits had some lovely flowers, notably The Bride, Mme. de Watteville, Mme. Cusin, Souvenir d'Elise Vardon, Comtesse de Na- daillac, Ernest Metz, Ethel Brownlow, Edith Gifi'ord and Maman Cochet. For eighteen Teas, distinct, Mr. J. Mattock was first with a fine box of fresh and lovely flowers, Mr. H. Merry weather, Southwell, Notts, being second. Amateur Classes. The leading prize for thirty-six distinct kinds, which carries with it the amateurs' challenge trophy, was deservedly gained by Mr. E. B. Lindsell, Bearton, Hitchin, with what was un- doubtedly the finest stand of blooms in the whole show, a remarkable exhibit for such an exti-a- ordinary season. With every variety except one of high merit, it is hardly possible to single the best out for special mention. Her Majesty, the amateur medal bloom, was in this stand, and other fine flowers were those of Gustave Piganeau, Mrs. Sharman Crawford, Dr. Sellew, Mme. Haussman, A. K. Williams, Duke of Connaught, Souvenir d'Elise Vardon, Caroline Kuster, and Catherine Mermet. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton, of Romford, Essex, was second. Mr. Lindsell was again first for forty-eight distinct single trusses with another fine fresh lot, the second prize going to Mr. W. Drew, Uplands, Ledbury. For twenty-four distinct single trusses, Mr. J. Gurney Fowler, Glebelands, South Woodford, was first, and Mr. W. Boyes, Dutfield Road, Derby, second. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton was first for twelve tru.sses of any Rose except a Tea or Noisette with A. K. Williams, Mr. H. V. Machin, Worksop, securing second place with Her Majesty. The smaller growers again justified the changes that have been made to encourage them. Among growers of less than 2000 plants, Mr. W. C. Ro- maine. The Priory, Windsor, was first, his stand containing good blooms of Charles Lefebvre, A. K. Willfams, Marie Baumann, A. Colomb, Innocente Pirola, and The Bride. The second prize went to Mr. A. Slaughter, Steyning. For eighteen distinct varieties, Mr. J. I'arker, Oak- field, Hitchin, was first with a good lot, Mr. E. Mawley being second. The Rev. H. Berners, Harkstead, Ipswich, was first for nine single trusses of any Rose except a Tea or Noisette with a good lot of Mme. Gabriel Luizet. For eight distinct varieties, three trusses of each, Mr. E. B. Lindsell was first with fine flowers, Mr. W. C. Romaine being second. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton showed a good lot in the class for twelve bunches, any varieties, not more than seven trusses to a bunch. The best were Horace Vernet, Mrs. John Laing, Caroline Kuster, A. K. Williams, Marie van Houtte, and Bouquet d'Or. Mr. H. V. Machin was second. Among growers of less than 1000 plants, Mr. Whittle, Belgrave Avenue, Leicester, was first for nine distinct varieties, single trusses ; Mr. H. Foster, Ashford, Kent, being second. For six varieties, Mr. P. G. Burnand, Reigate, was first, and Mr. Whittle second. Mr. Bateman, Archway Road, Highgate, was first among growers of 500 plants for nine distinct kinds, the Rev. H. B. Biron, Hythe, being second. For six varieties, Mr. E. R. Smith, Muswell Hill, was first, and Mr. R. J. Jeans, Isle of Wight, second. Mr. A. Evans, Marston, Oxford, had the best four varieties in trebles, Mr. W. D. Freshfield, Reigate, being second. The Harkness Cup and first prize for twelve single trusses, distinct, was again won by Mr. 0. G. Orpen, West Bergholt, with a fine lot, in which The Bride, Kaiserin Augusta Victoria and Com- tesse Panisse were exceptionally fine ; Mr. P. G. Burnand was second. For six trusses of any Rose except a Tea, Mr. James Parker, Old Headington, Oxford, was first with Her Majesty ; Mr. S. Price, Derby, was second. In the class for six varieties, open to amateurs who have never won a prize at a N.R.S. show, Mr. C. E. Shea, Foot's Cray, Kent, was first, and Mr. F. W. Campion, Keigate, second. Mr. Bowyer, Haileybury College, Hert- ford, was first for the same number in the class for new members of the society who have joined since last year's show, and Mr. S. Price, Derby, second. Mr. K. H. Giff'ord, Holyrood, Streatham, was first for six varieties grown within eight miles of Charing Cross, Mr. Smith, Muswell Hill, being second. For twelve distinct Roses grown within eleven miles of Charing Cross, Mr. M. Hodgson was first, and Mr. A. Bey f us, Norwood, second. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton was first in the class open to all amateurs for six new Roses, single trusses, showing Duke of Fife, Marchioness of Londonderry, Marchioness of Downshire, La Fraicheur, Mrs. Harkness and Mrs. Sharman Craw- ford ; Mr. E. Mawley was second. Teas and Noi- settes were also well shown by amateurs, Mr. Orpen winning the trophy and first prize for eighteen with an excellent lot, especially good being Fran- cisca Kruger, Devoniensis, The Bride, Krnest Metz, Mme. Hoste, and Innocente Pirola. The Rev. A. Foster-Melliar was a good second, his stand containing the amateur's medal Tea pre- viou.sly mentioned. Mr. Orpen was also first for twelve Teas distinct, Mr. Bethune, Denne Park Horsham, being second. Mr. Orpen also sho\ved the best nine single trusses in this section, staoing Francisca Kruger in lovely colour, and was first likewise for eight distinct kinds, three trusses of each, the Rev. A. Foster-Melliar being second. Among growers of less than 500 Teas, Mr. Conw.iy Jones, Hucclecote, Gloucester, was first for twelve varieties and for four trebles, distinct kinds, whilst for nine varieties, Mr. R. H. Langton, Raymead, Hendon, wen firsb honours. Mr. J. Parker was first for nine varieties among growers of 200 Teas, and for six varieties, the Rev. F. B. Burnsideand Mr G. W. Ccok, Torrington Park, Finchley, were equal firsts. Mr. J. Parker had the best nine bunches, seven trusses to a bunch, and Mr. R. W . Bowyer, Haileybury, was first for six disthict va- rieties in the class for those who have never bsfo.-e won a prize at the society's shows. Opes Classes. These were well filled, especially those for one variety. These classes are invariably one of the finest features of the show, and contain some of the best flowers. Mr. Frank Cant showed the best lot of Hybrid Teas, a fine exhibit, the varie- ties La Fraicheur, Danmark, Lady Mary FUz- william, Grace Darling, Germaine Caillot, Vis- countess Folkestone, Duchess of Albany, Caroline Testout, Augustine Guinoisseau, La France and Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. Mr. B. R. Cant was second. Mr. G. Prince had the best twelve trusses of a yellow Rose, except Mari^chal Niel, showing one of his matchless stands of Comtesse de Nadaillac. Mr. Mattock was second with the same variety. Mr. G. Mount had the best twelve blooms of a white Rose in Merveille de Lyon, Mr. Prince being a good second with Kaiserin Augusta Victoria. For t\^elve trusses of a crimson Rose, Messrs. Townsend were first with A. K. Williams, and Mr. B. R. Cant second with Gustave Piganeau. Mr. B. R. Cant and Mr. G. Mount were equal first for twelve blooms of a dark crimson Rose, both staging Fisher Holmes. In the class for twelve flowers of any light Rose there were eleven exhibits, Messrs. A. Dickson and Sons, Newtownards, securing first place with their new Rose Mrs. Sharman Crawford, which is of a charming pink colour, but too thin and shal- low to become a great Rose. Messrs. Croll, of Dundee, were second with a good lot of Mrs. John Laing. For twelve tru=ues of any Rose not a Tea, Messrs. F. Cant and G. Paul were first and second with Her Majesty. Mr. B. R. Cant had the best twelve trusses of any Tea or Noisette, showing Mme. Cusin in rich colour. Mr. F. Cant was second with a lovely lot of Mme. de Watte- 30 THE GARDEN [July 13, 1895. ville. Messrs. Prior and Sons were first and Messrs. Townsend second for twelve blooms of Marechal Niel, and Messrs. Dickson first for twelve flowers of any new Rose with Mrs. Shar- man Crawford. The same growers were first for twelve distinct new Roses, single trusses, show- ing Helen Keller, Marchioness of Londonderry, Captain Hayward, Mrs. Sharman Crawford, Ma- voiirneen. La Fraicheur, Marchioness of Down- shire, Shamrock, Muriel Grahame, Lady Moyra Beauclerc, and Avoca. Mr. B. R. Cant was second. None of the new Roses shown were considered of sufficient merit to receive a gold medal, but a cultural commendation was granted to two varie- ties shown by Messrs. Dickson, of Newtownards, one of which — a Tea named Muriel Grahame — impressed us favourably. The plant shown resembled Mme. Hoste in habit of growth, whilst the flowers were full, high in the centre, pretty in shape, and of a cream colour. The other variety was a H.P. named Countess of Caledon, apparently a strong grower, the flowers deep rose-pink. Mr. W. Taylor, of Hampton, also showed flowers of a sweet-scented crimson H.P. Messrs. Cooling showed a globular H.P. named Bladud, white, with blush centre, but probably a doubtful one to open. Garden Roses. These made a charming feature, but the beauty of the display as a whole was lost through the scattering of the classes devoted to them. If they were placed as classed, visitors would see and enjoy them better, and they would make a bold break in the usual monotony of sloping boxes. There might with advantage be more classes for these even if those for the conventional kinds had to be reduced. For thirty-six bunches in distinct varieties, not less than three trusses to a bunch, Messrs. G. Cooling and Sons, of Bath, were first. Some of the best were I'ldeal in rich colour ; Marquise de Salisbury, brilliant crimson ; Mme. Chedane Guinoisseau, a lovely cluster flowered Tea ; W. A. Richardson, Gustave Regis, Mme. Falcot, and Bardou Job. Messrs. Paul and Son were second. The best eighteen bunches were from Messrs. Townsend and Sons, Mme. Charles, Celine Forestier, and Mme. Chedane Guinoisseau being noteworthy. Messrs. Croll and Sons were second. Among amateurs Mr. Machin had the best eighteen varieties, showing Polyantha, Noisettes, and Cluster kinds, this exhibit receiving the silver cup given by Lord Penzance. In the smaller class Mr. O. G. Orpen was first, and Mr. Tate, Downside, Leatherhead, second. For twelve bunches of varieties suitable for button-holes, Mr. Mattock was first with a pretty lot, and Messrs. Townsend second ; whilst prizes in the same order as named went to these two exhibitors for the best display of garden Roses arranged in a given space. Miscellaneous. The chief group was that from Messrs. W. Paul and Son, Waltham Cross, who showed the best garden Roses of all sections in quantity, and arranged so that one could form a true idea of their merits and decorative value. Shallow baskets were filled with clusters of sucli kinds as Marie van Houtte, Mme. Hoste, Edith Giff'ord, Camoens, Mme. Lambard, LIdeal and Marquise de Salisbury, and these ha'I a telling efl'ect. Some of their new varieties, such as Sylphe, Clio, Co- rinna, and Duke of York, were also well shown. These, with many older and well-known kinds, made a striking display tistefuUy arranged and remarkably fresh even at the end of the hot day. Mr. W. Rumsey, of Wr.ltham Cross, showed Roses in variety, and Messrs. Jackman and Sons had a good exhibit of Hybrid Perpetuals and garden varieties, but there was nothing new in these groups, ao we need not enlarge upon them. Mr. C. Turner, of Slough, showed Crimson Rambler Rose in quantity. Messrs. J. Laing and Sons also showed Roses, but the feature of the show apart from the Roses, and one which attracted much notice, was their grand group of Begonias, arranged in a charming way with a light foil of Asparagus plumes and Fern to relieve the flowers. Some of their finest and newest varieties were prominent in the group. They also had a large group of Caladiums. Mr. Anthony Waterer showed his new Spiriea profuse in bloom and rich in colour. The group of Calochorti and Lilies from Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., Colchester, found many admirers. Messrs. J. Cheal and Son, Crawley, had a group of hardy flowers, and Mr. W. E. Tidy, Brockhampton Nurseries, Havant, showed a very large group of Sweet Peas, which comprised all the best varieties in rich and delicate colours, the flowers remarkably fresh and sweet. A full prize list will be found in our advertise- ment columns. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. July 9. Another good exhibition of varied produce was to be seen on Tuesday last ; not so extensive, it is true, as the recent displays, but suiiiciently so to make up a thoroughly representative exhibition. Roses were one of the features, and these were very fresh and bright in colour. Orchids were not so numerou.s, but several novelties and rarities, as well as good standard kinds, were to be seen. Outdoor fruits were thoroughly good, notably Cherries and bush fruits. Of indoor fruits the most numerous were Melon.', but the rich lus- cious flavour so desirable in this fruit was con- fined to quite a few kinds. Vegetables were shown in very fine condition, being all the more noteworthy by reason of the prolonged drought. Orchid Committee. No Hrst-class certificates were awarded at this meeting, but awards of merit were made to the following, viz, : — L^lioCattleva D. S. Brown (Cattleya Triana^ X Ljelia elegans), in which the growth and general contour of the plant were quite intermediate be- tween those of the two parents, the flowers being of large size, the sepals and petals of a deep rose colour (lushed with purple, the lip of a velvety dark purple shade with golden veins in the throat ; an excellent hybrid. From Messrs. Sander and Co.'s collection. OdoNTOIILOSSUM VEXILLARIUM C0N,STANrE Wl- GAN. — A lovely form of this species, the flowers of unusual size, having the lip of extra breadth, fully 4 inches, the colour being pure white, the sepals and petals retaining a slight rosy flush. From Sir F. Wigan's collection. Vanda tricohir var. tlanilaeris. — The flowers of this were particularly handsome both in form and marking, the sepals and petals being wider, thus giving a more massive appearance, the colour being a citron-yellow with rich brown spots, the lip rose-coloured with dark chocolate lines. From Mr. R. J. Measures' collection. Brassli verrucosa, which, although quite an old Orchid, does not appear to have been certifi- cated before. The plant in question bore fifteen good spikes of its pale greenish yellow flowers, making a good display, the individual blossoms being large and very fresh. From the collection of Mr. De B. Crawshay at Ro-efield, Sevenoaks. Botanical certificates on this occasion were dis- pensed with a liberal hand, no less than thirteen awards being made .as follows : Dendrobium bracteosum, a very singular species, flowering upon the old bulbs, not in any sense sliowy ; Ly- caste Dyeriana, with pale greenish yellow flowers (from Peru); Dendrobium speciosissimum, which bears some resemblance to the old 1). infundi- bulum, with less colour, but of similar character, being more erect in growth. These all came from Messrs. Sander and Co. Eria Clarki, a dull yellow species, with dense spikes of bloom from Messrs. Lewis and Co. Masdevallia coriacea, an- other of the singular and very interesting species, from Mr. R. J. Measures. Polycinis muscifera, a very elegant species, with small golden yellow spikes having bronzy spots ; Promcniua "stape- lioides, of very dwarf growth, the sepals and petals marked as in a Stapelia, the lip being intensely dark, almost black ; Oncidium cuouUa- tum Lawrenceanum, a small species, with dark purplish brown sepals and petals and a pale rosy purple lip ; all from Lord Rothschild's collection at "Tring Park. Oncidium cucuUatum Lawren- ceanum ; Luddemannia Pescatorei, with small deep golden yellow flowers borne on pendulous and dense spikes ; Masdevallia guttulata, bearing two quite small flowers to the one spike, these being light in colour, the growth also small and grass-like ; Trichooentrum hymenantha, another miniature plant with small whitish flowers, these all coming from Sir Trevor Lawrence's collection. Sarcanthus teretifolius, with long Rush-like leaves, like V. teres, but longer, and long spikf 8 of small dark-coloured flowers, from Mr. A. W. Witt, Maida Vale, W. Messrs. Sander and Co. had the most im- portant group in the hall, comprising many ex- cellent things, amongst which were Cattleya Gaskelliana var. Madouxiana, in which the lip partook of C. gigas, with deep golden yellow in the throat, margined with purplish crimson ; LsBlia amanda, with soft, pale rosy lilac-tinted sepals and petals, the lip of a deeper shade, a beautful variety ; Anguloa uniflora, with waxy white flowers, quite distinct and as large as A. Clowesi, which was also shown beside it ; Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum, a good example ; Cattleya Wallisi, with pale creamy white sepals and petals, the lip being dark maroon, with an orange-coloured blotch ; Labile Cattleya A mold i- ana, one of the most beautiful of the hybrids, with deep rose-coloured sepals and petals, the lip dark rosy purple and well ex panded ; La;lia elegans Sohrct'deriana, with the sepals and petals of a soft flush of palest rose, the lip being of an in- tensely deep crimson - purple, very distinct in this latter respect, and an extra fine variety. Dendrobium speciosissimum, after D. Jamesi- anum ; Catasetum Christyanum, with dark, almost black sepals and petals, an extra fine variety and in the best of condition ; Cattleya Rex, with rich ivory white sepals and petals, the lip being shaded with a deep gold tint and rosy lilac and crimson markings, a fine species and very distinct ; Catt- leya Gaskelliana virginalis, a \'ery distinct pale form with slight traces here and there in the lip of pale purple; Dendrobium Phahvnopsis Schra'deri- anum,good examples with fine spikes from the old bulbs ; Cattleya Brymeriana, a supposed natura I hybrid (C. Eldorado x C. superba), showing C superba quite distinctly, but quite distinct there- from, the lip having purplish crimson markings with golden yellow in the throat, were also sent. Odontoglossum Harryanum, very fine and rich in colour ; Odontoglossum vexillarium, in very fine forms, one called Empress Augusta Victoria being of a deep rose colour and of large size, another named Chelseiense, a much paler form, but with deep crimson lines and ground at the base of the lip ; another called conspicuum being also distinct ; Cj'pripedium nobilius, an excellent hybrid ; Cattleya Miss Measures (C. speciosissima x C. velutina), a pleasing hybrid showing the former parent in the lip, the sepals and petals being shaded in a peculiar way with rose and bronze, were also included. Award silver Banksian medal. Mr. George Marshall, Grimsby, had a smaller, but excellent group, consisting chiefly of Cattleyas, in which good forms of C. gigas were conspicuous, C. Mendeli being also included as well as C. Gaskelliana. The most noteworthy plant, how- ever, was a grand example of Epidendrum vitelli- num majus with several very stout spikes and large blooms. Award silver Banksian medal. Messrs. H. Low and Co. had an attractive and showy group, amongst which were two distinct forms of Oncidium Lanceanum, this charming species being still all too scarce. Odontoglossum Roezli and 0. Roezli album were again included here. Oncidium macranthum v\os specially good, being rich in colouring. Odontoglossum crispum ; Cattleya suijcrba, a good piece ; Oncidium Mar- shallianum, with several stout spikes freely branched ; Grammatophyllum Measuresianum, with one long spike ; L.vlia grandis tenebrosa and July 13, 1895. J THE GARDEN 31 Cattleya granulosa, both good, the latter specially 80 ; Cypripedium Curtisi, C. Alice (hyb.) showing C. Spicerianum, also C. Veitchi, and a good plant of Aerides Lobbi were also sent (award bronze Banksian). Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons showed another of their hybrid Dendrobes in D. porphy- rogastrum (D. Dalhousianum X D. Huttoni), with large flowers of the palest tint of porphyry, a most delicate shade, and a beautiful hyb. Cypri- pedium Dominianum albicans, a pale form of this older hyb. , very distinct and pleasing, with long tail-like petals. Mr. R. J. Measures had several cut Orchids, amongst which was Lrelio-Cattleya Schilleriana, flowers large, the sepals and petals being flushed with the softest tints, the lip quite in contrast, being of a dark velvety purple. Vanda Parish!, with its rich aromatic perfume pervading the atmosphere, was also to be seen here in good character. Pleurothallis longis- sima, with long slender spikes of the palest of green flowers, a fitting companion to Bendrochi- lum filiforme ; Odontoglossum Harryanum, well developed spikes ; Cattleya Gaskelliana and C. Gaskelliana albescens, the latter very distinct and beautiful ; C. Wallisi, a fine form of this beautiful Cattleya ; also C. Mendeli, in which the colour of the sepals had run into the lip in a singular fashion, were also sent. From Messrs. Lewis and Co. came Lajlia grandis tenebrosa, Cattleya Gas- kelliana and C. Harrisoni, all in good condition ; also Polystachys luteola and Bifrenaria vitellma, with deep golden yellow flowers ; Cynorchis grandiflora, a singular Orchid with greenish sepals and petals and a rosy lilac lip ; Oncidium Schhmi, a good spike ; Cypripedium niveum su- perbum, a larger form ; C. leucorrhodum, Den- drobium thyrsiflorum, Lajlia grandis tenebrosa var. Bella, with pale-coloured flowers ; also Cat- tleya citrina and Vanda Lewisi, a miniature spe- cies. From Sir Trevor Lawrence came Vanda Rceb- lingiana, with brownish spots on a green ground, the lip fringed, and of singular formation; Mas- devallia Rolfeana, of dwarf growth and with dark coloured flowers ; M. Peristeria, pale greenish yellow with darker spots ; Polystachys Lawrence- ana, tawny yellow sepals and petals, and pale blush lip ; Masdevallia Stella (hyb ), soft rosy pink, a lovely shade of colour ; Odontoglossum vexillarium superbum, with small flowers, deep rose colour with dark crimson blotch on lip, edged with white ; Dendrobium revolutum, with pure white sepals and petals, the lip being un- usually large, and of a pale greenish yellow ; Pleurothallis macroblepharis, extremely beautiful and interesting, the small dark flowers being borne on hair-like stems ; and Nanodes Medusse, an Orchid that is rarely shown, being both singu- lar and interesting. From Mr. Malcolm Cook, Kingston Hill, came a fine cut spike of Cattleya gigas with four flowers, and Mr. F. A. Brown, Lawn Bank, Ted- dington, sent Schomburgkia tibicinis, brighter in colour than usual, evidently a good form. Mr. J. Gurney Fowler sent LteUa grandis tenebrosa, a pale variety with light bronzy sepals and petals, the lip still retaining the deep purple colour. Mr. J. Foster Alcock, Northchurch, Herts, exhibited a specially fine Odontoglossum Harry- anum rich in colour ; this splendid Odontoglot has rarely been seen in a finer variety. From the same source came Odontoglossum crispum, well flowered and good spikes ; also Lailia grandis tenebrosa, a small plant of a distinct form. Floral Committee. First-class certificates were granted to the following : — Hemerocallis aubantiaoa. — A new variety of robust character and striking beauty, with large flowers of a rich apricot colour. A note describing it more fully, appears on another page. It was shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., of Col- chester. Arneeia cornuta.— This handsome Borage- wort is an annual of brilliant and showy colour, the flowers rich yellow, with five large spots of -velvet-brown on the corolla. The tlo%vers are borne profusely in a long succession. From Messrs' Bobbie and Co., Rothesay. Awards of merit were given to the follow- ing: - Begonia carminata. — This is a hybrid, the re- sult of crossing B. Dregei with B. coccinea, and handsomer than either of its parents. It has the long, deep green leaves of B. coccinea, but instead of being smooth-edged they are lobed, as in B. Dregei. The flowers are rosy-carmine, numer- ous, in drooping, branched racemes, and the plants free-flowering even in a young state. Shown by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons. Begonia Mr. F. Bostock. — A double- flowered variety, free and robust, the flowers double, but graceful in outline and of a bright scarlet colour. From Messrs. J. Laing and Sons. Calochortus luteus concolor. — This is a new and sturdy variety having stout stems, which grow about 1 foot high. The flowers are large, of a rich buttercup-yellow colour, with a few faint brown markings at their base. Shown by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., Colchester. Calochortus macrocabpus. — Though not new, this is not a common species. It has the largest flowers of any, and those shown were very fine, of a lilac purple colour, lighter at the base, which is clothed with long silky yellow hairs. This also came from Messrs. Wallace and Co. CARN.A.TI0N Mrs. W. Bright. — A fine flowered variety of a rich yellow colour. A stand of cut blooms and a strong plant in a pot were shown. Most of these yellow selfs disappoint when tried in the open ground. Shown by Miss McRonald, Northgate Nurseries, Chichester. GoDETiA Marchioness of Salisbury. — This has a bright effect in the mass as shown, as there is much less purple in the colour than in that of most Godetias. The flowers are rosy crimson mar- gined with white, flushed with pink, the habit vigorous and free. From Messrs. Daniels and Sons, Norwich. Rose Haileybury. —This is a Hybrid Perpetual variety, the flowers as shown only of medium size, but full and good in form and colour, which is light crimson. They are also sweetly scented. Shown by Messrs. (i. Paul and Son, Cheshunt. Streptocarpus Lain'g's multiflora. — A pretty form with a rather stupid name. It is an abun- dant flowering kind, the blooms large, rich blue, feathered with deep violet-purple in the throat. From Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, Forest Hill. There was a considerable falling ofl' in the number of miscellaneous groups, but that from Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., of Colchester, was a centre of attraction throughout the day and deservedly merited the silver Flora medal awarded. The new Day Lily in the centre of the group was conspicuous. Lilies, too, were plentiful, includ- ing L. auratum, L, longiflorum pr.-ecox, an early form, and L. canadense, in red and yellow varieties. The lovely L. Krameri was shown, also L. Parry i, which has rich yellow, sweet- scented flowers and is a most beautiful kind to grow in moist, peaty places. Two charming small Lilies were L. Coridion, with yellow flowers, spotted with brown, and L. concolor, a dwaif species, which holds its flowers erect. They are of a brilliant scarlet colour with dark spots. Among L. elegans varieties the extremes of colour were seen in the varieties Horsmani, with its dark, blackish crimson flowers, and Alice Wilson, which is rich lemon-yellow, with a darker band of colour down the centre. Calochorti were again largely shown. Brodia-as in variety were also shown, and some good forms of the Japanese Iris. Messrs. Barr received a silver Banksian medal for a good group of the best hardy flowers in season, the chief features being Sea Hollies in variety, Lathyrus latifolius in several forms, An- themis tinctoria Canary Bird, a rich yellow variety of this fine hardy Daisy, Lilium Browni, L. longiflorum, and L. testaceum. Platycodons were good, also Japanese Irises, Achillea filipen- dula. Pink Ernest Ladhams, Statices, and Sweet Peas. Mr. H. Eckford showed a great many varieties of Sweet Peas, a bunch of each kind in a separate I vase. There is certainly no finer annual flower, as it embraces such a wide range of colour. Among those shown we noted Mrs. Sankey and Blanche Burpee, white ; Peach Blossom, a lovely shade of pink ; Novelty, rich rose ; Duke of Clarence, deep maroon ; Stanley, of a similar hue ; Countess of Aberdeen, blush-pink ; Captain of the Blues ; Queen Victoria, cream, and Lady Hamilton, of a lovely lavender shade. A silver Banksian medal was awarded, and a similar award was made to Mr. Charles Turner, Slough, for Carnations, cut flowers staged with the con- ventional collar round their necks, and every flower dressed so that no individuality of form was apparent in any of them. Messrs. Sander, of St. Albans, showed a pink perpetual-flowering Carnation, and Mr. J. Douglas, of (ireat Book- ham, exhibited several very fine varieties, as Corinna, yellow ; Hayes Scarlet, a brilliant colour ; Grace Darling, spotted purple ; and Lady Ridley, white self. Mr. H. Becker, Jersey, showed a pink self Carnation somewhat resem- bling Countess of Paris, but distinct, and called Jersey Maid, and Messrs. Cutbush showed a rose and salmon variety named La Vilette. Mr. Anthony Waterer again showed his Spir:ca in good condition, and another new form of the same free flowering character named S. M.ar- garitaj, with rosy pink flowers. It is quite dis- tinct, and will make a charming companion to the crimson variety. Messrs. Sander and Co. showed Dipladenia atropurpurea in small plants freely flowered, alsoD. boliviensis, which is white, withayellow throat. Half-a-dozen vars. of Sonerila varied and pretty in their leaf markings, Erioc- nema Sanders in good leaf colour, and a fine pan of Dionasa muscipula came from the same firm. Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons showed six very fine spikes of the rich yellow Eremurus Bungei, which were much admired. Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, sent a good lot of Nemesia strumosa in wide range of colour, from pale yellow to rich crimson withnumerous intermediate and indescrib- able shades. Pancratium coUinum was shown by Messrs. Lewis, of Southgate, and an ugly double purple and white Petunia came from Mr. Beldam, The Lodge, Acton. A very fine seedling form of Chrysanthemum maximum was shown by Mr. Middlehurst, of Liverpool, and Messrs. Laing and Sons showed several good new Begonias. Mr. J. Forbes, of Hawick, sent a fine lot of Delphiniums which, however, did not bear their long journey very well, and a Godetia named E. F. ITairbairn was shown by Messrs. Fairbairn, of Carlisle. Messrs. Daniels, Norwich, showed a quantity of an Ivy-leaved Pelargonium named Queen of Roses, the trusses compact, the flowers large, very double and of a deep rose colour. A vote of thanks was given to Mr. G. F. Wilson for a fine flower of Cereus Alice Wilson, a lovely variety raised in America by Mr. C. M. Hovey. Mr. G. Paul showed several new Roses, one named Bacchus looking very promising as a garden variety. It is a Hybrid Perpetual, bearing rich velvety crimson flowers of medium size on long stems. Roses. Special prizes were offered for Roses and some very fair flowers were shown, but the competition was not so strong as in an average season. Mr. Frank Cant was quite to the fore in the open classes, securing first prize for twenty-four dis- tinct single trusses of Hybrid Perpetuals, and the same in another class for that number of Teas. For twelve of one variety of Tea Rose he was also first, Mr. B. R. Cant being second in all three classes. For twelve distinct varieties of H.P.'s, three blooms of each, Mr. B. R. Cant was first, and Mr. G. Mount, Canterbury, second, and the s.ime order obtained in the class for twelve single trusses of any variety of H.P. , Mr. B. R. Cant showing a grand dozen of Gustavo Piganeau, while Mr. Mount staged A. K. Williams. In the amateur classes for twenty-four distinct H.P.'s, single trusses, Mr. E. B. Lindsell, Hitchin, was an easy first with a grand stand of tine flowers, Mr. T. B. Haywood being second. For twelve 32 THE GAEDE¥ [July 13, 1895. distinct single trusses, Mr. J. Gurney Fowler, South Woodford, was first, and Mr. 0. G. Orpen, West Bergholt, second. In the correspondingr open class Mr. B. R. Cant was first, and Mr. Mount second. For six single trusses, amateurs, Mr. Langton, Hendon, was first, and Mr. K. H. Gifford, Streatham, second, whilst for six blooms of one variety, Mr. Haywood and the Rev. J. H. Peniberton were first and second respectively with A. K. Williams. Mr. Orpen had the best twenty- four Teas among amateurs, showing some fine flowers, and Mr. H. V. Machin was second. Mr. Langton showed the best six Teas, single trusses, Mr. C. J. Grahame, Croydon, being second, and for six of one variety Mr. Langton was first with Innocente Pirola, and Mr. Orpen second with Souvenir d'un Ami. We have not enumerated the best blooms in the larger stands, as they practically correspond with the selections made and to be found in our report of the Palace show. Fruit Committee. The exhibits at this meeting were numerous, very fine fruit and vegetables being staged, the Cherries from Gunnersbury House and the fruit in quantity from Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea, being most admired. Melons were again sent in great numbers, but only two found worthy of an award. Awards of merit were given to — Melon' Epicure, a round fruit, above medium tiz9, flesh deep green, finely flavoured, with bright skin, the latter much netted. From Mr. Mor- timer, Swiss Nursery, Farnham, Surrey. Melon ISIuoget, flesh bright scarlet, the fruit round, well netted and richly flavoured. This is so far the best Melon of the year. Also from Mr. Mortimer. Messrs. Veitch, Royal Exotic Nurseries, staged a very fine collection of Cherries, Gooseberries, Currants and Raspberries. The Cherries had been grown on pyramids at their Langley nursery, and comprised the best varieties, no less than thirty distinct kinds being staged. Bigarreau Napoleon and De Schreken were very fine. Among the black kinds the Tartarian was specially good, also Elton, Royal Duke, Empress Eugenie and Governor Wood. Mammoth, a large yellow mottled fruit, was very good ; also Reme Hor- tense (one of the Duke section!. Archduke, Royal Duke and May Duke. Very fine fruits of Rasp- berry Superlative and Yellow Antwerp were staged, both growing branches and gathered fruits. The Goosebeir^es were also staged in a growing state from cordons, and comprised the leading varieties, the best being Forester, Early Red Hairy, Bright Venus, Early Sulphur, Golden Drop, Hedgebury, Green Gascoigne and Overall. Among the Currants the" White Grape was very good (silver-gilt Knightian medal). Mr. J. Hudson, Gunnersbury House, Acton, staged three large boxes of Cherries, the varieties being Bigarreau Napoleon and Black Tartarian. The fruits were ecjual to the bsst fruits grown under glass. Growing branches were also staged to fhow cropping (juaities, the shoots be7ng heavily laden with fruit (silver Banksian medal)^ Mr. E. Beckett, Aldenham House Gardens, Herts, staged twenty-four dishes of vegetables in soma eighteen varieties, every dish being spe- cially good, well meriting the award given. Tomatoes Perfection, Chemin, and Polegate were very good, a« also Walcheren Cauliflower, Snow- b.ll Turnip, Prodigy and Duke of Albany Peus, Canadian Wonder Beans, and three varie- ties of Potatoes (silver-gilt Knightian medal). Mr. W. Empson, Ampthill House, Beds, staged a large collection of vegetables with nine dishes of fruit, but we do not think it adds to the value or appearance of the vegetables to stage fruit with them. Foster's Seedling and Black Ham- burgh Grapes were good, as also Brown Turkey Figs, Waterloo Strawberries, and Superlative Raspberry. Early York Cabbage, Stratagem Peas, .Snowball Turnip, and other vegetables were also well shown (silver Banksian medal). Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea, staged no le.=s than thirty-six varieties of Peas. This was an instruc- tive exhibit, and though the season has been most unfavourable for this crop very good ex- amples were staged. The most noticeable dishes were Stratagem, Invincible, Pride of the Market, Maincrop, Daisy, Masterpiece, Alderman, and Veitch's Perfection (silver Banksian medal). Mr. Eckford, Wem, Salop, sent seven new seedling Peas of great merit, but as the cropping qualities could not be tested they were referred to Chiswick for trial. Mr. Ward, Longford Castle Gardens, Salisbury, sent a new Pea of nice appearance. This, too, was requested to be sent for trial. A new field Pea named Parish Coun- cillor, large and good, was sent by Mr. A. Gray, Hertingfordbury Park, Herts. Messrs. P. Barr and Son, Covent Garden, had a collection of Peas and Lettuces, also nice examples of St. John's Day Cabbage. Mr. Gilbert sent a new Cauliflower named Burghley Pet, of compact habit and with pure white curd. A new seedling Cucumber came from Mr. Knellor, Malshanger Park, Basingstoke, a nice looking fruit. Mr. S. Groves sent nice looking fruits of Tomato Temple Favourite, with large smooth deep flesh of a dark colour. From the Society's gardens came a very interest- ing collection of Red and White Currants, also fruiting branches of the same. The most notable were Fertile de Palluau or Red Cherry, Houghton Castle, one of the best Red Currants grown ; the old Dutch Mallow-leaved or Raby Castle, a strong grower, fruit large, very acid ; the cut-leaved De Verrier and Wilmot's Red, the same as the Red Dutch. The best white kinds were Large White, Cut-leaved, Macrocarpa and White Dutch. Mr. H. Becker, Jersey, received a cultural commenda- tion for two varieties of Currants. Nice Pine- apples and Humboldt Nectarines came from Mr. Kemp, Stoke Park, Slough. Some very long fruit- ing branches of Raspberry Papworth Prolific came from Mr. Papworth, Caterham, but the fruits were small. A new Raspberry, much like a Blackberry, was sent by Mr. Farini, Dartmouth Lodge, Forest Hill. Seedling Strawberries, crosses between several new kinds, came from Mr. Carmichael, Pitt Street, Edinburgh. Those sent were not in condition to test quality. Peaches Royal George and Noblesse were sent from the Horti- cultural College, Swanley, also Melons Golden Queen, The Empress and Her Majesty. Mr. Smythe, Basing Park, Mr. Ashton, Glossop Ball, Derby, Mr. Richardson, Cheadle, Mr. Pettigrew, Cardiff Castle, Mr. Wythes, Syon House, Mr. Bishop, Wightwick Manor, and others sent seed- ling Melons, but none were deemed worthy of an award. The lecture was by Mr. Francis Darwin, and dealt with "The effect of darkness upon the growth of plants." He was favoured with a good audience and much interest was manifested. Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. — We learn that the Worshipful Company of Skinners have given a donation of £10 10s. in aid of the funds of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution. The weather in West Herts. — For the fourth time this year the highest temperature in shade has touched 80°, or exceeded it. The warmest days during the past week were the 7th and Sth, when the maximum readings were respectively 78° and 80°. The days lately have been hot, but the nights, on the other hand, cold for the time of year, which is usually the case in the type of weather recently prevailing. At I foot deep the temperature of the ground is at the present time fl° above the July average, and 5° warmer than at the same date last year. No rain, beyond that deposited by a passing shower, has fallen during the past nine days. The present drought may be said to have set in here on April 28, since which time (ten and a half weeks) the total measurement only amounts to little more than 1 inch, while no rain water at all has come through either percola- tion gauge for over six weeks. On the Sth inst. the air was again very dry indeed, the difference between the readings of a dry bulb thermometer and one with its bulb kept constantly wet amount- ing to 20° at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, — E. M., Berlchamsted. Public Gardens. Open spaces. — At the monthly meeting of the Metropolitan Public Gardens A.' socialion, 83, Lan- caster Gate, W. , the Earl of Mealh, chairman, presiding, it was reported that St. Stephen's ground. North Bow, and some small grounds in Canning Town were being laid out ; that the Friends' burial ground in Long Lane, S.E., would shortly be commenced ; that the purchase cf 10 acres in Hermit Road, E., for a recreation ground, towards which the association had sub- scribed, was almost completed ; and that ad- ditional seats had been accepted for Hackney Churchyard. It was agreed to give the sup- port of the association for the acquisition of Churchyard Bottom Wood, Highgate, and of a recreation ground for Barking Side, Ilford, E. Plans were considered for the laying out of St. James's Churchyard, Pentonville Road, and Christ Church Churchyard, Blackfriars Road, S.E., and progress was reported with regard to the efforts the association was making to accjuire sites for recreation grounds at Putney, Walworth, and Deptford, in each case involving the collection of considerable sums of money, towards which contributions were asked. Obituary. Death of Mr. John Wills.— Just as we are going to press we regret to hear of the death, at the age of G4, of Mr. John Wills, of Onslow Cres- cent, South Kensington. He had been in ailing health for a long time. Insects on Roses. — Will you kindly tell me if this is a destructive fly among Roses, as my employer thinks it is the same that is so destruc- tive to Roses in the south of Italy '! —P. Elder. *»* The insect you sent is one of the sawflies which attack the Rose, or rather it is their grubs which do so. The flies themselves are very harm- less, but they lay their eggs on the leaves, and the grubs which are hatched from them are very destructive to the foliage. Picking them off by hand is the best way of getting rid of them. They are not very easily detected among the foliage, but as soon as you have found one or two, you will not have much difficulty in seeing the others. — S. BOOKS RECEIVED. " Manual of Forestry." Vol. iii. Forest Maiinpr- ment. W. Schlich. Bradbury, Agnew and Co., Ld., liouverie Street, London, E.G. "In a Gloucestersliii-e Garden." By C;iiiou Kll:i- conibp. Edwin Anin'd, Bedford StrPot, W.C. "Agriculture, rracticaland SJeutitic." By J. Muir. Loudon : Macmillnn and Co. " Les PUiJites Alpines et de Eociiilles," avec figures dans le texte. Par H. Coirevon. Octave Doiii, Paris. Beetou's " Shilliug Gardening." New and revised ediiion. Ward, Lock and Bowdeu. "Fast Day and Vegetarian Cookery." By E. M. Cowan and S. Beaty-Pownall. Horace Cox, Lonc'cn. "Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information." Rojal Gardens, Kew. Names of plants. — W. H. C. — 1, Platycodon grandiflorura ; 2, Bocconia japonica; 3, Campanula latit'olia ; 4, (Enothera missourieusis ; 5, Lysimachia clethroides ; G, Achillea Eupatorium. E. F. Stcven- .snn. — Astragalus galegiformis. ^ Q. B. B. — 1, Ilemerncallis fulva ; 2, Spartium .iunceutn ; 3 and 4, next week. (I. A.— \, l?o.so Georges Bruant ; 2, PontstemoD Murrajanus. Constant Reader.— C&\y- canthus floridus. W. 3/.— Spirsea callosa. / THE GARDEN 33 Ho. 1235. SATURDAY, Ju^y 20,1895. Vol.XLVIII. " This Is an Art Which does mend Nature ; change It rather ; but The Aet itseu is Nature." — Shakesptare. Orchids. ORCHIDS FOR GROUPING. Although there are no plants so admirably adapted for grouping so as to get light and beautiful effects as Orchids, possibly there are none so frequently spoilt by flat uninteresting arrangement — a bank of flowering Orchids interspersed with Ferns and other fine-foliaged plants, kept high at the back, sloping regularly down to the front, and edged with creeping plants. How frequently this is repeated at our large exhibitions. There is a gorgeous wealth of blossom and enough material often to cover double the amount of space, but artistic or pleasing efl'ects are wanting. With regard to trade groups there is the excuse to be urged that the space allotted is limited, and nursery- men wish to show as much as possible in order to give the public a sight of as many as possible of their treasures and connoisseurs an oppor- tunity of comparing varieties. But with private growers, either at exhibitions or at home, there is not this inducement to crowding, and yet it occurs none the less. Respecting the arrange- ment of Orchids at home, there are very many places where a suitable structure for the purpose does not exist. Flowering houses (as usually understood) are built much on the same prin- ciple as those for growing, the only dift'erence being a smaller amount of piping and a little diflFerent arrangement of the stages. An ideal house for the purpose is one without any staging whatever, but plenty of floor space, whereon the floral arrangements can be varied at will. The walls would have to be clothed with greenery of some kind, some of the hardier Adian turns and other Ferns that will thrive and look green in a moderately dry atmosphere being most suitable. A few larger-growing and gi'ace- ful-habited kinds, such as Woodwardia radicans or Microlepia hirta cristata, should be planted to prevent a flat or formal appearance. The tem- perature must, of course, be kept mild and genial, and pipes would, if left bare, be unsightly. These should either run underneath the floor level or, if kept inside the house, be covered in some way. Rockwork is the means that at once suggests itself, and this, if prettily conceived and carried out, is excellent, and quite in keep- ing with a natural and pleasing mode of arrange- ment. An informal surface will be the first consideration, and in the construction plenty of outlets for the heat must be provided, these being kept out of sight by judicious planting. Niches must also be left for placing Orchids in when in flower. A somewhat subdued light is always to be preferred, as Orchid flowers of all kinds are better viewed in such than in a very light house, the lovely blendings and combina- tions of colouring being greatly enhanced. I know of nothing more charming or natural look- ing than the scandent scapes of such as Oncidium macranthum aljout the stems and under the leaves of Tree Ferns or Palms, and if a few healthy specimens of the latter are obtainable, the task of the decorator is considerably lessened. But these must not be placed at the back with plants hiding the stems, or the grace- ful curves of the foliage cannot be seen. Coming to the Iront of an imaginary group, in conspicuous places mounds of varying height and outline may be formed, the material, of course, differing according to the season and individual circumstances. Masdevallias of the brightly coloured species may peep out from amongst the fronds of Maiden-hair or dwarf Asparagus, these giving place higher up to the arching spikes of Odontoglossum crispum or O. Pesoatorei very thinly disposed, the whole sur- mounted by a nicely furnished Cocos Weddell- iana or similarly habited Palm. This would have a charming appearance, while further back upon a base of some trailing or low-growing plant the more erect varieties, such as Oncidium Marshallianum, crispum, and others, or Calanthe Veitchi or 0. vestita might be arranged with telling effect. Brightly-coloured fine-foliaged plants, as Crotons or Coleuses, are, I think, totally out of place when grouped with Orchids, these garish effects being distinctly inferior to the restful and impressive combination formed by the simple greens of the Ferns in conjunction with the subdued tints of Orchids. The ever- green Dendrobes have a wonderfully fine appear- ance when tastefully arranged with Cattleyas and Lselias, or with the more simple flowering Miltonia vexillaria. Thus dozens of pretty combinations may be mentioned, but these will suggest themselves as the work proceeds, and must necessarily vary according to circumstances. The principal points to be aimed at are an un- dulating surface and a light graceful effect, nothing being crowded, and yet while not exactly balanced, yet seemingly wanting nothing to complete it. No other flowering plants should be introduced if it can possibly be avoided. Orchids havirg an appearance entirely their own and possessing certain qualities wherein no others can vie with them. If a dis- play has to be kept up and Orchid flowers are scarce, the best plants to use are those with simple, though brightly-coloured flowers, such, for instance, as Poinsettias, during the winter months, or Anthuriums while these are in flower. These heighten the effect of the Or- chids and do not suffer by contrast. Such plants as Lilium auratum and other richly marked species must be avoided. H. R. Cattleya superba. — "R.," writing on Cat- tleya superba, says: "Personally I prefer pots or baskets for this species." I have in a previous number of The Garden stated my experience with this fine Cattleya. I quite agree with " R." that small plants are not worth the trouble of growing. My first experience with it was about twenty-five years ago, when I was feeling my way in Orchid culture, and I knew nothing at all about the requirements of C. superba. I bought six fine large plants, and was recommended by the late Mr. Dorainy to grow them in pots like other Cattleyas. This I did, and can truly say they had my best personal attention, but I could plainly see that they were not happy, and one after an- other died off until two only were left. I there- fore cut two lengths of Tree Fern, each about a foot in length, and turned the two plants out of the peat and Sphagnum and placed them on the Fern stumps. They improved henceforth and flowered admirably every year. Mr. Pilcher flowered this species beautifully when gardener to the late Mr. Rucker at Wandsworth. It requires plenty of heat and moisture when growing and to be kept clear of thrips, which is its worst enemy. — J. Douglas. Vanda teres. — This is now beautifully in flower with me and grows like Willows, making growths a foot to 18 inches in length in about twelve months. It will stand as much heat, light and moisture when growing as any Orchid known to me and continues to do so. I grow the plants on a long upright raft of teak rods. The base of the raft is plunged in clean crocks and surfaced to the depth of 2 inches to 3 inches with chopped Sphagnum Moss in a fresh state. The base of the rod-like stems is inserted in the Moss and the plants soon attach themselves to the rods by their roots. It is quite an aerial rooting species, as in some instances the roots in the Moss are quite dead, whilst those twisted in and out amongst the teak rods are fresh and vigorous. Now is the season of growth, or at least as soon as the flower- ing period is over. Keep the plants in free rapid growth close up to the glass, shutting up the house early in the afternoon to raise the tempera- ture to 90° or 100°. When the growth is com- pleted gradually reduce the temperature and winter the plants in the Cattleya house, keeping them quite dry at the roots. — J. D. PERISTERIAS. Not many species of this genus are really popular plants, but one — P. elata^deserves a place in every collection. They are all cha- racterised by the large egg-shaped pseudo- bulbs and handsome leaves, which on healthy plants of the above species are frequently 2 feet G inches or upwards in length. Being ex- tremely free growing and of a terrestrial habit they require a strong substantial compost, one in which loam predominates. Three parts of this to one of peat fibre or good leaf-mould will make a capital basis, and to this must be added a good sprinkling of crocks and chopped Sphag- num. In potting, the base of the leading pseudo-bulbs must not be buried, but just rest on the compost, which must be kept below the rim of the pot. Good drainage is essential, and this must be carefully protected by a layer of rough Moss until the roots have taken a good hold of the compost. After pot- ting, which should take place just before growth commences in spring, the plants must be placed in a brisk heat and carefully watered till the roots are well on the move. A thin layer of Sphagnum over the surface does away with frequent watering and hastens the forma- tion of roots somewhat. When in full growth Peristerias will require ample supplies of water, varying this with occasional doses of weak liquid manure as the pseudo-bulbs approach completion. This treatment will cause a vigor- ous and healthy growth, without which it is useless to expect them to flower freely. After the pseudo-bulbs are well finished the water supply must be gradually diminished until in winter only enough to keep the compost just moist will be required. The chief insect enemy to be combated is brown scale, but with ordi- nary care and a timely application of the usual remedies this is not much to be feared. A black spot or rot sometimes attacks the base of the pseudo-bulbs, but this is usually caused by too much water combined with too little heat during the resting season. The plants should not be taken from the Cattleya house all through the year unless when in flower. P. CERINA is a remarkably handsome species bearing about midsummer short pendulous flower- scapes, the blossoms being clear yellow in the type, the var. guttata being dotted with purple. These are strongly scented and last long in good condition. The growth of this plant is stronger from pots than baskets, but in the latter the blossoms of course show to greater advantage. P. cerina was introduced from Mexico in 1835. P. ELATA. — The well-known Dove Orchid is a free-growing, stately habited plant introduced from Panama in 1826. The flower-spikes spring from the base of the pseudo-bulbs and rise to a height of 3 feet or more, producing the blossoms most freely and continuously for five or six weeks. Each blossom bears a strong resemblance to a dove as it appears when about to alight with wings partly erect. The sepals and petals are simple in form, concave and pure white. It flowers from the be- ginning of July until September. 34 THE GARDEN [Jolt 20, 1895. P. PEKDCLA is a dibtinct and handsome species from Demeraia. The pendulous flower-scapes bear upwards of a dozen flowers, which are poner- fully fragrant, yellow, suff^used with rose and dotted with purple. This may also be grown in baskets, and though a shy flowering kind should be more grown. A variety of this plant, P. p. Rossiana, first flowered by an Italian Orchid grower, to whom it is dedicated, is a rare plant, differing in colour from the type which has been in culti- vation since 1855. SEASONABLE NOTES ON ORCHIDS. The weather is still of a tropical character, and the amount of damping and watering required is extraordinary. Indeed, it seems that the present season is likely to rival 1893, at least in this neighbourhood (Suffolk). C'attleyas of all kinds are showing, by their healthy-looking growths, how much they enjoy the bright sun- light. What a splendid grower C. labiata autumnalis is. I had quite given up hopes of seeing flower-sheaths on some newly-imported plants that were badly infested by Cattleya grub in the spring. Now, however, they are showing at nearly every growth. One can hardly help contrasting this with C. gigas, of which several grand growths that have been made without any check whatever are quite flowerless, even in this season. It is high time to warn growers to be on the watch with this latter species, and by any means in their j ower to keep it dormant after the flowers are past or the growths completed. C. Lawrenceana posi- tively revels in the brisk heat and is making a splendid growth. Some fine growths of C. guttata Leopoldi I saw recently had gone off in a peculiar manner. The sheath first started to damp about half-way up the forming bulb, and from this the decay spread to the under- lying tissues, the bulbs being at last so weakened that they snapped off. Nothing was amiss with it either above or below, and the plants were otherwise thoroughly healthy. They had not been syringed overhead, nor was the atmosphere kept unduly moist. The good old Oncidium incurvum is making a brave show as usual, the growths also being nearly com- plete. The removal of the plants to a drier atmosphere conserves the blossom, and also consolidates the new bulbs. Stanhopeas re- quire great care in order to keep down red spider, the plants delighting in copious supplies of water now both overhead and at the root. S. ebumea favours us with a few flowers occa- sionally, and one plant has been almost con- stantly in bloom for over two months, the flowers, though very fleeting, being freely pro- duced. Many of the species do not usually flower much the first season after being dis- turbed at the root for re-basketing, but this kind seems exceptionally free. Thunia Mnr- shalliana is flowering rather irregularly this season, those plants with five or six shoots to each pot c jming one at a time, thus showing the advisability of keeping to a smaller number. The plants when in flower may easily be grouped, and thus a better display made than under the former treatment. Thesa are usually placed in a sunny frame after flowering, where later on the Dendrobiums will keep them com- pany. The favourite D. PhaUenopsis seems equally at home either in pans suspended near the roof, in baskets or in pots on the stages, the chief requirement apparently being a very high, moist temperature, with not tcjo much rooting space. The useful D. Dearei is also quite happy under similar conditions, and the pretty white flowers, with the faint tinge of green on the lip, are just now very attractive. In the cool house Disa grandiflora is pushing up its flower-spikes and will soon be in full beauty, This plant requires an enormous amount oi water when growing freely if the specimens are healthy. As long as this is the case insects do not usually trouble it, but once they begin to go back, either green fly or thrips or both pounce down on the plant and put an end to all hopes of flowering. Although the water supply must be lessened after flowering, at no time must this Orchid be really dry at the root, for though no top growth is apparent, an important work is going on below in the swelling up of the im- mature crowns and the production of offsets. These offsets, by the way, are often freely pro- duced through the side of the perforated pots, and are a recommendation to this kind being used. The great heat has rendered it very diflioult to keep Odontoglossums and Masde- vallias in pits or frames cool enough, ventilation only making matters worse by causing a dry atmosphere. The nights are cool and refreshing, however, and the lights bemg left entirely ott', the plants get the full benefit of what little dew there is. A shower of rain during the day is a great help, and they must be exposed to get the fuUest advantage. Mats should be laid on the glass of the cool house in addition to the blinds and kept moist by syringing several times during the day. Where much syringing overhead is practised those plants that are finishing their growth must be kept apart or there is a danger of their starting again into growth to the detri- ment of the flower-spikes, these never being so strong when the new growths are pushing at the same time. Great care is necessary with Odontoglots in flower at this season, the dry atmosphere of the flowering house being posi- tively killing to them, in addition to the strain on the plants that flowering entails. If once the pseudo-bulbs begin to shrivel it takes months to restore them to a plump condition, and the subsequent growths are always weaker in consequence. It is yet too soon to diminish the shading on any of the houses, any plants that require more sunlight being preferably shifted to where this is obtainable without en- dangering the others. Continue to keep the growth clean and allow no check of any kind. Should damp weather set in a little fire heat would again b3 necessary, es it is important that a Lttle ventilation should be kept in even the warmest houses by night as well as day. found on calcareous rocks. This, of course, gives one some idea of the treatment they ought to of receive. They have been grown well in loam from the limestone formation, with plenty of small pieces of limestone mixed with it, the plants given plenty of heat and a moist atmosphere. The other day I saw it growing well in the Royal Exotic Nursery at Chelsea in nothing but nodules of tufa, which consists mostly of carbonate of lime. It was interesting to see the i-oots run- ning healthily over the tufa, the plants developing healthy green leaves. — J. Douglas. Flower Garden. Epidendrum coclileatum. — I have called in at the Chelsea nurseries of Messrs. James Veitch and Sons at various seasons of the year and cannot recDliecb not finding this rather pretty species of Epidendrum in flower. It is said to be the first of the genus that flowered in this country and is mentioned in one of the editions of Miller's " Gardeners Dictionary." The yellowish green sepals and petals contrast curiously with the lip, internally streaked with maroon, the outer sur- face being coloured rich maroon. Except in colour, it does not difl'er from Epidendrum frag- rans, figured in Botanical Maijazine (tab. 152 and tab.'l669).— J. D. Cypripediuta coi; color. —This species was sent from Moulmein by the Rev. C. Parish some thirty years ago, and flowered in the year 1865 with Mr. Rucker and Mr. Day. Sir Joseph 1). Hooker writing about it says "lb seems to grow and flower as freely, and to be managed with as little difficulty as the other Indian Cy- pripedia." Doubtless this was written after a year or two years' experience only, for it was soon found that this and allied species were much more difficult to cultivate than C. villosum. For instance, Mr. Parish was careful to state that he found C. concolor growing on limestone rocks. In 1870 C. niveura was imported, followed by C. (lodefroy* and C. bellatulum. They are mostly THE ROCK GARDEN. XI. June 22. — Rock gardens everywhere have donned their best and brightest summer garb. The prevailing flowers of the week are still the many varieties of Dianthus and Campanula, but as 1 have already mentioned these in my notes of last week, I will pass them by and enumerate others that have come into bloom during the last fortnight or so, and might be associated in such a way that their colours would blend har- moniously. Bright Carpets of Flowers. Under this heading I will devote a few lines to such dwarf rock plants as are now in bloom, and are either of a prostrate habit or are adapted for massing together in such a way as to form a carpet over soil and stones on which here and there medium-sized and taller plants might be shown oft" to better advantage. The various forms of Thyme now in full blossom are useful. A very effective combination is formed by inter- mingled groups of the white Thymus Serpyllum albusand the so-caUedred Thyme (Thymus Ser- pyllum coccineus) contrasted against bright yellow flowers such as, for instance, Genista humifusa or Coronilla iberioa, whose prostrate shoots would cover the stones as quickly as the Thyme. The woolly Thymus lanuginosus has not an attractive flower, but since its peculiar fluffy appearance is its greatest charm, this is of little consequence. It suffered severely during last winter, and in many places o-ot killed altogether with the frost. Au- brietias have mostly passed out of bloom, but the finest of them all — namely, the purplish crimson A. Leichtlini — is still at its brightest, and associates well with the yellow Cheiranthus alpinus and the white Gypsophila repens or the prostrate double form of Silene maritima. A very beautiful rock plant of de- cumbent habit is the white Antirrhinum glu- tiaosum, which should be allowed to droop grace fully over the stones and be associated with plant i like the crimson Epilobium obcordatum, the u;a- trentaCallirhoeinvolucrata, or thepink Geranium cinereum, allof which are now bloomingprofusely. Alyssum spinosum with white flov/ers is of not so spreading a habit as some of its congeners, and looks exceedingly well associated with blue Campanulas or the pink Acautholimon gluma- ceum. Anthemis Griesebachi, another white flower, much resembles A. Aizoon, but Hi leaves are a little broader ; it associates well with Gentiana cruciata, now in full bloom, and also with the very dwarf yellow CEnothera pumila. Very neat plants are the pink Sa- ponaria ctespitosa and the yellow S. lutea, while for a quick growii g carpeting plant few can surpass Silene alpestris, with its bright wrecn dense cushion of leaves and pure white flowers. The pretty alpine Toadflax with dark purple flowers and orange throat is flowering July 20, 1895.1 THE GARDEN. 35 profusely this year, and on a sunny bank goes well with the numerous Sedums and Semper- vivums now in bloom. Its flowers, as well as its small glaucous leaves, form a most striking con- trast to the dark brown rosettes of Semper- vivum trisle or the brown foliage and yellow flowers of Sedum rupestre. Of other Sedums and Sempervivums now in bloom I jijigl.t men- tion Sedum kamtschaticum, with alternate green leaves and umbellate cymes of deep j'ellow flowers ; Sedum spathulifolium, with glaucous rosettes and bright yellow flowers, and the well-known Sempervivum Gaudini, S. arvenense, and S. Laggeri. Before closing my remarks on dwarf plants I must not omit the numerous varieties of Ice- land and alpine Poppies in their glorious shades of scarlet, orange, yellow, pink and white which are just now at their best. These Poppies associate splendidly with Campanulas, and a group of rocks reserved exclusively for Cam- panulas and Poppies at Newton Abbot has been a most ornamental feature for several weeks past, and will probably continue to be attractive for several weeks more. I have suggested only a few of such combina- tions of plants as would be efiective by way of contrast, but it will be obvious that the scope for artistic grouping must be practically un- limited. Medii'm .sized Plants now in Bloom. Without medium-sized, and even now and then tall, plants introduced in suitable positions, rock gardens would lose much of that peculiar wild charm which should be one of their most essential features. I will here mention such of the medium-sized plants as have been in bloom for the last fortnight or so : Heuchera san- guinea (red), Chrysobactron Hookeri (yellow), Anthericum Liliago (white), A. liliastrum (white), Oxytropis strobilacea (lilac), (Enothera margi- nata (white), Linum flavum (yellow), L. uar- bonense (blue), Armeria cephalotes alba, Aqui- legia pyrenaica (blue), Scutellaria alpina (violet with white under lip), Erigerou philadelphicus (mauve), Erodium macradenium (pale mauve with purpli.sh black veins and spots), Chrysan- themum Zawadskyi (pale pink, yellow centre), Soabiosa Webbiana (creamy white), Funkia japonicaaurea, P. j. luteo-marginata, Polygonum Brunonis (pink), Veronica Candida (blue). Pru- nella grandiflora (red), P. g. allja (white), Dian- thus barbatus magnificus (carmine) and Cyno- glossum apenninum, with brilliunt blue flowers. Last, but not least, I would mention that splendid Hawkweed, Hieracium villosum, with its large yellow flowers and shaggy leaves, Dw.iKF Rock Shrubs in Bloom. Veronica Colensoi has escaped the severe winter and is now a mass of white blossoms. Helianthemums also are still in full bloom, most conspicuous being the scarlet H. venus- tum, the crimson Rosy Gem, and the bright yellow H. lunulatum. A very dwarf and com- pact shrub in full bloom at the time of writing is Spirasa bullata (crispifolia), and the bright crimson Alpine Roses, Rhododendron ferrugi- neum and R. hirsutum, though past their best, are nevertheless still attractive. Raphiolepis ovata has not suffered here from the frost, and its white blossoms are now as beautiful as ever. The tiny Fuchsia pumila and the elegant Hedysarummultijugum must also be mentioned as efl'ective shrubs. Tall Plants in Bloom. Mauy of the taller kinds of hardy perennials form most efl'ective backgrounds in the rock garden or as isolated specimens,, and of these I will mention the most suitable, according to their colour. White — Anemone pennsylvanica, Lupiniis polyphyllus albus. Campanula persicifolia alba grandiflora. Chrysanthemum maximum, C. semi-duplex, Epilobium angustifolium album. Anemone rivularis, Achillea The Pearl, Cam- panula macrantha alba, Bocconia c rdata. Cle- matis erecta alba, and (Enothera speciosa. Blue. — Delphiniums in great variety, Baptisia australis, Scabiosa caucasica connata, Platycodon grandiflorum, Echinops ruthenicus. Campanula Louis van Houtte and other Campanulas men- tioned last week. Pentstemon ovatus, P. heterophyllus, Polemonium in variety. Yellow. — Centaureamacrocephala, Centaurea ruthenica, Genista tinctoria, Solidago virgaurea, Achillea Eegyptiaca, A. Eupatorium, Scabiosa ochroleuca, Buphthalmum salicifoliuni. Inula glandulosa, Inula Hookeri, Gaillardia, Helenium pumilum, Lupinus arboreus, Senecio doroni- cum. Red. — Pyrethrums of sorts. Lychnis chalce- donica, Geum coccineum, several Potentillas, Achillea Millefolium rosea, Papaver oiientale in varieties. Purple. — Erigeron speciosus. Geranium pra- tense. Geranium balkanum and Geranium armenum. The latter is of very compact growth and has large flowers of the brightest purple. F. W. Meyer. Exeter. (To be contirmed. ) FLOWER GARDEN NOTES. Following up the notes lately made in connec- tion with herbaceous and summer bedding plants as to those best suited for flourishing in such a prolonged drought as we have experienced in 1895, I may mention a few annuals that have come satisfactorily through the ordeal without any artificial watering. Cosmos bipinnatus in variety is a capital dry-weather annual. It is remarkable that the foliage should retain its healthy green, and that flowers of really good size and substance should be produced so freely from parched soil. Plants are nothing like so vigorous as in 1894, possibly no more than three-fourths the height, but the healthy appearance and free-flowedng properties are well maintained. Exactly the same remarks apply to the varieties of Malope grandiflora, plants of which are at the present time flowtring very freely. Individual flowers possess the mei it of retaining their freshness out of water a considerable time ; indeed, the bloom will shew no signs of dropping even if the stalk is comparatively dry and withered. Both the above annuals are capital subjects for cutting, and it is, therefore, gratifying to chronicle their success in a season like the present. Gaillardias sown at the end of March, pricked out the end of April, and transferred to summer quarters as strong established plants, are also looking well and flowering freely. One has only to look at the profusion of Poppies in the corn fields to realise what capital dry-weather plants they are. Pos- sibly no single flower has come more rapidly to the front for cutting than the various forms of Poppies, and a dinner table well done with judi- ciously selected colours thinly arranged among spreading panicles of Gypsophila paniculata is hard to beat. I said in last week's notes that herbaceous plants on dry borders were feeling the efi'ects of the prolonged drought, and am sorry to say in such positions the Spineas have completely collapsed ; good spikes of flower will be verj' scarce. Passing by some large clumps of Hemero- oallis that have been naturalised in a fairly moist spot in the pleasure grounds, I had the curiositj' to pick a single flower to compare it for size and substance with the blooms on herbaceous border? running through the kitchen garden, muiI found it quite one tliird larger in sizs, the individual petals altogether firmer and thicker. The obser- vation thus made applies to all families liable to be affected by want of water, such as Lychnis, Phloxes, Pyrethrums, as well as the various forms of Lilies, besides the Day Lily above named. Tufted Pansies. — Anxious to secure at any rate a small percentage of cuttings, I have this week gone carefully over the beds of tufted Pansies, removed everything in the way of seed- pods and dying blooms, pricked the surface very slightly with a small fork, and gave a thorough soaking of water. If this is not conducive to the production of cuttings that will be large enough to enable early insertion, it will at least encourage growth to warrant a more extensive splitting up in the later propagation by division. This latter style of propagation will have to be more generally adopted than is usually the case, at any rate on all light dry soils. Here for instance I strike all the stock for the coming year as a rule from cut- tings, but a close inspection of many varieties at the present time fails to furnish anything like the amount required. It is useless inserting cuttings late in the season ; there is not the time for the making of good plants, and they dwiiidle away on the approach of severe weather. Given well- rooted plants, the proportion of loss is, on the other hand, phenomenally small whether they remain through the winter in the cutting frame or are transferred to permanent quarters some time in October. Personally I should always advocate autumn planting alike for tufted Pansies and summer-struck Carnations, Pinks, &c. Writ- ing of Carnations reminds me that the grass has come on wonderfully in the last fortnight, and preparations for layering must be pushed forward, as the chances are that the flowering season will be comparatively short. Our losses on the Carnation beds were much heavier than usual, about one in twelve failing, but those that remained have done remarkably well, being large plants and throw- ing a fine lot of flower. Countess of Paris, Mrs. Reynolds Hole, Goldfinder, Sir Beauohamp Sey- mour ar.d Murillo are at their best ; other sorts grown, as Ketton Rose, Raby, and a pink deeply serrated Clove, are yet to come out. The different forms of Clove suffered more than the others, pos- sibly owing to the more succulent grass. PoLYANTHA RosES.— Some three years ago a bolder in the flower garden running under a north wall that had been cleared of a lot of old shrubs was planted with Polyantha Roses in variety, and in a season like the present we have no more beautiful or useful bed. It is not that they are so much more free ; all the families have flowered well , but the position is answerable for a long retention of individual trusses and flowers, a rather unique experience for 1895. E. Bukrell. Claremont. Chrysanthemum lacustre.— I have now in full bloom at my seed grounds at Bedfont a broad line of this plant 20 feet or so in length. A more showy white-flowering hardy plant for border decoration at this season of the year, or for cutting from, I do not know. It was sent to me a few years ao-o by an old Lancashire botanist, Mr. James Percival, Smithy Bridge, Rochdale, as the true Chrysanthemum lacustre, it being his way of protesting against a statement which appeared in one of the gardening papers thatC. lacustre is but a synonym of C. latifolium or maximum. Really it is more closely allied to C. leucanthemum, of which I regard it as a glorified form growing about the same height, and, like it, very free of bloom. In habit of growth it represents C. leucan- themum , but is more robust. I notice that on page 455, Mr. E. Burrell writes of C. maximum as an "autumn flowering perennial Marguerite." I have plantsofit in sever.al positions, and where they are most favourably placed they are only just com- mencingtothrowup their flowering stems. C. la- custre is now in full bloom and appears likely to be at the end of it almost before C. latifolium is com- ing into flower. I notice that Mr. Burrell states C maximum, which I take to be the same as C. latifolium, ret|uirts annual removal on alight dry soil. 1 have C. lacustre on both light and heavy around, and itdoes admirably in each, growing into 36 THE GARDEN [July 20, 1895. larger plants and not in any way needing annual removal. On referring to Messrs. Barr and Son's recently issued list of herbaceous perennials, I find they make lacustre a synonym of C. latifolium and as flowering in September and October. In Nicholson's "Dictionary of Gardening," neither lacustre, latifolium nor maximum find a place as species ; so it would seem as if a great deal of confusion exists among the different forms. Messrs. Barr and Son give leucanthemum, grandifiorum and several varieties of maximum, the time of blooming of the last being from June to August. — R. D, ONOSMA TAURICA. (golden drop.) This is one of those choice subjects which in the majority of gardens does not attain to a very great age. ]n the ordinary course, plants of a few years old die off quite suddenly and without apparent cause, but upon examination the collar is generally found in a state of decay. One of the best positions in which it can be planted is on a slightly raised rockery with a deep root-run of soil without manure. If pos- sible plant it on its side, the under-side resting on a piece of rock, so that the growth may emerge therefrom, and cover the upper surface also with a piece of stone. The plants are in- variably longer-lived when planted between two pieces of rock. It is a good plan to root a batch of cuttings each year and, instead of potting them, insert them in small fissures of the rock where there is soil sufficient for them. Such plants make more rapid headway in the open border during the first season, but with the greater vigour of growth are more liable to succumb to our average winters. The only way I know of increasing this plant is by cuttings, as the plant cannot be divided and seeds are not obtainable. Cuttings may be inserted at any time during July, which month I regard as the best in the whole year. To secure the cuttings intact it wiU be necessary to strip them carefully from the old plant with a heel attached, and insert them firmly in very sandy loamy soil in well-drained pots. Some little care will be necessary to make the cuttings stand erect, owing to the short nature of the growths ; indeed, I have upon more than one occasion found it necessary to tie some of the shortest cuttings to small pegs of wood to fix them in position. It is also important that the heart of the cutting is not covered with soil, but this is easily avoided by using the wooden pegs above noted. I never make use of the knife in preparing these cuttings, but insert them just as they are removed from the old plant. While in the cutting state nothing seems to suit so well as a hand-light in a cool shady position. Artificial heat should never be employed ; it is fatal. If fresh young growths about 4 inches long are secured at once and inserted quite firmly around the inside of some 5-inch pots, there should be little trouble in obtaining a good batch of young plants. I prefer the earliest made growths of the current season, or where the plants have flowered there will be some cuttings about the base of the flower-stem that will prove excellent. While yet in the cutting state, any after-watering that may be needed should be carefully done. By watering tho- roughly over-night and allowing the light to remain off till the following morning no damp- ing will be likely to ensue. When it is in- tended to pot the rooted cuttings this should be done as soon as possible, avoiding a rich soil. A sandy loam with broken brick rubbish added, tog. ther with a small proportion of peat in small nuggets, suits the plant well. If at hand, charcoal nuts with loam and leaf soil form a good mixture, this with firm planting invariably securing good results. Pot plants should never be wintered in a low, close, stuffy frame or pit, but by keeping dry at the root, near the glass, and clear of frost the plants wUl be much safer. Large specimens of this Borage- wort in the open border are rare, but upwards of twenty years ago I saw a large plant in the long herbaceous border at Hale Farm Nur- series, Tottenham. This was fully 18 inches across, and a dense tuft of growth. E. J. HYACINTH NAMES. Why do so many distinct varieties bear the same names ? These synonyms are not only ridiculous, but increase errors, and puzzle and disappoint buyers. Really these duplicate names ought to be changed. 'The following list includes the lead- ing duplicate names ; No. 1 is that by which the variety is most generally known, the others ought to be suppressed : — Charles Dickens, single dark blue. Charles Dickens, single rose-pink. Charles Dickens, single pale striped lilac. Gcethe, double light yellow. Gcethe, double rose. Grand Vainqueur, single white. Grand Vainqueur, double white. Grande Vedette, single white. Grande Vedette, double blue. Grand Monarque, double white. Grand Monarque, single rosy white. Heroine, single yellow. Heroine, double white. Jenny Lind, double white. Jenny Lind, single white. Lady Derby, single white. Lady Derby, single light blue. L'ami du Cteur, single red. L'ami du Cceur, single blue. L'ami du Cojur, single violet. Lord Wellington, double blue. Lord Wellington, double rose. Shakespeare, double red. Shakespeare, double blue. D. GuiHENEUr. I 1. ; 2. (3. \i- }2. 1. 2. 1. 2. 1. 2. 1. \l \ L (2. 1. 2^ 3. ) 1. |i: EVERGREEN BORDERS OF HARDY FLOWERS. The plants of the older kind of mixed border were— like the Grasses of the meadows of the northern world— stricken to the earth by winter, and the border was not nearly so pretty then as the withered Grass of the plain or copse. But since the revival of interest in hardy and aljiine flowers and the many introductions of recent years, we have a great number of beautiful plants that are evergreen in winter and that enable us to make evergreen borders. The great white blanket that covers the north and many mountain ranges in winter protects also for months many plants which do not lose their leaves in winter, such as Rockfoils, Stonecrops, Primroses, Gentians and Christmas Roses. The most delicate of alpine plants suffer when ex- posed to our winter from excitement of growth, to which they are not exposed in their own home, but it is easy by good choice of beautiful things to make delightful borders wholly or in greater part of evergreen hardy jilants. These are not only good as evergreen, but they are delightful in colour, many of them covering the ground with carpets of delicious verdure, many being beautiful in flower and having also the charm of assuming their most refreshing green just when other plants are losing their leaves or dying down. Along with these numerous alpine and herbaceous plants we may group a great many shrublets that come almost between the tree shrub and the alpine flower — little woody evergreen creeping things like the dwarf Partridge Berry, Canadian Cor- nel, hardy Heaths, Sand Myrtles, and the Thymes. Between these various classes we have plenty of material for making evergreen borders, and this is important, because, while many might object to the rawness of the ordinary border made of herbaceous plants as being too much in evidence near the house or in other favoured positions, it is quite a different thing with borders of evergreen plants, which may be charming and natural in effect throughout the year. It is not at all necessary that borders should be entirely devoted to the evergreen plants in order to get their good effects, because many of them, like the dwarf Rocky Mountain Phloxes and the evergreen Candytufts, make pretty dwarf edgings and masses, which vary ordinary mixed borders in a very effective way. Of garden pictures, there are few prettier than Crocus, Snowdrops, or Soilla coming through the green, Moss-like carpets in these evergreen borders, far better for those who love quiet and natural colour than more showy effects. These quiet green borders also contrast well with richly stored, handsome borders, and are good near the house. Often narrow evergreen borders are the best things that can be placed at the foot of important walls (meant for climbers), as the common fashion of allowing Grass to go right up to the walls and houses is a foolish one, and often leads to injury to the trees. A narrow border (18 inches will do), cut off with a natural stone edging from the Grass or walk, is best : even a border of this size may have many lovely things, from early Cyclamen to the rarer Meadow Saffrons in the autumn. Besides the flowers already named, we have Violets, Periwinkles, Yuccas, Carnations, Pinks, white Rock Cress, Barren- worts, charming in foliage, purple Rock Cresses, Omphalodes, Iris, Acanthus, Indian and other Strawberries, Houseleeks, Thymes, Forget-me- nots, Sandworts, some Gentians, Lavender, Rosemary, hardy Rock Roses, and many native and other hardy evergreen Ferns in all their fine variety ; these are an essential aid in the making of hardy evergreen borders. — Field. Lavatera trimestris. — From a packet of seed of this I get especially bright and pale rose forms as well as pure white. Where the plants are em- ployed in the summer bedding arrangements it is well to have the various colours in separate packets. I employ the rose-coloured forms for mixing with white and yellow Marguerites. These along with blue Cornflowers make a pretty and effective summer display. — E. M. Asclepias cornata, a vigorous growing plant, though hardly good enough for a border of choice flowers, is effective when rightly placed, and arrests attention by its distinctness. We saw a mass of it at Broxbourne, the tall leafy stems bearing great umbels of sweet purple flower?, which have a great attraction for bees. It could easily be naturalised in a light free soil, and one would enjoy it more by seeing it holding its own among the natural vegetation. The single Hollyhock.— The disease and other troubles that attend the growth of choice double Hollyhocks have brought them into dis- repute, but we think the single Hollyhock is worthy of more attention as a garden flower, be- cause it can be so easily raised from seed and treated generally as a hardy biennial. The single forms have all the stately majesty of those with double flowers, and they could be used most effec- tively in gardens. We have seen some lately in cottage gardens in Hertfordshire and Essex, and their beauty was great. July 20 1895,J THE GARDEN 37 PHORMIUM TENAX AT FOTA. As will be seen from the engraving, the New Zealand Flax is growing on the edge of a pond, a situation which it enjoys with its roots run- ning into the water several feet. Phormium tenax and its several varieties— tenax varie- gatum, Veitchi, Colensoi and atro-purpurenra — are planted largely here, and most of tliem on the edge of shallow ponds or land that has been reclaimed from the sea. The compost in which they grow and thrive is chiefly mud and fish shells. This mud has been brought in by the tide, and as the water recedes a deposit is left behind. By building sea walls and banks to keep out the sea water the land has been covered with a sub-tropical vegetation, includ- ing New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax), Arundo conspicua, A. donax. Pampas Grass, numerous Bamboos, Gunnera manicata, G. scabra, &c. Fota. W. O. TURK'SCAP LILIES. By Mr. Baker the genus Liliuni is divided into five sections, that containing the greatest number of species being the sub-genus Martagon, the mem- bers of which are characterised by drooping blos- soms with gracefully recurving segments ; hence the term Turk's-cap, which is applied to many different species belonging to this section. One of the commonest species — and that which gives its name to the group— is L. Martagon, of which there are several varieties in cultivation. The common Martagon has flowers of a dull purplish or lilac- purple tint, with dark coloured spots on the inside. Though extremely graceful the flowers of this are, at best, dull. A well-marked variety is dalmaticum, whose blossoms are of a deep blackish purple hue, that is when a good form is obtained, for in colour individuals vary a great deal. In direct contrast to this we have the white variety, perhaps the most striking of all the Mar- tagons. The flowers of this are white, tinged with green on the exterior towards the base of the petals, and a charming outdoor Lily it is. The term " outdoor " will apply to all the forms of thi.-^ species, as the blossoms have such a heavy, un- pleasant scent that by many they cannot be tolerated in a confined space. This feature is also very prominent in a Lily commonly known as the Yellow Martagon, which is, however, a distinct species, viz., L. pyrenaicum, the first of all Lilie? to flower in the open ground. The stem of thi- is very sturdy and plentifully furnished with narrow leaves, which are not disposed in whorls, as in the true Martagon. The flowers ot L. pyrenaicum are of a greenish yellow tint, but there is a variety, rubrum, with reddish blossoms. This has more than once been made to do duty for L. pomponium, which is quite difi'erent, the flowers being of a rich sealing-wa.x red. It is more slender in growth than L. pyrenaicum, and can be distinguished from all others when but a few inches high by the dark green leaves having a narrow white margin. L. pomponium verum is the name under which this is generally known. The scarlet Turk's-cap is Lilium chalcedonicum, whose bright vermillion-red blossoms are not borne till July. It is particularly valuable as being one of the last of this group to flower, and derives especial interest from the fact that it is one of the parents of the distinct nankeen Lily (L. testaceum), L. candidum being the other. Other species belonging to the Turk's-cap group are L. Hansoni, a native of Japan, with leaves in whorls as in the common Martai^on, and yellow flowers dotted with brown. This is particularly fine during the present season, especially at Kew, and it was also well shown at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on June 25. At the same time an award of merit was bestowed upon a very curious and most interesting hybrid — L. Dalhansoni, whose parents (as indicated by the name) are L. dalmaticum and li. Han- soni. L. monadelphum, or L. Szovitzianum, as it is ofteo called, belongs also to the same group as verj generally grown. These last are all natives H America, and another amboldti, wtiich comes from the sam'econ- A sandy loam suits the requirements of H. R the preceding. The drooping blossoms of this are _ for the most part of a primrose tint, spotted of North America, and another"verv"showv sneHps more or less m the mterior, but in colour this is L. Humboldti. wtiich nomps trr.^ t-i,,. =•!,„„„-! Lily varies considerably. Others are the Indian tinent. L. polyphyllum, of a whitish ground with purple this Lily best. spots ; L. tenuifolium, something like a miniature 1 pomponium ; L. Leichtlini, one of the most grace- j Hardy flowers at Forest Hill —These are ful of Lihes the flowers of which are of a straw- , now largely grown by Messrs. Laing' and Son in colour plentifully dotted with reddish brown ; and the nursery at Forest Hill, and when there recently L testaceum of a pleasmg nankeen tint. This is we made note of several things in the open luar- a Lily that should be far more frequently grown , ters that were enduring the drought and making than It is at present. All of the above succeed , a good display of colour. Achillea Eupatoriul best m a deep loamy or ordinary garden soil, and and the equally sweet, but less grown A filinen- they are all impatient of removal ; indeed, many of dula were both fine, while the red-flowered form of our wild A. millefolia is not to be despised. Malva moschata alba was flowering freely, and Delphiniums in great variety were also conspicuous. Helenium Bo- landeri, an early and showy dwarf kind, made a bright group, and H. puniilum, equally dwarf and free, promised a long succession of flowers. A mass of Pentstemon barbatus was bright. It is a pity that more do not plant this, as a good group yearly can be ensured by pulhng oft' the side shoots, pot- ting them up for a few weeks, and planting them out again when well rooted. The plant is worthy of this little care ; whereas, if left alone, as most hardy plants are, it is less satisfactory. Chrysanthe- mum maximum in several varie- ties we saw in large quantity, and there is no better flower of the present time for cutting. Among many alpines growing in pots w& noted Campanula garganiea in. trailing masses covered with flowers, and a variety of this- species named hirsuta equally free flowering, the leaves and stems alike clothed with short hairs. C. turbinata was also con- spicuous. There are few better dwarf Campanulas than this for the rock garden. Notes from Oakwood.— Me- conopsis nepalensis is doing rery well at Oakwocd. It is grown in partial shade and in rather a damp, very sheltered place. There is something very pleasing about this Meconopsis when in really good condition. Coronilla varia is a very free-growing, pro- fuse - blooming species with soft pink flowers. It is one of those things that should have plenty of space and an open position. When it forms a mass some feet through it has a very pleasing appearance. What a dainty little flower is Primula scotica, growing some 2 inches in height, with mealy foliage and purplish blooms !' It is, I beheve, difficult to please^ in southern gardens at least, but. The New Zealand Flax at Fota. Engraved for The Gakden from j^PPears to have come to stay at a photograph sent by Mr. Smith, Clarence Lodge, St. Luke's, Cork. Oakwood. Arenaria laricifolia, with white flowers and narrow them frequently fail to flower the first season after being transplanted. Where they are doing well it is advisable to leave them alone. L. chalcedon- icum (the Scarlet Turk's-cap) is sometimes met with ass3 i ted with L. candidum in fine masses in old-fashioned cottage gardens. A very distinct section of the sub-genus Marta- gon consists of several species with curious rhizo- matous bulbs, which succeed well in a peaty soil, though it is not absolutely necessary to their well-doing, for I have seen good examples in loam. The best known of these are L. pardalinum, L. canadense, and L. superbum. They are all beauti- ful species, and L. pardalinum in particular is now leaves, is a pretty species : it is one of the best of the family. In a damp, rather shadv place Galax aphylla is doing remarkably welf. The spikes of white flowers thrown up boldly abov^ the prettily formed leaves and the very compact habit render this Galax one of the most distinct of hardy flowers. It evidently enjoys moisture both at the root and in the air, and presumably dislikes hot sunshine. Xerophyllum a.sphodeloides is de- cidedly handsome, and worthy of a place in any collection of hardy flowers. If this could be had in sufficient quantity and would thrive under ordinary culture, it would be a capital thing for dotting among dwarf-growing bedding plants. A mass of the large Cranberry (Oxycoccus macro- 38 THE GARDEN [July 20, 1896 carpus) growing in a boggy place has a nice appearance. Azalea ros.-eflora, growing in com- pany with Rhododendron Assam .-efiora in a sheltered position, passed safely through last winter. — J. 0. B. Campanula persicifolia alba. — It will be generally admitted that the white varieties of this group of Belldowers are among the most useful of hardy perennials. Quite recently T was looking round a border of hardy perennials where Phloxes, summer-flowering Chrysanthemums, Roses, Dah- lias, Christmas Roses, Clematis, Aubrietias and other things were to be seen, but just at the time to which I refer nothing could compare with the snowy purity of some masses of the Campanula named above. It was just in its prime and con- stituted the plant of the hour. Indeed, but for this particular plant, which was arranged in large clumps at intervals, there would have been an overwhelming presence of greenery in the instance referred to. The white varieties of these Bell- flowers in common with the majority of the genus are readily increased. Where cjuantity is needed, and that quickly, it will be found much the best plan to select a good-sized clump in the early spring and, pulling it to pieces, pot the divisions, or at least those having roots attached, singly into .3-inch pots. These may then be placed in a frame or at the base of a shady wall to become es- tablished, and when this happens plant out in beds or masses as required. A fair depth of quite ordinary soil with some manure added is all that they require, and when planting do it firmly. Where only a few clumps are required the usual methods of division and firm planting will answer well. These white Peach-leaved Campanulas have, however, quite a special merit of their own, and with advantage may be planted in many spots in the foreground of shrubs, producing a fine effect. There are at least three distinct white kinds apart from that named above, which is the white form of the type, namely, the great white Peach leaved BellHower (C. p. a. grandiflora), a taller plant with very large white bells ; 0. p. alba plena, the well- known double white, and C. p. alba coronata, a kind by no means common, yet one of the most beautiful of the group. With four such excel- lent varieties there need be no lack of pure white flowers in the herbaceous borders in early summer. With the exception of grandiflora, which attains '25 feet to 3 feet high, the others are usually about 2 feet high when establishejl. — E. J. CARNATIONS AT CHELSEA. There is plenty of evidence that the Carnation is a good town flower, and the tufts of the old Clove along the Embankment Gardens when gay with flowers prove this. Mes.srs. Veitch annually have a good display of Carnations at Chelsea, which is the more creditable, because considerations of space compel them to follow the usual custom of wintering the plants in frames, planting them out where they are to flower in early spring. There are advan- tages in favour of this plan, for whilst gaps are decidedly too frequent in plantations made last autumn, those of the spring months have fewer blanks. Some of the self-coloured kinds are very good at Chelsea this year, and we note with pleasure that not a few of them are recent va- rieties of English origin, and possessed of all the essential qualities that are necessary in a good garden Carnation, namely, that they are robust, vigorous, and bear fine non- splitting flowers of clear and decided self colours and pleasant fragrance. This last most charming attribute of the flower is unfortunately too often absent, but the variety Cantab, one of Mr. Gilford's raising, is, we should think, next to the old Clove, one of the sweetest garden Carna- tions. A bed of it at Chelsea was very bright. Duchess of York, also raised by Mr. Gilford, was very good, the flowers of a pale flesh tint. Mrs. Frank Watts, a variety from the same raiser, was in good form, the flowers numerous and not bursting. Mrs. Fred growing beside it is also a very good white self, which finds most favour among those who show, being of the form so dear to the florist with its regular and smooth petals. The varieties Mr. Martin Smith has raised were very prominent. Aline Newman is one of the first, but not yet surpassed in its special shade of soft cerise-red, whilst the plants were as vigorous in growth as they were free-flowering. Mrs. Audrey Campbell was strong in growth, with extra tall flower-stems carrying tine, rich yellow blooms. Hayes Scarlet, brilliant in colour, perfect in form, and robust in growth, is all that can be desired, and Mephisto is quite its counterpart except in colour, this being a dark shade of crimson, rich and striking. King Arthur has an immense flower as large as that of a Malmaison, yet good in form, held up erect, and of a bright red colour. Duchess of Fife was very good, and Lady Nina Balfour remarkably fine, as it carries its flowers well on a strong stem and they are of the softest flesh-pink shade. It is undoubtedly a grand new Carnation. King of Crimsons and King of Scarlets were both good in their respective colours, and Oxonian, a fine dark crimson self, we noted as being distinct and pffective. Cara Roma, dark maroon-purple, was free-flowering and very fine, of a dark and pleasing hue. Among older kinds several were very conspicuous, especially Joe Willett, which stands the bright hot sun well, and a large bed of this variety alone was very showy. Rose Celestial was unsurpassed in its special shade, and the old buff-yellow Florence we have not seen for a long time so free and good as here. A bed of Alice Ayres, too, was without a blank and as etl'ective as any self variety. PiCOTEES were very good, although the differences in the varieties are so small, that they are nothing like so important as the selfs for effect in the garden. J. B. Bryant, a well-known crimson edged variety, was good, also Brunette, which has a broad edging of crimson, and Ganymede, edged with dark crimson. Among varieties of a lighter tint. Favourite, also a well-known kind, was first-rate, the petals having the merest line or edging of light rose. Edith Dombrain and Mrs. Sharpe were good. These are rose-edged varieties of a deeper and heavier character. Lorua Doone, a pretty rose-flaked kind, was seen in good form and colour, but doubtless owing to the heat and drought a large percentage of the flaked and bizarre varieties are producing self-coloured flowers. or scarlet, much reduced, only six are single Jacks ; fifteen are purple or crimson, derived from other purple sorts that bloomed close by ; eighteen or more are frightful bursters. I infer from this that it is a fine stock to work from, for by crossing it with any coloured sort, you will be sure to get it in the seedlings ; but though you may expect a good habit 3'ou will have to take your chance of the shape and quality of the flower. Now for the mixed batch. There were here about sixty plants of much more dubious constitution ; in fact, the constitu- tion of the parent is again generally repeated, but the colours are also much better followed ; some are copies of the parent, but some again have evidently gone off in habit. The seedlings of Germania are yellow, but clouded with red. One, I think, will have yellow flowers, but it is weak in constitution. The entire batch shows scarcely any outside influence, and thus there is no purple, as in the Countess. The seed of Danger is one single and one poor double, but a soft inferior red has yielded several still poorer than itself. Mrs. Reynolds-Hole seems to have yielded a number, all poorer in every way than the parent. The tall pink-striped one has given one like itself somewhat, one beautiful single of a charming shade of red-pink, and one glorious white on long, separate stalks, and another tall pale pink one, each about 30 inches high. More single Jacks occur in this lot and still more have refused to bloom ; thirty-six bloomed, twenty- three failed to bloom. They all wintered very well indeed, far better than any of the cultivated plants. The general inference is to take seed only from plants of strong, good constitution and habit, and the particular point is that some sorts are far more colour-sensitive than others. I should think that Countess of Paris scientifically crossed with others would yield excellent sorts in every shade. Of course, our English climate is very bad for this work, yet potted plants in a house which is never closed at the sides will probably secure the result aimed at. A. Dawson. Godaiming. A BATCH OF SEEDLING CARNATIONS. In the warm summer two years ago I was fortunate to save some Carnation seed from various sorts — Countess of Paris, Redbraes, a fine pink and purple-striped one of good habit, Germania, Mrs. S. Reynolds-Hole and some others of less note, also a large heavy scarlet called, I think. Danger. I separated all the Countess of Paris seed from the rest ; I am sorry I did not separate every kind, as it would have assisted study. The batch from Countess of Paris numbers fifty-five plants, in habit they are all strong and similar to the parent, or stronger (of course young seedlings are always strong), but in bloom they differ most remarkably. I was told by an old florist friend that the Countess repeated itsalf very much. I find not one blooming anything like the parent; one or two, perhaps, have ne.'iily as nice shaped flowers, but the colour is ))ink-striped, crimson and purple. The extreme colour-sensitiveness of the variety is remarkable ; one single and one double follow Redbraes. They will all bloom. Two or three are of a soft red Beg'onia Worthiana in the flower garden. — I do not know of an}' variety e([ual to the above for the flower garden, and though the hot dry weather has prevented it making as free growth as usual, the mass of flowers is charming and a re- lief from the general run of bedding plants. Not only is B. Worthiana very free flowering, but the colour is none too jilentiful in the flower garden. The plants are readily propagated by cutting the tubers with an eye to each shoot just when starting into growth. I prefer cuttings to seed, as they flower more profusely, are ready to plant earlier, and are more regular in height. When we consider what little trouble such plants as these give during the winter and their ready means of propagation with their beauty at this sei.son, they are invaluable for the flower garden. I think B. Worthiana the best of the small-flowered sec- tion. The newer semperflorens is also very effective and readily raised from seed. Indeed, I like seedlings better than cuttings in this section. The white variety makes a charming edging to the B. Worthiana.— G. W. Pinks from seed. — At the middle of the sum- mer of 18il3 I sowed some seed of laced Pinks from a fine collection and was rewarded with a number of seedlings. These were planted out in the spring of 1894, but scarcely one attempted to bloom. They were allowed to remain all the sum- mer. They passed through the last winter, though I lost many of the named varieties, and this season they are blooming grandly, and among them are several good varieties. The plants had grown into larger clumps and they have borne remarkably heavy heads of bloom. Planted out in a heavy loam, which has baked very hard on the surface, they stand the heal well, and I presume the roots havei gone down deeply into the soil. It is in this fact we recognise the importance the grower of laced Pinks attaches to autumn planting in order July 20, 1895.] THE CxARDEN 39 that the plants may become well established by the time they flower in the spring, and it also shoTS that two-year-old plants are the best to throw a mass of bloom. A florist who grows for exhibition would naturally prefer plants from cut- tings or layers of the previous summer, because it requires only two or three good blooms on a plant, disbudding freely in order to secure them. Seed- ling Pinks are full of interest provided seed of a good strain can be secured, a mattar of some diffi- culty. I notice that among some 120 plants in bloom there is scarcely a self white. — R. D. Orchard and Fruit Garden. GRAPE GROS GUILLAUME. Tho.se who have been fairly successful with Gr03 Guillaume speak highly of it, while those who for various reasons have either Jiever grown it or have not succeeded in producing present- able bunches are ever ready to condemn it. A middle course would perhaps best meet the case. A really serviceable Grape it is not, but there are good qualities that ought not to be lost sight of. It is one of those Grapes that may be said to need special culture. In a house of mixed late varieties started into growth early in March Gros Guillaume is very liable to fail — at least, such is my experience, and I hold that to have it at its best it ought to be started a month earlier and treated as a midseason va- riety. Grown in a house with Black Hamburgh and Madresfield Court, these ripening in June and July, the variety under notice would form an admirable succession to thes3 popular varie- ties— that is to say, would be quite fit for use in September and October. Some think the fla- vour is considerably improved by keeping, say to nearer Christmas, but I have found the larger clusters keep badly when ripened thus early, and the quality has never been found fault with in September. Well grown it is a crisp refreshing Grape, and at that time of year only excelled by the two other varieties named when at their best, Muscat of Alexandria excepted. Authorities are unanimous as to the desir- ability of grafting or inarching the Gros Guil- laume on to the Black Hamburgh stock. On its own roots it is apt to grow too rank to be productive ; whereas the Hamburgh stock has the same restraining influence as the Quince stock has upon the Pear. It unites very readily with that stock, and I have never known bottle grafting to fail. Fine rods are formed on the Hamburgh stock, and if these are thoroughly well ripened, failures to show plenty of bunches are rare. It is the soft pithy wood that fails the most often, though there are other causes of non-fruiting to be noticed. Gros GuiUaume is principally grown in gardens where sensational bunches are desired. If we can be content with a few of these, all well and good ; but if we leave enough of them on the Vines to overtax their ener- gies, not only will the berries be small and foxy red in colour, but the chances are few or no bunches will appear the following season. Growing the variety on what is known as the Jong-rod system, young canes being laid in every season and those that have fruited once cut out, is to a certain extent a remedy for non-productiveness, but I fail to see the necessity for this. If over- cropping is avoided and very close pruning never resorted to, the old rods will continue to produce fine bunches for many years. Instead of pruning the laterals to the first bud it is better to sacrifice neatness of spurs aud think more of what is of greater importance, viz., productiveness. Prune to a plump bud, whether a clumsy, ugly bunch. this be 2 inches or 4 inches away from the old i That is by no means ^°°/'- , , , , "■ ■^•^'•'^ ^'^'^ berries could almost have" passed""as It very large bunches are wanted, then, as I those of Black Hamburgh, a thinness of bloom before hinted, be content with three or four of \ and which is always apparent, bein<. the onlv tliese on a strong rod U feet or more in length, marked difi-erence. Handsome, solid bunches lake every pams with the.se, letting a fair ' weighing 3 lbs., or rather less, could always be amount of daylight and sunshine reach them, , had as thickly on a rod as good clusters are this, coupled with the maintenance of a buoyant ] seen on Black Hamburgh rods if only we could atmosphere, ensuring a good set of berries. | make up our minds to pinch off' the Under favourable conditions the bunches de velop surprisingly, the uppermost shoulder re^ sembling and ecjualling in weight and form an average bunch of Black Hamburgh. There should be little or no thinning of berries at Qrape Gros Guillaume. From a photograph by Mr. J. Cooper, Jun., Frame first, but everjr shoulder and large division of bunch ought to be brought up to a horizontal position and kept so by means of strips of raffia. When finished there would be quite a network of ties, and this, in addition to giving the bunches an imposing appearance, also obviates the necessity for much thinning of berries, only the smaller berries, or enough to allow those furnished with three or more stones to develop to a large size, being cut out. As it happens, bunches 8 lbs. and upwards in weight are not of a serviceable character, and those nearer 0 lbs., such, for instance, as that repre- sented on this pago, are more to the purpose. -,, ' - -- — larger shows ' that are produced nearer the spurs or canes, as the case may be. Should, however, no more than one bunch show on a lateral, it could soon be seen which promised to be lar»e, and which moderately so, or only comparatively small, and the selection be made accordingly. Much improvement might be eflected in the shape of a bunch with the aid of a pair of Grape scissors, with these snipping off long, thin points and strag- gling shoulders. Any that are to travel to exhibitions, or to be packed for other pur- jjoses, must be fairly solid, otherwise they present but a sorry ap- pearance when at the end of their journey ; hence the necessity for a certain amount of trimming and also for very careful thinning out of berries, doing the latter piecemeal or as it is plainly seen what berries can best be spared. Remember also that medium-sized to small bunches evenly furnished with large well - coloured berries free of blemish will always surpass others double their weight, but lacking in other essentials. Labelling huge but badly coloured clusters " Barbarossa " will not mislead anyone. It may answer very well while yet they are hang- ing, but will have no favourable effect when experienced judges are ca'led upon to adjudicate upon their merits. In addition to crop_ ping somewhat lightly, those who would have perfectly coloured bun- ches must also allow plenty of time for ripen- ing. If grown with Muscat of Alexandria — and my best bunches have been produced in a Muscat house — abund- ance of air, or more than the Muscat may require, should be admitted at that end of the house, leaving a little front aii- on all night through. Give the same treatment as answers well in the case of Muscats, and foxy red berries, such as also result from over-crop- ping, will most probably be the outcome. I once saw twenty large clusters of Gros Guillaume ripening on a single Vine grown on the exten- sion system, not one of which was ever good enough to send to the owner's table. Yet that Vine was raised from a reputedly good 40 THE GARDEN [July 20, 1895. stock, this sliowing that it was the cultivator's fault those bunches were of so little value. As a proof of this I have only to add that the same Vine, only less heavily cropped and also sub- jected to leas heat, has produced bunches equal to taking prizes anywhere. If the bunches are to hang on the Vines late, then I prefer to have the roots confined to an inside border, but would rather have them rooting outside, when they can be started early and the crops cleared off before November. They -Stand plenty of feeding in either case. W. Iggulden. Apple Emperor Alexander.— " W. G. C.'s" description of this fine-looking Apple is a faithful one, as he does not omit to mention its somewhat shy-fruiting propensities. I quite agree witli him that it requires careful cultivation, and instead of being rigidly pruned in, thinned out when young and shortened just a little at the winter pruning. Even under this treatment it will not thrive in all districts, and the fruit, though fine and beau- tifully coloured, is very soft and unfit for market, except when the sale place is near home. After seeing a magnificent dish of Alexander some years ago at Lincoln November show I was induced to plant it in espalier and horizontal form, but while the trees grow well enough and several moderate crops have been borne on the cordon, the espalier has never borne a single fruit. Perhaps time may remedv this barren condition, as I trust it may. —J. C. Gooseberry Leveller. — This fine yellow Gooseberry belongs to the yellow show section of Lancashire varieties, and is, unlike many of its class, a most profitable sort to grow, even for a poor man. On our somewhat light soil Leveller fruits heavily, ripening about the end of July, and is then delicious for dessert. It hangs better than the majority of the large Gooseberries, which are so apt to split in changeable weather. If duly thinned out when young and a good mulch given to the roots, the same being well soaked several times with liquid manure, it will prove itself one of the best exhibition varieties in existence. Those who are fond of large Gooseberries, and would like quality combined, should certainly plant Leveller. —J. C. Two good Raspberries. — The dry summer and the severe winter have again shown which are the two best Raspberries in what may be termed a poor, light soil. The two varieties alluded to are Hornet and Superlative, and if only one sort is grown I would certainly give Superlative the preference, as though Hornet is equally free fruiting, it is not so continuous a cropper. Some of the older kinds of Raspberries were destroyed, but the strong-growing kinds of the newer section are bearing splendid crops. The canes are a little shorter than usual, but this is compensated for by the quantity of bottom growths bearing freely ; indeed, there is no loss, as the canes are furnished with trusses to the base of the plants, and will thus crop later than when the fruit is produced on the tops of t.all canes. Now is a good time to assist the plants and strengthen next year's canes by giving a liberal mulch, in poor soils giving liquid manure. It is well to reduce the suckers to the quantity required, so as not to rob the plants. — G. Wytiiks. Ronald's Late Duke Cherry. — Many varie- ties of Cherries fail to crop well or grow in a satisf.actory manner when grown as bush trees, but the aboi'e is an exception, as it will produce excellent crops of large fruit late in the season when grown in bush form and worked on the Mahalob stock. Some contend that the Mahaleb stock is of little value, as trees worked thereon are soon worn out and have to be rooted out. In such cases it is not always the fault of the stock, but is owing to the lack of nutriment within reach of the roots, which, not extending far away, (juickly exhaust the supplies. At the same time there are some sorts that will not succeed as bush trees on any stock, as they gum and die back until they are an eyesore in the garden. The above variety appears to be well suited for growing as a bush, seldom show- ing any indications of gumming, cropping freely on heavy and light soils, its large red fruits being very acceptable. It must, however, be well fed if continuous crops of large fruit are desired. — W. G. C. Strawberry Latest of All. — In many gar- dens the British Queen fails, and where such is the case I would advise a trial of Latest of All. It was awarded in 1894 a first-class certificate by the fruit committee of the Royal Horticultural Society for lateness and good qualities combined. I am planting the Latest of All largely, doing away with British Queen, which fruits only sparsely and suffers badly in severe winters in low, damp localities. For several seasons I grew Waterloo, but it does not possess the flavour a good dessert fruit should do and it was discarded. Jubilee was grown for two or three years and did well, being an enormous cropper, but this was soon ousted by Latest of All on account of its fine flavour. I admit it does not ripen well at the point. This is a defect in the British Queen, but it is far more vigorous, the fruit being very fine, solid, wedge-shaped, and freely borne. Young plants of Latest of All bear freely, and it will, I am sure, become a great favourite when better known. Latest of All is a seedling from British Queen, crossed with Helene Gloede, a large fruit of good flavour. To show the long cropping qualities of Latest of All, I have been gathering it for ten days from a north border and the plants will produce fruit for a week longer. It not only does well on a north border, but forces grandly. This spring I tried it for a late lot, and as forced in frames was much pleased with the result ; the foliage is firmer than that of the Queen, and, being harder, is less subject to red-spider. This variety has now been four years before the public, and the more it is known the better it will be appreciated. It cannot be propagated freely, as it makes but few runners. From strong runners planted at the end of August last year I am at this date (July 9) gathering nice fruits. — G. Wytues. GOOD EARLY NECTARINES. In answer to the courteous criticism by " Fruit Grower " on page 6, I think he has somewhat mis- understood my note on the above. I have not the issue by me in which I mentioned Early Rivers and Cardinal, but I have no recollection of ever naming Lord Napier, as it is an old favourite of mine. At the same time, I must state that with me it has proved at least ten days later than Early Rivers grown under exactly similar conditions, and one year it was nineteen days later. Again, this year, in a house started at the new year. Early Rivers came in just right for the Ascot week and realised a high price, as the fruit was ordered by a leading fruiterer some weeks before- hand. Lord Napier not being read}' until after that event was over did not fetch half the price, though e^iually large and well finished. Both varieties were grown in the same house, proving that Early Rivers possesses an advantage in earli- ness. "Fruit Grower " will admit that a space of ten days or even half that time sometimes makes a very considerable diflferenoe in the value of fruit in the market, and I can assure him that when a man has to provide for a fair-sized establishment and sell produce to pay garden expenses, it means a good deal. Although I saw the group of Nectarines grown in pots, I somehow missed the basket of Cardinal and the small tree in a pot referred to by " Fruit Grower," so was not impressed by any diflerence there may have been between the two. What really did impress me was the statement made by Messrs. Rivers' representative that the trees staged were not started until after Christmas, and then grown in a rather cool house. I have grown many varieties of Nectarines, but could never boast of such success, and I think Early Rivers and Cardinal are the only two sorts that would accomplish the feat under similar conditions. As to why the latter has not been sent out, is a question beyond my power to answer. I heard nothing against its character until I saw in a contemporary tliat it was not recommended for outside culture. If the variety is sent out I hope to give it a trial for forcing, as it apparently answers that purpose admirably. Like "Fruit Grower." I have no interest whatever in either of the varieties beyond their value for early forcing, and if I see anything likely to pay better than older varieties, I make a note of it for future benefit. While alrairing "Fruit Grower" for sticking up for an old friend like Lord Napier, I must praise him for the polite way in which he does it. Just a line as to Nec- tarines casting their buds on our light, hot sandy soil. Hardwicke, Elruge and Dryden always cast some buds, both inside and out, in spite of every attention to the roots and the trees being kept en- tirely free from insect enemies, and no other reason can be given than that the soil is unsuitable. W. G. C. SUCCESSIONAL MARKET STRAW- BERRIES. Whenevek a new Strawberry makes its appear- ance one of the first questions asked by many is, "Will it travel well ?" as when the over- plus fruit from so many private gardens is sent to market, it matters little how good a cropper or how richly flavoured the variety may be, few care to plant it unless the first-named qualifica- tion— "firmness" — is present. The lack of th's is the one great drawback with Noble. Like the old Keens' Seedling, it is too soft for sending to a distance unless packed carefully in single layers, which it will not pay the market grower to do. If the market is close at hand, then these two heavy and certain croppers may be grown and made the best of, but for con- signing to a long distance by rail packed in bulk they are next to useless, the money re- turned from the salesman, after his commission has been deducted, being often inadequate to pay for labour, to say nothing of a margin for actual profit ; and what is true of Noble and Keens' is equally so of all soft-fleshed varieties from a market point of view. Taking cropping powers, flavour, and solidity combined, 1 find Competitor in the front rank for first early supplies. This Strawberry is very firm and distinct in flavour, which is rich for an early sort. It is also very hardy and vigorous in growth, and, what is perhaps as important as anything, it produces fruit over a very long period. Following this, that old and well-tried variety, Vicomtesse Huricart de Thury, must still rank high as an all-round profitable sort, for although the individual fruit is somewhat small, the crop which may be secured from well-managed plants is enormous. Those who are thinking of planting for market, and who have not what is termed a good Strawberry soil, should certainly include Vicomtesse for very early work . Royal Sovereign will doubt- less take a prominent position as a market Straw- berry, but the price of runners at present proves, of course, a barrier to growers of small means. I have previously expressed the belief that Gunton Park will eventually become one of the principal main-crop Strawberries. It comes into use just when the best fruit of Royal Sovereign is over, is as large as that variety, of a much darker, riclier colour, while the flavour is good enough to please even the most fastidi- ous. As a firm, good travelling Strawberry Gunton Park is about the best I have ever handled. Another very good point in its character is the one so noticeable in its relative, Lord Sutiield, that of yielding its fruit on bold, stout stems, which do not easily fall about and July 20, 1896.] THE GARDEN 41 allow the fruit to rot through contact with the wet ground. Sir Joseph Paxton must still be included in the list of market Strawberries, for although there are gardens in which it refuses to fruit, as a rule it does well, the fruit firm and of good colour and flavour. On our light soil Sir Joseph Paxton is not at home, f.ir although the plants grow freely enough, not more than two or three in a long row yield fruit. I therefore abandoned its culture, and substituted a Hertfordshire raised variety called Premier, much like it in general appearance, and a very fair cropper. President, now much grown for the London and other markets, is none too firm for travelling, and as it ripens simultane- ously with Gunton Park, it wdl, I expect, be less and less grown as that tine variety becomes better known. Sir Charles Napier is a profit- able Strawberry where it succeeds, possessing every good quality needed to make a good market sort, but unless on good land, retentive of moisture, it is often very disappointing, the plants dying off wholesale. On our light soil it wUl not grow at all. For following ou, Lord Suifield will take a leading place in fields and market gardens generally, as its habit is good, having ample foliage to shield the bloom from late frosts. It crops enormously, and the fruit when ripe is almost as dark as that of Waterloo, the flavour is delicious, making a splendid pre- serve. Newton Seedling, still later, should be included in the list, being very free both in growth and cropping, and most useful for pre- serving. Finally, Latest of All is indispensable for prolonging the season from ten days to a fortnight after other sorts are done. The fruit is large, handsome, and of extra good flavour, well repaying good cultivation. The above list of good market Strawberries might be lengthened, but I see no need for it, as the foregoing varieties are A] and crop in rotation over the whole of the Strawberry season. J. Crawford. Cherry Governor Wood. — I do not think there is a better cropper than this, and as regards quality it is difficult to beat. My note as regards its cropping qualities is as a wall tree o« a favour- able aspect. I have very fine trees on a west aspect and they never fail to bear freely. This variety, of American origin, is also known under the name of Dr. Kirtland, and is said to be the best bearing Cherry of its kind. It possesses several advantages over some of the Bigarreau type, as the tree does not canker or gum and succeeds indoors or out. When given a wall in a cool house it is very fine. This season I gathered the first fruits on June 15, and have continued to do so daily since. I have no knowledge of its behaviour as a bush or pyramid. — S. H. M. Thinning Apples. — In many parts there are very heavy crops of Apples, and unless some of the fruit is thinned out early, the fruit will be small and of comparatively little value when ripe. On standard trees it is not an easy matter to thus thin the crop, but a large number of dwarf or low-growing trees can be gone over in a short time, and all who have had much experience in marketing Apples know the trees that have been relieved of a portion of their burden swell up the fruit that is left until it attains a large size, and realises a high price when sold. My practice for a number of years has been to go over the dwarf trees about this time and remove anj- fruits that are badly shaped, blemished by insects, or other- wise delaced, sending them at once to market, and I find the practice pays handsomely. At the same time it is advisable to state that it pays to sort the Apples into two sizes, placing all the largest fruit in one set of hampers and the small ones in others ; the former sell very well for cook- ing and the latter are eagerly purchased from the salesman by jam-makers, so that there need be no waste at all, for, though no fancy prices can be expected, there is a return that more than pays for the labour and freight charges, to say nothing of the benefit received by the fruit remaining on the trees. Again, when marketing the crop there is no trouble in grading the Apples, as all the inferior ones have been taken off : in fact, it would be difficult to estimate the value of the early thinning of heavily cropped trees. In some places all the largest Apples are picked immediately they are of a good market size, the smaller ones being left on to grow large. After trying that system against the one first mentioned, I found it far from remunerative, as the small ones that had been left never attained a really good size, and somewhat low prices prevailed for the same from beginning to end. But by the method advo- cated, such prices are realised for the Apples when finally gathered as should convince the most scep- tical that they will pay well in this country for cultivation in spite of all competition from abroad. -W. G. C. Fig' Osborn's Prolific. — At page 5 "J. C notes the good qualities of this well-known Fig. He finishes his note with the remark that some of the earlier forcing Figs which have been intro- duced since the advent of Brown Turkey are rather small, Osborn's being the reverse and most prolific. I do not quite agree with the remarks as to the newly-introduced varieties being small, as I am inclined to think that what is lost in size is gained in quantity and in earliness as well as freedom from dropping, while they are equally, if not more prolific. For the last few years I have had some twenty varieties on trial, but do not find I have noted Osborn's as one of the best ; but, of course, much depends upon the mode of culture and the season at which the fruit is re- quired. Doubtless for dishes at this date or the end of June, Osborn's may be all one can desire, but if you require Figs in March or April I cer- tainly would not despise the newer, though some- what smaller, varieties. For general culture, planted out, Osborn's comes large, and is of excel- lent flavour, and a grand Fig for cropping at this season, but for early forcing I do not think it can be compared to White Marseilles, Pingo de Mel, or St. John's. In Mr. Barron's excellent article on Figs and their culture at Chiswick he gives but little notice to Osborn's ProHfic ; indeed, he classes it as synonymous with Brown Turkey. We all know how prolific the Brown Turkey is — its value for second cropping and its fine fruit when well grown — but 1 am inclined to think there are some distinct kinds of this variety, as I have trees in the same house (|uite different in every way, one being very simdar to Osborn's ; indeed, when the fruit is quite ripe it only ap- pears a little rounder in shape. For early forcing I would advise "J. C." to give Pingo de Mel a trial in pots. It is a fine Fig and of splendid flavour, earlier than Osborn's, and equal in quality. — FiG Grower. Currants. — Two very fine Currants from Jersey presented to the fruit committee at the last Drill Hall meeting, cue white, the other red, and under new names might very well have passed as new and distinct, were there afi'orded no means of com- parison with other varieties. Fortunately, there were present at the meeting not only several va- rieties finely fruited, shown on branches by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, but further, Mr. Barron had brought up from Chiswick quite a consider- able collection, covering no doubt all the varieties in cultivation, and these even showed in several cases distinctness in leafage only, the fruits being almost identical. Of the Langley varieties, Red Cherry, Fox's Large Grape, La Fertile andViftoria were the finest reds. The last is the best late variety, and a capital one for walls or bushes to net up to keep into the autumn. The whites were White Transj^arent, very pale ; White Crystal and White Dutch. Of the Chiswick col- lection a few of the finest were Wallace's Seed- ling, Mallow-leaved, Red Grape and Red Cherry, also White Dutch and White Cut-leaved. It was easy enough to see tliat with these varieties there was ample likeness to the two sorts from Jersey ; hence we were saved from additions to an already too large list of Currants, as the distinctions between many are so very minute. The Mallow- leaved and the White Cut-leaved are very distinct in foliage and both carry very fine clusters of fruit, and they are varieties that well merit notice. —A. D. STRAWBERRIES. In spite of the long drought the crop has been a fairly good one where mulching was done early, with an occasional soaking of water since. At the sanre time some varieties have greatly excelled others both in crop and size of fruit, though grown under similar conditions on the same quarters. Royal Sovereign confirms the good opinion already expressed by many prac- tical men, and I believe this variety will be- come as popular with market growers in the future as Sir Joseph Paxton has been for so many years. It was one of the first to ripen its fruit, and has continued in bearing for as long a period as any sort that I grow, the fruit being large, firm, and of excellent quality. La France has done remarkably well this trying season, being only second to Royal Sovereign in cropping, size of berry, and firmness, and ecjual, if not superior, in flavour. The foliage is somewhat scanty compared with that of many other varieties on our light soil ; consequently the plants would sufl'er in a dry time unless well mulched, but treated as an annual, and done thoroughly well, it is a very fine variety. Helene Gloede, though not so richly flavoured as the preceding varieties, has run them closely in weight of crop, and appears to withstand drought better than any other sort, the foliage keeping very fresh and green, forming a good shade to the berries. Sir Joseph Paxton, Sir Charles Napier, James Veitch, La Grosse Sucree, and Auguste Nicaise have proved about equal in bearing, the two last named, however, surpassing the others in flavour. President set a splendid crop, which swelled to a nice size, and then the plants suddenly collapsed, and the fruit was useless. It should be stated that the plants had been mulched and given several thorough waterings. It would be in- teresting to know if President has behaved in a like manner in other places, as I never recollect its failing so completely in former dry seasons. Vicomtesse H6ricart de Thury always succeeds admirably, and for home use is one of the most reliable varieties that I know, being as valuable for forcing as in the open air. Latest of All is, I think, one of the grandest late Strawberries in cultivation. Wet or dry seasons seem to have little eft'ect on its con- stitution or bearing powers, and the size of fruit and delicious flavour make it worthy of a place in every garden. Grown as an annual the fruit is very fine and abundant ; if allowed to stand more than one year on our hot soil, the berries are much smaller, and, in my opinion, sufl'er in flavour as compared with those from one-year-old plants. Waterloo I had to root out a few seasons ago, as my employer had a decided objection to the mulberry colour of the fruit, but where this is no detriment the variety is well worth growing. It is of no use to try to obtain full crops of Waterloo from plants one year old ; for several years I tried it on that system by the side of other sorts, and found it would not succeed under two years. I had a few choice varieties sent me late in the autumn of last year, but, owing to the severe winter and present drought, 1 have had no oppor- tunity of proving their merits, and it would be unfair to criticise them now, but I hope to give a few notes on them another season. Although mulched and well watered, our plants are making scarcely any runners ; if this 42 THE GARDEN [JuLT 20, 18t5. is geipra!. there will be some difficulty in secur- ing si'ffioient young plants to make new beds shortly, and in such cases extra attention should be given to those beds already formed, by supply- incr plenty of moisture not only to the roots, but overhead as well, thus enabling the plants to mature bold crowns for the future, and also warding oflF that enemy so common this year, viz., red spider. On all sides we hear of this mite infesting hardy fruit trees of all kinds, and, unless treated as suggested, Straw- berry plants will not escape, if not already attacked. A thoroughly good washing two or three times a week with the garden engine will not only assist to keep the plants clean, but also act as a check to the enemy on fruit and other trees. ^^- ^- ^• Rose Garden. ROSES AT CHESHUNT. The present season has not brought out any Rose of Continental origin worthy of mention so far as we have seen, but most Rose growers re- gard Kaiserin Augusta Victoria as a good variety Several promising new varieties of the Hybrid Perpetual section are now flowering with JMr. G Paul, aU of his own raiting and eacli in sutti- cient quantity to give a very good indication of its merits generally. T. B. Haywood is one of them and bears fine full flowers of a light crimson shade, in form resembling those ot Alfred Colomb. They are sweetly scented and the growth of the plant is robust. Haileybury is also a fine Rose which received an award ot merit at the last meeting of the Royal Hor- ticultural Society. It is even stronger in growth than T B. Haywood, has fine flowers of a most distinct shade of rose, which deepens into rosy crimson in the outer petals. Both of these are up to the exhibition standard, and may there- fore be safely tried by all growers. Bacchus attracted our notice at the Palace show, where Mr Paul had a bunch of it in a class for looses in bunches of not less than seven trusses. It should make a very good garden Rose, being of vigorous growth, and, judging from the suc- cessional buds developing, a true perpetual bloomer. Its beauty is in the bud ftate, and it free it will make a gay bush or give abundance „f flowers for cutting. The buds are long and pointed and of a rich velvet crimson. Ihe colour becomes duller as the flower expands, but even with all the wealth of red Hybrid Per- petuals there is room for Bacchus, with its bold rich buds, that can be cut with long shools. Alan Cheales is a distinct variety, witha globular flower of a soft rose colour, the innersurfaceof the petals a bright shade of rosy ceri.se, which fnves a pretty glow to the centre of the flower. Paul s Early Blush, though not new, may be mentioned as one of the acquisitions of recent years, charm- ing in its tender colour, but above all most valuable for tlie quality implied by its name- that of earlinesa. It is by a long way the earhest of light-coloured Roses, and Mr. Paul is pre- paring to plant a very large breadth of it solely for furnishing cut flowers, its earliness adding to its value for this purpose. We might remark here that Paul's Early Blush and Mrs. Harknesa are synonymous. A series of beds filled with some of the very best Roses for Grouping has been in the country now more than ten years, but not being up to show form, it has remained in comparative obscurity ; yet, m common with Mme. Charles, Mme. Falcot and others, it is just the Rose to make a gay group of lasting beauty. Gustave Regis, Mme. Pierre Cochet and Mme. Pernet-Ducher are all of similar character and certain to give a pleasing eff'ect to those who break away from the con- ventional plan of planting single plants and have a bold mass or group of them. Camoens, now well known, was very good, and we have its counterpart in another colour in Marquise de Salisbury, a recent addition that has been much praised and merits all that has been said in its favour. Cheshunt Scarlet is evidently one that must not be overlooked. Its flowers are brighter than those of Marquise de Salisbury, larger, borne erect in clusters and brilliant m effect. La Fraicheur also makes a pretty free- flowering group, most distinct in its shade of pink ; and Augustine Guinoisseau, in pale blush, makes one of the longest flowering and certainly one of the sweetest groups of any Rose. was an instructive feature, as one could see their merits at a glance. Mme. Chedane Guinoisseau was beautiful, each shoot crowned with a cluster of sweet and bright yellow buds. This Rose MULCHING ROSES. On paying a second visit to Colchester on July 2 I found a further secret of the success of some of the Rose growers in the application of a surface mulch of sewage, which I have found in a long practice one of the most useful and powerful stimulants for Roses. I happened to drop in whilst the last liquid mulch of the feason was be- ing applied by Messrs. Prior and Sons to large plantations of Roses, and amongst the extremely vigorous plants and forests of advancing buds it was ditticult to realise that zero frosts, scorching drought and whipping winds had prevailed on each side of these sloping banks of Roses through- out the year. Some may object to designating a sewage dressing a mulch, but I like the plirase. House and town sewage has, as a rule, sufticient solids in suspension to form a scum or deposit on the surface of the land, and if this is broken up or mixed with the soil by hoe, rake, or harrow, a sur- face covering or mulch of a very valuable sort is provided. Such feeding mulches as town or other iewage, however, should not be applied to Roses too late in the growing season, as such powerful stimulants continue growth and bloom too late in the year, and thus render the plants easier victims to winter or spring frosts. Ro=es however, on poor or shallow soils may be greatly 'benefited through their period of semi- dormancy by liberal dressings of sewage. It is important to bear in mind that Rose roots are seHom or ever at rest unless frost-bound, and lilse- wise that there is often a serious loss of sewage in winter which might be utilised in the nourishment ot the root runs of our Roses. The other mulch in general use through the great Colchester Rose grounds is 2 inches or so of loose soil. Neither water nor sewage is avail- able in the majority of the Rose gardens ; the soil in most of these may be described as a loam lean- ing to heaviness rather than friability— in fine, a Rose loam. This soil, improved by liberal and deep culture and alternating crops of roots and corn proves a sure and certain antidote to Rose sickness, and lays the foundation of success deep and strong. Other mulches, such as those of solid manures in various stages of decomposition, strawy litter, chaff tan, cocoa fibre refuse, ashes, burnt earth, &c are also used. But few have sufticient of thei-e to cover acres of ground. Neither are they needful, as is proved by the present vigorous growth and crowded blossoms on the Roses around Col- chester after months of parching drought, lo keep the moisture in the soil and the parching heat out, gangs of men with sharp hoes are con- stantly among the Roses keeping down weeds, up- rooting suckers, and forming a surface tilth almost invulnerable to the entrance of drought from above or the escape of moisture from below. So soon as they get to one side of the field of Roses thev return to whence they started, and so on and on whilst the drought lasts, strengthening, through hoeing, the surface mulch of earth. ^__ !>• T. P. Hose Emperor de Maroc— One so seldom meets with this old Rose, that I thought it had been discarded to make room for newer kinds. In Messrs. Jackman's Woking nurseries I saw a large batch of it. The flower is very dark, probably the darkest crimson of any Rose. The flower does not grow to a large size, nor is the form up to the stan- dard required by exhibitors, hence its scarcity, yet the plant is free-blooming and a fine Rose for the garden. — S. Rose Mrs. Anthony "Waterer.- This is a new Rose that has been raised by Mr. Anthony Waterer, Junr., of the Knap Hill Nursery, by crossing Rosa rugosa(syn., R. ferox) with the well- known Hybrid Perpetual General Jacqueminot. The result has been to produce a very beautiful Rose of free and graceful habit, with flowers of exceptional fragrance. The foliage, whilst quite difi'erent from that of R. rugosa, is suggestive more of that parent than the other. The leaves, consist- ing of five or seven leaflets, are firm in texture, serrated, and not so much wrinkled as in R. rugosa. The petioles and the branches are armed with small decurved spines, stouter and less needle-like than those of the parent species. The flowers are semi- double and of a rich crimson col- our, the outside of the petals having a rosy tinge. They are, I think, equal in the sweetness and strength of their fragrance to any other Rose, and the profuse flowering character of this hybrid may be judged by the fact that this year between seventy and eighty flowers, each measuring from •,i inches to 4 inches across, have been produced on a single branch of last year's growth. In habit it is more spreading and elegant than R. rugosa. — W. J. B. Garden Flora. PLATE 1023. THE BAHAMAS MALLOW. (with a COLOUBED plate of SPH.EKALCEA ABUTILOIDBS.*) This plant belongs to the Mallow family wWch is most familiar to us in gardens by the Holly- hock and Abutilon. Although it was singled out by the artist as a plant worthy of a place among the portraits in the "Garden Flora, the plate would not give one the impression ot the plant being such a beautiful one as it really is though the elegance of a flowering spray is admirably shown. It appears to be an old crarden plant, having been introduced from the Bahamas 170 years ago, and re-mtroduoed to Kew a few years since, from whence we hope it will be again distributed to English gardens. It is a ..reenhouse plant, or rather should be grown in a warm greenhouse. Its chief value as a garden plant lies in the fact that it blooms m winter, when it is specially welcome. The specimen ficrured would lead one to suppose it to be ot stl-aaaling growth, but herbarium specimens at Kew^how it to be very robust. It is a wild plant with Abutilon-like leaves twice the size of those drawn, and flowers freely on stout stems. Probably it would prove more valuable for winter flowering if it were planted out during summer. Well-flowered plants of it in midwinter are unusually attractive, the deli- » Drawn for The Garden in the Royal Gardens, Kew by H G. Moon, January 11, 1895. Lithographed and printed by Guillaume Severeyns. I SPMlRALCEA (MALVA) abutiloides. ''-m July 20, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 43 cate colour being effective, as in the temperate house at Kew, while the plants last in bloom a long time. There are many Sphceralceas, but only a few seem to be suitable as showy garden plants. In turning over the specimens at Kew I came across some very fine species, which appear to be all Mexican and South American. Besides S. abutiloides, the others of a similar character are S. umbellata, with fine heads of large flowers borne in an umbellate way and broad palmate leaves ; S. nutans, with very large AbutUon-like flowers and also Vine-like foliage ; S. vitifolia, with leaves like the common Vine and large showy flowers. Both S. umbellata and S. nutans are, I believe, in cultivation, and there is a fine specimen from Mr. Gumble- ton, in whose garden in Ireland the plant ap- pears to grow with native vigour. These Sphse- ralceas I have named are not merely of botani- cal interest, but really fine plants that one should be able to obtain in the best nurseries, and it ought not now-a-days to be a diflicult matter to obtain seeds from their native habitats. W. G. The Week's Work. HAKDY FRUITS. Strawberries. — In spite of the drought in most parts of the kingdom, the plants, when well treated in the way of food and often renewed, have given good crops. The cultivator will now be making preparations for another season. There is considerable gain by growing young plants in such seasons as this and 1893, as being more robust, they are better able to resist drought, the soil can be more highly cultivated, and the return is much better, the fruits larger and of better quality. Another point often lost sight of is that young plants are less subject to insect pests and stronger. The soil for future crops should now be prepared by deep digging, or trenching if re- quired. Strawberries may with advantage follow crops that have not been a long time in the soil, but even then ample supplies of food are essential, as it must be borne in mind that quick growth and large and well-matured crowns are necessary. In shallow soils it is useless to trench ; deep digging will suffice, feeding from the surface afterwards. No matter what position be given, much depends upon the plants, mode of planting, and after- management. At this season it is well to take into consideration the value of new varieties. To plant these wholesale is not advisable, as it is well to see how they thrive in the soil. From most quarters a very good account is given of the new Koyal Sovereign, and as far as my own experience goes I consider it a good variety for all soils where earliness, size and quality are considered. For late work the useful Latest of All is well worthy of a trial. Whatever kinds are planted it is important to get strong runners and to plant as early as possible. Lateeini: for planting. — When the layers of new varieties or others are procured from a dis- tance, it is well to get them sufficiently strong for planting. At times they are sent none too strong, and it is well to pot up such into small pots, plac- ing under a north wall or shading for a short time. In this way no time will be lost, as if planted as received there are losses and much labour in watering. Small runners may also be planted in lines rather closely, and put out early in the spring they make fine material for another year, but should not be allowed to fruit the same season as planted. When plants are secured from home-grown stock, they should be layered as soon as possible. I do not think small pots can be beaten, although equally good results may be secured by placing some good soil in the rows between the plants and firmly pegging the strong runners into the new soil, taking away iurplus growth and keeping the runners watered daily. Another older, but still good method is to chop square pieces of turf and plunge in the alleys, layering the runners into the turf. Planting Strawberries. — Firm planting is most important, as unless the plants are well trodden in in light land growth is not robust, and in winter the frost lifts the plants out of the earth. It is a good plan to draw drills in light soils, this allowing of watering freely. The dis- tance between the plants depends upon the variety and the space at command. There is no gain in crowding ; 2 feet is none too much be- tween the rows, and more should be given for plants fruited more than one year, 18 inches being allowed between the plants. For such va- rieties as King of the Earlies, Black Prince, or Alpine these distances do not apply, 12 inches between the plants being sufficient if not left too long in one place. I only allow one crop of fruit, and requiring many runners for forcing I plant at 2^ feet apart in the row with 12 inches between the plants, planting at the end of July or early in August strong rooted runners. These soon attain a good size, and are not allowed to fruit the first season after planting. When the runners are ob- tained, every other plant in the row is cut out and the beds left to fruit the following season. In planting it is well to spread out the roots so that the top roots are well covered, but not to bury the leaves or the centre of the plant, and to give ample moisture in dry weather. Early Strawberry beds. — Those who can devote a small space on a south or raised border would do well to plant specially for early fruits. Many can devote a small sjjaoe in front of fruit houses on borders with the Vine or Peach roots inside, and in such a position may gather fruits ten days in advance of the open quarters, as it is easy to protect a small plot and to thin the early fruits. A few dishes in advance are valuable and greatly prolong the Strawberry season. In late springs or cold weather such quarters may readily be covered with a few spare lights or hand-glasses. For this purpose Noble answers well ; it may not be all one may desire as regards flavour, but it comes large, is of a bright colour and very early. Planting may be done at 2 feet or even less if grown for one year's fruit, and for this purpose it is not wise to fruit longer, early and large fruit being secured from young plants. Late beds are almost as important as very early ones. A north border is a good position for the late lot, and the heavier the soil the better. I have noted the importance of Latest of All, a new va- riety for late use, and which so far surpasses the Pine section, and will thrive where British Queen fails. Oxonian, Waterloo, and Elton Pine are all suitable for north borders. To these should be added Aberdeen Favourite, superior in flavour to Oxonian, and a valuable late variety. The same cultural details are necessary as advised for the earlier crop, but if possible more space should be given to allow of mulching and keeping the plants clear, the growth being more robust. For late fruit I do not advi.se a slopins border, as the moisture so necessary for the plants is di-ained away. Plenty of space is required between the rows to prevent mildew being troublesome in wet seasons and to allow the fruit to dry freely. Raspberries. — To prolong the crop, which in this district is a heavy one, it is well to mulch freely, using partially-decayed manure, as the latter will retain the waterings which will be re- quired and assist the new growths at the base to grow freely. In light gravelly soils this fruit soon fails if not given moisture. It is well to reduce all suckers, as these absorb the moisture so necessary for the plants, and though a few of the best or strongest suckers will be necessary to grow on, these should now be selected, and not more than six left at each stool, finally thinning to three or four when the crop is cleared. The strong kinds, of which Superlative is one of the best, are more vigorous than older kinds, and should not be crowded. After the crop of the early kinds is cleared the old fruiting canes should be cut out, thus throwing all the vigour into next season's fruiting canes. Autumn frditing raspberries. — These, where at all thick, may be thinned if very fine fruits are desired, and in some places it is necessary to tie out the canes to admit light and air. The same remarks apply as regards mulching, but of course the reverse treatment as regards sucker growth. To induce plenty of fruiting spurs from strong canes it is well to top the last-named, this causing a much better set, and in seasons of drought or in light soil a good watering with liquid manure is well repaid. G. Wythes. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. Latest Celery'. — In most places rain has now fallen, and it will be well to get out late-raised Celery. If pricked out in warm nooks and cor- ners at the time advised and kept well watered it will now be fine stuff, not at all liable to run to seed either in late autumn or early spring. With a favourable autumn this very late batch will often grow to a respectable size, quite fit for table use and to mix in the salad bowl. If not, however, it is always useful to use for flavouring and soups, the main lots being spared for more important purposes. The trenches need not be quite so deep as usual and the plants may be rather closer to each other. When planting is completed, if a good mulch of old Mushroom ma- nure is spread down each side of the rows and one good soaking given, it will generally take care of itself until freeing the sticks from suckers and the first earthing up are done. If the two varieties Leicester Red and Standard-bearer are grown as advised at sowing time, there will not be one in a hundred that will perish through rot, be the winter ever so wet, as sown and brought on in quite a cool temperature their constitution is so hardy. Coleworts. — The present is the best time for making the principal sowing of the good old hardy London Colewort. Purchase the seed from some reliable house, as there are inferior strains of this vegetable which run out coarse and flavour- less. I usually sow mine on a south-east border from which early Potatoes or Peas have been cleared. This I prefer to a due south one, as the young seedlings are more easily kept moist and they do not come on so rapidly. The beds are simply marked out and the seed sown broadcast, scuffling it in beneath the surface with a small rake, finally treading and levelling. I always net my Colewort beds as soon as the seed is sown, as if postponed the seed often comes up before one is aware of it, and the chaffinches get them all. My dates of sowing are the 7th of July and from the 15th to the 20th ; the latter sowing often proves most serviceable if the autumn is very warm and the first batch grows away too speedily. There are still very many gardeners who do not grow Coleworts, but all should do so, as nothing equals them for hardiness and flavour. Cabbages. — I am not an advocate for extra early sowings of spring Cabbage, as frequently in very mild autumns the plants grow so rapidly, that should very sharp frosts occur in December, they get such a check that they heart in at that season when the Coleworts are plentiful and preferable, and thus time and labour are lost. In large gardens, however, where ground is not an object a sowing may be made about the loth or 12th of the month, but not of the very earliest varieties, these being more susceptible to the evil above referred to than the larger varieties, such as Enfield Market. Of course, in northern, cold districts the above date may be chosen for the main crop sowing, otherwise from the 25th to the end of the month will suit best. I make a second sowing the second week in August to follow the first batch of EUam's, Cocoa-nut, and Earliest of All, and tor putting into frames for winter pro- tection a small sowing should be made about the 20th of August. Do not confine yourself to one or even two sorts ; three or four should be grown, bolting and other failures being thus guarded against. Early Offenham, Mein's No. 1, and Early Rainham, which some think identical with EUam's, are all capital Cabbages of very rich 44 THE GARDEN. [July 20, 1895. flavour. Sow on the level in preference to raised beds and protect from birds. The red pickling Cabbages may be sown with the second batch of spring varieties, and a little seed also with the latest for wintering in frames. Cucumber house. — Plants which have been bearing fruit since March will in many instances show signs of semi-exhaustion, and must be treated accordingly. If others, either in houses or in pits, are now bearing, it will be well to allow the first-named lot a partial rest. Thin out the wood freely, leaving only that which is more robust and free from spider. Give a good rich surface- dress- ing and feed liberally twice a week. Keep the foliage well syringed, close early, and allow no fruit to swell off for three weeks or so ; if a little freedom in growth is allowed instead of close tying in it will aid the plants to grow out of their weak state, and the growths can be tied in when the plants are again allowed to bear more fruit. I have previously spoken in praise of Perpetual Bearer both as a house and frame variety, and this season my high opinion of it is strengthened. It has a grand constitution, the fruit grows rapidly and in great numbers, the quality being good. If wanted for exhibition it may be had 26 inches long, with the flower still on the end. This would make a capital Cucumber for market. In surfacing Cucumber beds always use plenty of opening material, such as mortar rubble, so as to allow of the copious waterings passing away freely. Much harm is often done to Cucumber plants that have been bearing for some time by al- lowing the fruit to hang on too long, thus unneces- sarily robbing the plants of their vitality. The fruit should be cut as soon as ready and placed in cool quarters, the stem end being laid in damp Moss. Cucumbers that are the least aged should not be used in the salad bowl, as they impart a bitter flavour to the salad and are not wholesome. Blanks in winter stuff. — Owing to the pro- tracted drought during June, a good many blanks have occurred in quarters of winter greens, espe- cially Brussels Sprouts, these having taken the disease commonly known as "finger and toe." The foliage then rapidly changes from a green to a sickly bluish colour and generally becomes in- fested with insects. These blanks should now be made good from the seed-beds, and if the young plants are at all overgrown, take out a good sized hole and make the soil about the roots very moist ; they will then go away. It is useless pull- ing up these extra large plants in the usual way and planting with a dibble, as thereby all the principal rootlets are ruined. Of course, where any extra late sowings of sprouts and Kale were made, the plants from these beds may be used, as with a fine autumn they will yet make good-sized stems and be extra valuable on account of yielding their sprouts later. If any healthy plants of late Broccoli, such as Late Queen, Methven's June or Model are still in the seed beds, they may be planted on a north border, if such can be spared, from which some other crop has been cleared, no further disturbance of the ground being advis- able. In such positions Broccoli often stands the winter better than in more open sunny ones, growth being more gradual and less sappy, the hard root-run assisting this. J. Crawford. with Water Lilies. The clear water, large green leaves and great quantity of charming white flowers produced a picture that my pen fails to do justice to. In the shrubberies the frost of last winter has made no unsightly g.^ps, and not a tree or bush has required cutting back. Roses also escaped injury, and the Teas in the Rose garden were covered with very fine blooms and buds. Carnations are very extensively grown in nearly all known varieties, Mrs. Reynolds-Hole, Miss Joliffe, Uriah Pike, Andrew Campbell, King Arthur, and Miss E. Terry being extra good. Sweet Peas are grown in great variety and quan- tity, as they are so much appreciated for room decoration ; in fact, all flowers that will travel well are largely grown. In the kitchen garden the crops looked remarkably well for such a try- ing season. The fruit at Holme Lacy has long been famous, and is now well kept up to its past standard of excellence. Pears of all sorts are par- ticularly fine, the well known cordons on the wall being especially good. Apples and Plums are bear- ing profusely ; some standard trees of Blenheim Orange are bending down now with the heavy crop. Melons and Tomatoes are grown in quan- tity and their general condition left nothing to be desired. — W. (i. C. Kitchen Garden. Notes from Holme Lacy. — A great feature of the place is the immense Yew hedges surround- ing the flower garden. Some idea of the size and extent of these hedges may bo formed when it is stated that it takes two men six weeks to trim them once. The flower garden is well protected from cold winds by the high thick hedges, and at the time of my visit (end of June) presented a gorgeous appearance, two Tropfuolums — Mrs. Cli- bran, a splendid yellow, and the better known Vesuvius — being very fine. Herbaceous plants are grown in two long borders backed by the Yew hedges. The drought apparently had not affected the plants in the least, as they all looked remark- ably healthy ; one plant of Liliiim giganteum, with eight flowers on a spike, was particularly striking. A short distance away are the lakes, well stocked CABBAGE FOR SPRING SUPPLIES. Those who require early spring Cabbages must now make preparations. In giving advice at this season it will be necessary to take into account localities, soils and varieties. It is most difficult to draw a hard-and-fast line as to the exact date for sowing. Every grower has a certain date for sowing, but those who may have failed previously will be guided by the growth of the plants and sow accordingly. On the other hand, I do not advise undue delay, as small weak plants do not winter well. I do not rely upon one sowing. Much depends upon the variety, as a large coarse Cabbage raised too early invariably bolts, whereas such kinds as Ellam's may be sown at any date from July 10 to July 20, and will not run if there is no check in planting out or crowding in the seed bed. I need scarcely refer to tho value of spring Cabbages. Few crops are more valuable, and few vegetables more appreciated after a long winter. To obtain a good breadth of Cabbage as early as possible in the spring the grower must be on the alert at this date and select a variety that will not run, and the earlier it turns in the more valuable the crop. I am writing from a private grower's point of view, as for market much larger heads may be necessary. Still, even for that purpose I fail to see the gain, as .smaller kinds with compact folding leaves winter best, do not run with extremes of weather, and being planted more closely together there is a larger number, which, with earliness, makes up for size. Ellam's Dwarf is, in ray opinion, the very best for first crop, owing to its hardiness, earliness, and freedom from running. Out of many thousands this spring, after a severe winter, not one plant bolted. I commenced to cut the third week in April (a little later than usual), but taking the winter into account, not a bad record. Mein's No. 1 is also very similar, but with me Ellam's turns in first. It has the same good qualities as regards hardiness and freedom from running, and on heavy clay land, I think is superior to Ellam's, being stronger. Veitch's Matchless is another good early form, with small leaves and compact growth, some- what like Mein's No. 1, but broader, not so conical, most desirable for autumn sowing, and of delicate flavour. The above varieties may be relied upon in all soils and localities. Mein's No. 1 should be grown in exposed positions or in wet clayey .'oil. For light land Ellam's is the most reliable if well treated and sown at the proper date, with plenty of room for the plants to develop. Sowing is an important detail, but, as previously stated, is ruled by the locality. I sow on July 10 and 20. The reason for two sowings is that if the plants from the former are too large, those from the second are mostly planted. Generally the first sowing is a small one ; only a limited number is planted and the plants are treated diflferently. They are planted in deeply-dug, heavily-manured land, and in a mild season are fit to cut eaily in March, but if otherwise, such plants sufler severely and are little earlier than those from the chief sowing ten days later. The plants sown at the later date are planted in large quantities and mostly on hard land. Drills are drawn in the ground just cleared of the Onion crop, no digging or forking being done, and the growth is hard, sturdy, and able to resist frost. There are no losses, and though growth may not be so luxuriant in the autumn, the plants are not injured so much and start away freely as the days lengthen. It may be asked, why make two sun'ings if the later is so superior 1 But should the winter be favour- able there are two strings to one's bow. Kales and Brussels Sprouts run so soon in the early spring, that the first-sown Cabbages are most valuable, and if a fortnight earlier than others, worth the little trouble. Thin sowing should be practised, and a large bed for the seeds is necessary. A flat surface in the open should be prepared, giving ample moisture before and after sowing in dry weather. I also advise sowing broadcast, well covering the seeds with soil, in light soil treading the beds before sowing to give a firm root hold. Early planting is advisable, not allowing the plants to get large. Should the ground not be ready to plant it is better to prick off into lines for a time, lifting into the permanent quarters later on, and planting with a trowel. Assist- ance may be given in the way of protect- ing the stems. My plan is to well firm the plants early in December by treading down each side of the row, afterwards moulding up well This preserves the stem and protects from east winds, so injurious after frost. It is advantageous to feed early in the year in mild, showery weather with guano or liquid manure. G. Wythes. Late French Beans.— It frequently happens that runner Beans are cut down by an early frost even in September, and if a few plants of a dwarf kind are grown specially for late dishes, they may be given protection. I have grown both the runner and dwarf varieties for this purpose, bub the dwarfs are the best for the latest supplies. If the runners are grown they require to be topped at 15 inches from the soil and to be sown in rows, so that they may readily be covered. The new climbing French Bean is well adapted for late use if stopped, as it produces so freely and is of ex- cellent quality. For late sowing Ne Plus Ultra and the larger Canadian Wonder are the most productive; the latter variety, if given a few sticks to supjrart the tops, may be readily covered with canvas or mats. Many shifts can be made to have a late supply. It is not necessary to grow under walls unless frames or span-lights can be aflbrded to cover the crop. I find that by sowing in the open on a raised border the plants dry sooner in dull weather and frost is not so injurious. I have for years sown this crop after the first early Potatoes, and a fine return the plants give. Whatever position is aff'orded them the ground July 20, 1895.] THE GARDEN 45 should be well worked, as a good root-run is esse-itial. If the soil is dry it is well to draw the drills and saturate the soil before sowing, also re- peating the watering after the seed is covered, thinning out early, and not crowding in any way. — G. W. S. Pits and frames. — These where used for grow- ing early vegetables should now be cleared of all Pea haulm and other refu.'^e, the soil turned up so as to admit plenty of sun and air and to receive the rains so as to be in a fit state for Endive, Lettuce, Cauliflower and other similar subjects in autumn for winter protection. — J. Crawford. CLUB IN CABBAGES. Is there a fertiliser with which Cabbages, &c., might be watered two or three times a week as a preventive to the club? Uo 3'ou consider that watering in the hot weather would increase the growth of the plants and be a check to this pest ? — E. T. H. *,* Root disease would appear to be more pre- valent than usual this season, and the blanks created among breadths of Cauliflowers, Cab- bages, and such like are very annoying. Where trouble in this direction has previously been ex- perienced, preventive measures ought alwajs to be taken. In many instances the roots of plants in the seed beds will have commenced clubbing before they are large enough to put out. Some- times it is caused by the grub of a small beetle or weevil, and occasionally the maggot of a midge or fly is responsible for the mischief. A free use of soot and lime, forking it into the surface of the bed before sowing the seed, has a deterrent effect, and so also has sand soaked in petroleum, the surface of the bed being dressed with this every week or ten days. Before planting examine the underground portion of stem of each plant, and cleanly cut away every small excrescence or wart there found, following this up with the old- fashioned remedy of puddling the roots of all the plants. Form a puddle with clay, soot, lime and water, a wineglassful of petroleum being also added with advantage, and drag the roots through this so as to thoroughly coat them and the lower portion of the stems with the puddle. Thus treated, they seem to feel the check of removal less than when not puddled, and are seldom in- terfered with by either maggots or wireworms afterwards. It is on stale, indifferently culti- vated ground that grubs most often gain the ascendancy, and " E. T. H." will do well to do all he can towards promoting a vigorous growth of plants by way of prevention of club root. Newly- slaked lime at the rate of one bushel per rod ought to be forked into the surface of the pre- viously well-manured ground, and after the plants have been put out, all being carefully fixed, clear water should be given for a time, or for the first week or so, afterwards giving liquid manure fre- quently. Nitrate of soda or that in mixture with superphosphate of limp, dissolved at the rate of one ounce to a gallon of water, would be the best form of fertiliser for the purpose. Apply at first round the plants, but when the latter are grow- ing strongly draw mould up to the stems and pour the liquid manure freely along the furrows. Petroleum is one of the best insecticides ever dis- covered, and in extreme cases of club root I would advise soaking sand in it and mixing the latter freely with the soil in which the Cabbages are planted.— W. I. Defoliating Tomatoes. — Mr. Iggulden's notes on this subject bring vividly to my mind an incident that occurred in an Essex garden some years ago. Tomato growing on open walls was more safe and profitable then than now, and in the garden in question the crop on plants grow- ing between the Peach trees on a south wall was very heavy ; the foliage also was very dense, and in order to expose the fruit somewhat to the action of the sun, the gardener instructed one of his men to go over the plants and remove a leaf here and there and to shorten others. Instead of this, however, he all but entirely defoliated the plants, to the great annoyance of the gardener. In the course of a few days a neighbouring gar- dener came over, and on seeing what had been done said nothing, but went home and gave orders for his plants to be similarly treated. Shortly after this the first named gardener paid him a visit, and on his expressing surprise at the way the plants were mutilated was met with the reply, " When I was in your garden a few days ago I saw yours had been similarly treated, and I thought that as you were a good gardener the practice must be right." The occurrence afforded a little amusement at the time, but it is almost needless to say that neither of the crops of To- matoes was in the end satisfactory either in point of weight or quality. I quite agree with Mr. Iggulden that under certain circumstances a partial thinning out and shortening of leaves are necessary, but that excess in the matter does more harm than good. — J. Crawford. I quite agree with W. Iggulden respecting the bad habit of defoliating Tomato plants ; I have always considered it a barbarous method. I also quite agree as to the fault of planting too closely, which is a common error. Some three years since I had 7000 plants under glass, and although some of the foliage was shortened and the side-growths pinched off', I never allowed the plants to be cut up into scarecrows; indeed, at some places where they are planted 1 foot apart each way scarcely a leaf is to be seen. — Edw. Bennett, Jyne, Ohcrtsey. Tomatoes for Christmas. — By sowing a few seeds now there is no difficulty in having a good supply and of fair quality at Christmas. A pan of seed should be sown now in a warm house, and when the seedlings are well above the soil re- moved to a close frame, potted off into small pots and grown near the light, potting again into 6-inch pots when large enough. Expose during the night and merely shade during the hottest parts of the day after repotting. These will make strong plants fit to place in pots two or three sizes larger by the end of August. Stand the plants on a hard bottom fully exposed and keep all lateral growths removed. Plants grown thus will set fruit all up the stem by early October. If placed in a warm house with a free circulation of air, and well fed, the fruit will soon swell and give a good supply through November and December. In sow- ing for this crop I have found none to equal Con- ference and Conqueror. — S. H. B. Tomatoes not setting. — My experience is that, as a rule, the corrugated varieties of Toma- toes set better than the emooth ones. There are, however, exceptions to this rule, as in the case of Ladybird and Webbs Regina ; both of these comparatively new sorts set most freely, and that, too, on the bottom clusters of bloom. Both of these Tomatoes are of medium size only, but most useful for private gardens, especially where the fruit is eaten in a raw state. Of the ribbed varieties I do not think there is a better than the old dwarf Orangefield when obtained true. Certainly there is no better cropper or better flavoured sort, but we seldom meet with it now-a- days, its ungainly shape, I suppose, telling against it. -J. C. Marrows in the open. — In forward localities these will now be in free growth and showing fruit. Where, however, a supply is being had from frame plants it will be advisable to ease the open air plants for a little while thereby strength- ening them for future work. If the plants are healthy and fairly vigorous, do not be induced to feed too liberally, as should the weather turn humid and sunless with cold nights disease will be likely to lay hold of them. The old-fashioned plan of growing Marrows on manure heaps is fast dying out, and rightly so, as the system had nothing to recommend it. A grcss sappy growth often results, and if the summer is extra hot some good Marrows may be cut, but in opposite seasons a fruit here and there is the general rule, the majority of blooms fail to set at all or the fruit turns yellow in quite a young state. Younger batches of plants must be encouraged to grow freely by plenty of root moisture and a good mulch of short litter. The longer the plants can be kept in a fruitless condition, provided they are not rampant, the better, as they will then be in good form for following the first lot and keeping up the supply until cut down by frost. — C. JUNE IN SOUTH DEVON. The mean average temperature of the past month has been 57 '8°, or 1'7° below the mean average for the last sixteen years, but exactly the same as that for the much duller month of June, 1894. On five days the thermometer on the grass fell below 40 S", the lowest reading being 39° on the Kith and 2flth, the highest reading in the screen being 78-0" on the 24th. The rainfall for the month has amounted to '98 of an inch against 2 .~)6 inches last year, andan average for sixteen years of 238, thetotalamountregistered since January 1 reaching 11 '76 inches against 14 '96 inches in 1894. Sunshine, 273'5 hours, has been considerably above the average, which is 225 '5 hours, and still further above that registered during the corresponding month of 1894, which amounted to but 184 3 hours, though in June, 1893, the sun shone for 293 '65 hours, thus exceeding by over 20 hours the past month's record. The wind throughout the month has been light and variable, a very different state of affairs from June, 1894, which was phenomenally windy. The midsummer month is prodigal in the matter of flowers. Lilies, Irises, herbaceous perennials and annuals vieing with each other in their profusion of bloom. The first June Lily has been L. davuricum, the erect flowers of a clump of twenty bulbs forming a patch of orange-scarlet and following hard on the May- blooming L. pyrenaicum. Then came in order the slender-stemmed L. tenuifolium, its blooms spots of vivid red in the shaded Lily bed ; L. Martagon with its dull purple Turk'scaps and the lovely white variety (L. M. album); then L. cro- ceum, its strong 4-feet high flower-stems shoot- ing up through the foliage of herbaceous Pteonies ; and lastly, L. pardalinum, one bulb of which more precocious than its fellows produced its blossoms during June. Many other Lilies are to come, the tallest, L. giganteum, already 9 feet in height and 10 inches in circumference of stalk at the ground level, missing by a few days being classed among the June flowerers. Irises of the Spanish and English sections planted in large clumps of de- cided colours have made a brilliant display. Care should be taken to procure good named varieties at the outset and to keep them separate, the effect of a group of mixed tints being patchy and un- satisfactory compared with the breadth of colour obtained if the varieties are kept distinct. Of Spanish Irises, Golden King is a fine orange ; Yellow King and Canary Bird, seemingly synony- mous, are good light yellows ; Snow Queen the most satisfactory white that I have tried, and Celestial, a pretty light blue. Of English Irises, the common blue and the white Mont Blanc or La Grandesse, both being equally good, make a perfect contrast. Spanish Irises should have a lighter soil than is necessary for their English relatives, which do well here in heavy loam. I. Kaempferi — since I was aided by " C. J.'s" note (p. 521, vol. xlvi. ) to the effect that it should be grown in leaf-mould and well-rotted manure — has done grandly, the large clump flowering superbly during the past month. Iris ochroleuca, I. aurea and I. Monnieri, planted close to a little streamlet, opened the first blooms during the last week of June, their tall flanged leaves and flower-spikes rising through an undergrowth of Spir:va japonica and S. filipendula, both at the perfection of their feathery inflorescence. In another portion of the garden a large plant of S. aruncus, nearly 6 feet high, has been a mass of flower, and S. ariiefolia will be in full bloom by the end of the present week. The double white Rockets have flowered throughout the month, and (iladiolus Colvillei The Bride with G. insignis have borne their white 46 THE GARDEN [July 20, 1895. and red spikes in close proximity, The Bride being a few days the earlier of the two Masses of pure white Antirrhinum grouped with scarlet Lychnis chalcedonica have also been very effective, ana associated with low-growing subjects such as Phacelia campanularia, (Enothera \oungi, Aga^ tha'a ccelestis and Tradescantia virgmica, which flower at a like time, save the borders from the appearance of formality that is unavoidable when the occupants are all of similar height. Here and there irregular patches of Alstrcemerias have mingled their delicate gradation of tints with the white of the double Campanula persicifolia and ot the border Pinks. Campanula grandis and its white variety, with C. latifolia, light blue Del- phiniums and white Foxgloves lifted their spires of bloom above the clumps of autumn-flowering perennial Sunflowers, herbaceous Phloxes and Michaelmas Daisies. The June sunshine hastened the display of the Canterbury Bells (purple white and pink). Coreopsis lanceolata and scarlet Zinnias in the open beds ; while in cool, shady spots the white Violas, Forget-me-nots and hybrid Aqui- legias still continued to flower in scarcely diminished loveliness ; and in a damp depression of the ground, close to the water's edge, Mimulus variegStus sent up a thicket of stems fully 2 feet high, crowned with a wealth of showy golden and blood-red blossoms. The large fringed orange blooms of Inula glandulosa expanded in unwonted profusion, and the creamy heads of Thalictrum aquilegifolium, composed of countless flowers individually inconspicuous, attracted at noon- tide an even larger host than usual of bees. The last of the herbaceous Pa;onies— Leonie, a white, shading into delicate blush-has been one of the most beautiful, and the flowers of Canna Ehmanni iridiflora, though perhaps not possessing quite the brilliance of tint attained in the new dwarf race, added a striking note of colour but seldom met with in the garden. 1 his Uanna, which flowers until cut by the autumn frosts, when well grown will often reach a height otb feet, and produce leaves that are almost as hand- some as those of the Musas. Ofer a pergola, fashioned from rough Larch poles, a white Jas- mine has wreathed the leaves and tendrils of the Vines with which it is covered with white odorous clusters of blossom. At the base of a support by which one of the Vines is planted, an Ivy-leaved Geranium, Souvenir de Charles Turner, in a grey- green old Lucca oil jar, has perfected quite a quantity of large brilliant-tinted trusses that show up well against the celadon of the jar and the tender green of the climbing Vine. Roses have been most beautiful, but very short- lived, basketfuls cut each morning, to be suc- ceeded ere evening by another flower harvest. Teas and Hybrid Teas are the favourites here. Viscountess Folkestone with shell-pink, loosely folded petals being considered to bear the palm as a decorative variety, but where all are exqui- site, judgment is as difficult as was that of Paris, and, swayed by no temptation to be unduW partial, the guerdon— " For the most beautiful —remains unawarded. The Austrian Copper and yellow Briers, Harrisoni and Persian Yellow, when planted thickly are most effective, a hedge of the different varieties which separates the flower from the kitchen garden having been a marvellous revelation of vivid colouring. Before leaving the subject of Roses I must admit to having been sadly disappointed by Crimson Rambler. It may be effective at a distance, but to my mind it is over-rated. I am aware that in this opinion I shall, judging by the flourish of trumpets with which this Rose was received, be at variance with the majority, and that by my confession I lay myself open to the reproach ot being a person of bad taste, but this knowledge does not shake my conviction, The Weigelas and Svringas have blossomed well, a tall bush of the latter large-flowered Philadelphus 10 feet in height, with graceful sprays smothered in starry cups, and its beauty enhanced by the green background of the shrubbery at the edge of which it stood, seeming in its white array the very brirle cf .June. Despite the drought of the last two months, the young Apple trees are looking remarkably healthy and making satisfactory growth, the foliage being dark green and very free from blight and insect pests. f'- vv . J! . HANDLIGHTS. The accompanying illustration shows a very nice handlight which was once made and perhaps put into the hands of dealers and nurserymen, but of that I cannot be sure. It was made, I believe, under Sir Joseph Paxtoii, for Chatsworth, and, besides Chiswick House, it is the only other place where I have seen it. i he bars are extremely light for cast iron, not more than one-eighth of an inch thick anywhere and it has features which ought to be recorded as suffCTestions to others interested. The most noticeable of these is a peculiar way of cham- fering or sloping upwards the top of the body break the glass on being nested. They;ought also to be made of ordinary brass, although the rigidity of the cast iron is a help when a crack occurs, for it is yet stiff enough to stand. D. % ,f-.^\f)f^jffi A useful handlight. From a drawing by Mr. A. Dawson. Chrysanthemums. section with a corresponding internal chamfer on the lower edge of the top piece. This is repeated also on the lower edge of the body, and as a consequence it is easy to pile up these bodies two or three stories high before adding the top ^ Suppose you wish for seed from a fine Pink or other plant. By having one or more of the body sections either partly glazed or without . — E. BurrelIj. Genista virgata. - This is one of the^ finest Brooms in cultivation, and it is somewhat singu- lar if it be a native of Madeira that it should be so little injured by the severe weather experi- enced during the early part of the present year. My reason for suggesting any doubt as to its- native country is that there have been so many conflicting accounts of this particular Broom, that one additional error may easily creep in. At Kew it was grown for many years under the name of Genista elata, but it is now changed to G. virgata. Then, referring to the " Dictionary of Gardening," matters are still further compli- cated, for there G. virgata is said to reach a height of 3 feet to 4 feet, while at the time that work was compiled the large bushes at Kew would be in some cases at least nearly 12 feet high. Clearly two separate plants are here in- tended. It should be easy to prove if this Genista is really a native of Madeira, for the man- ner in which it passed through the last winter raises a certain amount of doubt, more especially J0LT 20, 1895,J THE GARDEN 49 when the conflicting character of its nomencla- ture is taken into consideration. — H. P. Spiraea arisefolia.— This beautiful shrubby Spiriea is now lovely. A tall bush covered with white panicles of bloom, some with the minute flowers fully expanded hanging in downy plumes, some on the point of opening their blossoms, is charming. An isolated position should, if possible, be chosen for this Spir;i;a, that its graceful form may be seen to the best advantage. Too often it is relegated to the shrubbery, where, though it exists, it is shorn of half its beauty. It is not particular as to soil, but grows to the greatest size and per- fection in damp situations. It is easily propagated by division of the roots, and when once established increases in size rapidly. — S. W. F. Brica ciliaris alba. — The plant referred to by "E." under the above name in The Garden of June 29 (p. 4o8) must surely be wrongly named, and I should imagine it either a white variety of E. cinerea or E. tetralix. Erica ciliaris is a late flowering and very handsome hardy Heath, by no means common in gardens, and, so far as I am aware, there is no white variety of it in cultiva- tion, although a white form would be a most desir- able plant. The fact that the plant alluded to was in profuse bloom points to its being something else, as E. ciliaris if in flower at all would not have many blooms out so early. — H. Azalea occidentalis. — The chief value of this species consists in its flowering later than the ordinary Ghent Azaleas, thus lengthening the Azalea season by several weeks. Compared with some of the best of the earlier flowering sorts — whose tints, however, can scarcely be rivalled among outdoor shrubs either in softness or bril- liancy— it cannot be described as showy. The flowers are, nevertheless, produced abundantly and in good-sized trusses ; each bloom about 2 inches in diameter and, with the exception of a pale yellow blotch on one petal, pure white. Their sweet fragrance adds not a little to their charm. The species has already been taken in hand by Mr. Anthony Waterer, of Knap Hill, with a view to the production of a race of Azaleas which shall at once extend the season of these shrubs and possess some of the delightful colour- ing of the earlier flowering varieties. Judging by the specimens he has already exhibited, we may confidently expect a large measure of success. — B. Stove and Greenhouse. TILLANDSIA DURATI. This Tillandsia (one of the finest, if not the finest, of the southern Bromeliads) is cue of the few species of the genus which have sweet- scented flowers. Nearly all the plants of this family are scentless. In tropical regions the only species, perhaps, which is known to have scented flowers is Tillandsia fragrans. This species, which has fragrant white flowers, I have collected in Ecuador, where it is found growing at an altitude of 2500 metres. On the other hand, some of the species found in La Plata, such as Tillandsia Durati, T. xiphioides, &c., have deliciously scented flowers, and it would appear as if the perfume was a kind of compensation bestowed upon those species which cannot boast of handsome foliage, striking stature, or brilliant bracts and flowers. These poorer forms of a family which in Brazil, on the Andes, in the Antilles, and in Mexico is so richly endowed by Nature, nevertheless pre- sent special attractions. In the first place, wherever they are found growing they are generally very abundant. Tillandsia (Anop- lophytum) stricta, T. microxiphion and allied forms cover the branches of trees to their smallest twigs, and the efl'ect of their diminu- tive rosettes of reddish and olive-green leaves is enhanced by the brilliant setting-off of their bright pink bracts and blue flowers. T. xiph- ioides and T. Arequita; carpet the rocks with their foliage and pretty white flowers, while T. ixioides and T. crocata are covered with flower-spikes of a fine yellow colour. Frequently, also, their felt-grey or nearly white leaves, looking like a strip of cloth, are twisted like a cork-screw or like the main-spring of a watch, and, although less attractive, per- haps, in appearance, the numerous slender stems of T. usneoides, hanging like sails from the branches of trees, and the multitudinous dense tufts of T. recurvata impart to the landscape an element of picturesqueness of the highest order, the ashy-grey tint of their foliage serving to bring this out more effectively by contrast with the surrounding verdure. With respect to their culture, for a long time every importation of these "Flowers of the Air " (flons del aire, as they are termed in La Plata) was a failure. Most of the plants scarcely grew at all, and those that did hardly ever flowered a second time. At the present day, by following a very simple mode of treat- ment, one may have these plants in bloom almost every year. All that is necessary is to fasten the plant with iron wire to a piece of wood or cork without any soil or Moss, and during winter to hang it up to the glass (near the ventilator) of a temperate house. In May the plants are to be brought out of doors and hung upon the branches of trees in the full sun. During the whole summer up to October (when they are to be brought back to the house) they require no watering. Having formed some aerial roots and also young shoots in the moist atmosphere of the house prior to their removal into the open air, the growth of the rosettes of leaves takes place under the friendly influence of the sun, whose warmest beams these plants never find insupportable. In this way year after year I treat that part of my collection which includes Tillandsia Arequitfe, T. xiphioides, T. Unca, T. Myosura, T. dianthoidea, T. stricta, and T. microxiphion, the plants after they are taken back to the house coming into flower in the course of the winter, and continuing to bloom until spring. During the summer it is rather a curious sight to see the pieces of wood covered with rosettes of leaves, without any appearance of roots, suspended from the branches of Hibiscus syriaous growing in a flower-pot, the sus- pended plants receiving no water except what comes from the skies. Tillandsia Durati, which flowered with me last year at Lacroix, is a native of Uruguay and the Argentine Republic. Found by the English botanist Tweedie in the same localities on the Salto, Uruguay, from which I brought it away with me in the year 1890, it had been previously found in Brazil by Auguste de Sainte-Hilaire, in Bolivia by Weddell, and in Southern Peru by C. Gay, Miers, and others. The species, however, is rather rare even in the wild state. The plant forms a more or less dense tuft of stems, which are sometimes short, but may be elongated, prostrate, or twisted. The leaves are linear-lanceolate, from 10 inches to 14 inches long, and are covered on both sides with small whitish scales. Flower-stem erect and rigid and from 1 foot to over 2 feet in height. Flowers of a pale mauve-violet colour with a white centre, and produced in longish panicles ; they commence to bloom at the bottom of the panicle, and continue in a fresh and unfaded condition for several days, giving out a vei'y pleasant penetrating odour, which suggests a combination of the scents of Stocks, Primroses, and Jasmine. When the tufts are of pretty largs dimen- sions (like one which I brought away with me in 1890, and which measured 2 feet 4 inches in diameter, with a dozen flowering stems), the plant becomes very ornamental, and when sus- pended in a plant-house presents an appearance which is both novel and attractive. The whole secret of getting it to bloom well is by treating it as I have described above.— Ed. Andre, in Revue Jlurticole. Nerines (i^. iy.).— These should now be kept dry at the root, and until the flower spikes or growths appear. When the flower-spikes appear give water more freely. The Guernsey Lily proper (N. sarniensis) is about the first to come into flower, being followed by N. Fothergilli and its major variety. Calla EUiottiana.— This we saw at Chelsea recently carrying fine rich yellow flowers, and strong crowns give them in succession in the same way as the old white kind, some of the plants having seed nearly ripe from early blooms and fine fresh flowers as well. The rich yellow colour is very showy and the leaves are prettily mottled with white. No doubt it will become popular when plentiful. Streptocarpi. — A very good illustration of the long-flowering character of these is furnished by a batch we saw at Chelsea the other day. The plants were those that made such a fine display at the Temple show, and yet when we saw them they were still flowering as freely as in May, while crowds of buds were still to open. Having regard to the wide range of colour they now embrace, it is scarcely necessary to give them distinctive names and awards of merit, as has been done of late. Gesnera longifl.ora. — In the spring of 1888 a coloured plate of this very distinct Gesnera was given in The Garden, at which time, though an old plant, it was but little known, and even now its merits are not sufficiently recognised, for it possesses many desirable qualities. It is an erect growing plant, reaching a height of a yard or more, the stem and branches being clothed with a kind of rusty tomentum. The greyish tinted ovate leaves are also hairy. The flowers, which are borne on the upper part of the stem, have a long narrow tube and a widely expanded mouth. Theyare of apurewhite tintand agreeably scented. It is a native of New Grenada and succeeds best with intermediate house treatment. For grouping and similar purposes it is extremely useful, as the long slender stems often serve to break up any undue formality. It is a plant of easy culture, succeeding, like most of its class, in a rather light open soil, and while gro^\ing it is greatly benefited by occasional doses of liquid manure. — H. P. Oxalis Bowieana. — Among the many mem- bers of this extensive and variable genus, one of the best — regarded from an ornamental point of view — is Oxalis Bowieana, which has the largest flowers of any of the stemless forms. It is a free- growing kind, with large trifoliate leaves and blossoms, each about H inches in diameter. They are borne in loose umbels on a stem that reaches a height of 6 inches to 8 inches. The colour of the blossoms is an exceptionally bright rose-red. When grown in pots, or planted at the edge of a stage to form a margin thereto, as is done at Kew, this Oxalis, and, in fact, several other mem- bers of the genus, are very beautiful, as their loose style of growth just fits them for such a position. This species is a native of South Africa, and was introduced therefrom in 1824. The pretty little Chilian Oxalis lobata, with golden yellow flowers about the size of a shilling, only reaches a height of 4 inches or so, but it forms quite a mass of its brightly coloured blooms. A distinct species that, if treated as a greenhouse plant makes a goodly show during the spring months is Oxalis cernua, a tuberous-rooted kind, with trifoliate leaves and beautiful clear yellow flowers, each about three- quarters of an inch across. They are borne in a many-flowered umbel on a stout stalk that 50 THE GARDEN [July 20, 1895. reaches a height of from 6 inches to S inches or thereabouts. This is a native of the Cape of Good •Jj ' ^™™ "hence it was introduced about the middle of the last century, but it is very rarely met with.— H. P. J J Books. A VAGABOND IN SPAIN.* This is the record cf a journey or foot from Burgos to Gibraltar, via Biarritz, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Valencia, Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Granada, and the Alhambra, &c. The object of M. Luffmann's journey, as set forth in his pats port, was to obtain an insight into the conditions and methods of agriculture in the Iberian Penin- sula m the parts traversed by him, for the purpose of givmg an account of the same in a book or pamphlet. This being .so, it is surprising and somewhat disappointing that only the most pass- ing reference is made to agricultural matters in the entire three hundred and odd pages of which the book is composed. The author's impressions of the economic value of Spain are easily summed up— a poor country and a poor people. " He says : " Ours is a struggle for existence," sadly ob.=erved an intelligent native in conversation with M. Luffmann ; " we can never hope to advance. ' Our internal growth,' as you call it, is in proportion to our national resources, and what are they ? Here for ages we have carried on the most intense system of cultivation, and we have exercised rigid economy. We have had few endemical disasters. "V et with all this we are just where we were cen- turies ago.' M. Luffmann went as a tramp (he did not act the character), and if he sometimes had a tramp's welcome, he found the natives, generally speak- ing, hospitable and kindly. " No one can com- plain of the Spaniard's lack of friendliness," he says, " if once they take to you. There is a pecu- liar hardness in the character of many Spaniards, but take them all round I believe them as humane as any other men. " The Basque women impressed him favourably. If he has little to say about agriculture, he tells us a good deal about the churches—" the commonest objects in Spain, and yet not common." His remarks on this head, however, are like those of the average Briton who has been bred in the shadow of Exeter Hall Thus, of the cathedral of Toledo he says it con- tains thousands of beautiful things, " but the col- lection is marred by the presence of incongruous and ridiculous gimcracks, just as if it were a museum or a brie a-brac shop. But in spite of faults of taste and flippancy of style, which are somewhat frequent, the book is not at all dull read- ing. One feels, however, that it is superficial. The Spanish knife, it seems, is a "bogey." The Spaniard is not quarrelsome, but he excels m the use of expletives. A bluff old colonel of engineers told the author frankly he knew nothing about Spain. "It is easy for you travelling penny-a-liners," he went on, " to say what we are and what we are not, but to what end and purpose do you prattle and complain ? Let us be fair. We ask you for nothing. Do not rob us of what we have now— the greatest thing in the world. "What is that?" M. Luffmann asked. Peace, answered the colonel. "We," the author goes on, "agreed that Spain was not worth fighting for, and that, being hard bound by natural conditions, she could never advance and keep pace with the rest of the world. Then, having pacified the old warrior by the adoption of all his opinions, I bade him good-night and wen^ off to the Teatro Verano. I did not enjoy the jierformance, for the actors could neither play nor sing ; but a Spanish crowd is always entertaining. " In Ciudad-Real he met a reverend canon who " loved the English on account of the riches they have given to his library." This must * "A Vagabond in Spain." By C. Bogue Luff- mann. John ilurray, Albemarle Street. have been a different stamp of ecclesiastic from the one whose library Gil Bias became the for- tunate legatee of, as "Shakespeare, Milton, Bacon, and Ben Jonson were his intimate friends." He delighted also in Bulwer, Dickens, and Thackeray, and considered the Bronte sisters and George Eliot the greatest women of genius in the history of the world. But his idol, M. Luffmann adds, is Byron. After this who shall say that the Spanish clergy limit their reading to dusty theological tracts. It is laughable to think of a dignitary of the English establishment discussing books with a professional tramp. But Spain is still in many respects the country Le Sage described it. There are. it appears, 600 priests in Cordoba. Nevertheless, " Cordoba is bankrupt, nothing less ; but ib tries to keep its head up and indulge in light loves. It pays for big toros and keeps scores of cafes and gaming houses going, and the patrons of these resorts claim to be highly respectable and very much alive," and so on in the same strain the whole book We could wish M. Luffmann had shown less of the tramp and more of the traveller in his pages. People with a taste for light literature will not be disappointed with "A Vagabond in Spain." A HAND-BOOK TO THE GAME BIRDS.* This is another of the useful series edited by Dr. Bowdler-Sharpe, and known as "Allen's Naturalist's Library," and in some respects the most interesting. Mr. Ogilvie- Grant's work in connection with the zoological department of the Britisli Museum and his own wide reputa- tion as an authority on game birds are guaran- tees of scientific accuracy. The author's aim has been to provide a useful hand-book for sportsmen in all parts of the world. The style of the book is clear and concise without sacri- ficing anything which gives breadth and local colour to descriptions of the birds in their native habitats. These descriptions are vivid and picturesque, and the personal experiences of men in search of game among the mountains of India, Thibet, of North America, Mexico and Borneo are pleasant to read. Among the sportsmen and naturalists who have contributed their experiences we note the names of Mr. A. 0. Hume, C.B., author of the "Game Birds of India," of Captain Bendire, who wrote a " Life -'listory of North American Birds," Mr. W. T. Blandford, Mr. J. G. Millais, Col. Legge, author of the " Birds of Ceylon," as well as of authorities like Heuglin, Abb& David, Bald- win, Wilson and others. The present volume includes the sand grouse, willow grou.se, ptarmigan, capercailzies, Cana- dian grouse, sharp-winged grouse, American capercailzies, pinnated grouse, other kinds of grouse (red-legged and others), snow cocks, quails (painted and others), the francolins, the tree partridges, the spur fowl, the stone, bamboo, blood, horned, Moonal, iireback, ear..d, wattled, Kalig and Kohlass pheasants. GARDENING A LA MODE.f This little manual with its ridiculous title is intended for the use of amateurs, and gives the results of the author's own experiences. " When we came to live in the country," she says in the preface, "we were such cockneys, we knew absolutely nothing about gardening." In the present day, when so many people are alive to the improved use of garden vegetables, it was a good idea to include in a manual of this kind the best ways of cooking them. But, unfortunately, * " A Hand-Bnokto the Game Birtlg." By W. R Ogilvie-Grnnt. Vol. I. W. if. Allen and Co., Ltd., 13, Waterloo Place, S.W. t " Gaideniuf,' a la Mode." (Vegetables.) By Mrs. de Sails. Longmans, Green and Co. it is very imperfectly carried out in the present instance. Thus, to take one example, the Bel- gian way of cooking Brussels Sprouts is omitted, and the Brussels Sprouts which are mentioned as "the best" are the coarse English kinds, crossed with Cabbages and having nothing to do with the true Brussels Sprouts. Again, there is only oh'c recipe given for cooking so important a vegetable as the Cauliflower. In the chapter on the culti- vation of Mushrooms, the following passage (p. 67) relating to a patent system of cultivation by M. J. Nepp, of Leipsic, occurs : " Hiss beds am artificially prepared in such a way that indirert fjulsation and o^piration are provided, and the ijroii-th stimvlattd by the chemical bed and the regulation of the temperature." This is one of the most absurd statements we have ever seen in a book. However, as the book is not intended to be more than a manual for amateurs, it may answer its purpose well enough, so far as amateur culti- vation of vegetables goes, provided they will take care to observe the motto of the book, which is experienlia docet. Societies and Exhibitions. THE LONDON PANSY AND VIOLET SOCIETY. Everybody interested in these useful and popular flowers agreed that the exhibition held at the Crystal Palace on the 6th inst. was a very satis- factory and attractive one. It had been thought the dry weather would have affected it and that there would be but few flowers, but there were many. The northern growers came up bringing their superb fancy Pansies grown in the cooler and moister districts of Lancashire and Scotland, and the Violas in sprays were very numerous and extremely pretty. A considerable space of stag- ing at the foot of the orchestra was quite filled. In the open division there was bub one collec- tion of Pansies and Violas, but it was very fine and quits a show in itself. It came from Mr. S. Pye, Garstang, Preston, and consisted of twelve boards of fancy Pansies, each containing twenty-four blooms, and four large panels of Violas, each containing forty sprays. To Mr. Pye's great credit, be it stated, all the flowers were named. It was most deservedly awarded the gold medal of the society. The names of the leading varieties composing this fine exhibit will be found set forth in the following classes. There were five exhibitors of forty-eight fancy Pansies, and here Mr. J. Sutherland, Lenzie, N.B., took the first prize with some finely de- veloped blooms. Chief among them were Col. J. S. Stirling, Mrs. W. Watson, Miss Stirling, Maggie McPhail, Jas. Irvine, Miss Patterson, Tamworth Yellow, Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Sherrard, Mixrmion, Geo. Stewart, W. H. Clark, Bernard Doulton, Mrs. M. Cuthbertson, Dr. G. McKay, Jessie Russell, Celtic Gem, Jenny Lawson, and I'rincess May. If any reader of The GakdEn wishes to have a choice selection he will find it in the foregoing. Mr. M. Campbell, Blantyre, was second, and Mr. John Smellie, Busby, N.B , third. With twenty-four varieties, Mr. A. Lister, Rothesay, was first. A few of his very finest varieties will be found in Col. R. G. Buchanan, B. Doulton, Tamworth Yellow, Edward Kellett, Miss Stirling, Mrs. W. Watson, William Watson, David Russell, and Mrs. D. Johnstone. Mr. J. Smellie was second, and Messrs. Paul and Co., Bridge of Weir, third. With twelve varieties, Mr. John Smellie took the first prize and Mr. J. Lister the second. Twelve fancy Pansies in one variety is always an interesting class, and here Mr. J. Sutherland was first with Marmion, a soft pinkish-tinted flower that is very attractive. Col. R. G. Buchanan and George Stewart, both very fine varieties, were also shown. The class for unnamed seedlings is one which may be left out of the schedule. JvLY 20, 18951 THE GARDEI^. 51 In the amateurs' division there was a good competition. In the clsss for twelve fancy Pansies, Mr. J. McFarlane, Glasgow, was first, his leading varieties being Maggie McPhail, Annie Knowles, Mrs. D. Johnstone, and Mrs. W. Watson. Mr. Thomas Naden, Alviston, took the second prize. With .=ix blooms, these exhibi- tors occupied similar positions. With twelve of one variety Mr. Naden came first with fine blooms of Tam worth Yellow, and Mr. McFarlane came next with Maggie McPhail. The Violas were delightful, and the method of showing them in sprays on plush or velvet-covered stands seems to show them off to the very best advantage. As a matter of course not a few of the most attractive of the exhibition varieties may be useless for the flower garden, and that is one of the mam reasons why it is desirable there should be a thorough trial of the leading Violas to test their value for bedding. With twenty-four sprays Mr. J. Smellie came hrst with a charmmg lot, chief among them being Border Witch, Craigie, Mrs. C. F. Gordon, H. A btewart Beautiful Snow, Lucy Ashton and Mrs. Hay. Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons, Crawley, were second they havmg, as distinct from the foregoing, beautiful sprays of William Niel, Countiss of ^harncliffe Duchess of Fife, Lord Elcho and Countess of Kintore. With twelve sprays Messrs. Paul and Co. were first, having lona, pale blue and black, very novel ; Edina and Lemon yueen, as distinct from those already named, Messrs. d. Cheal and Son being second. With six |P''T,?/ '■'^J'''"'^ varieties Mr. A. J. Rowberry, bouth Woodford, came to the front ; he had charm- ing Illustrations of A. J. Rowberry, a fine new yellow ; Blush Queen, Christiania, Border Witch, Vestal and Blue Gown, a good half dozen in this section, the same exhibitor being first with six sprays ot the miniature section, having Margi- nata, Violetta, Emily, Olivetta and two seed- lings. There were other classes for Violas among the amateurs, in which there was generally a good competition. •' ^ The best fancy Pansy in the open classes was George Stewart, and the best spray of Viola Florizel. The best fancy Pansy in the amateurs" r^'r^.'°," ".'',' '""• ^- Jol--nstone, and the best spray of Viola, Christiania. Messrs. Dobbie and Co. , of Rothesay, sent a very large group, comprising show, fancy, and tufted varieties, including all the newest and best known kinds. They were a fresh and charming lot con- sidering the unfavourable weather we have had for these flowers. Royal Horticultural Society.— The next meeting of the R.H.S. will be held on Tuesday, July ■2:i, in the Drill Hall, James Street, Vic- toria Street, London. At 3 o'clock a paper by Mr. P. Brotherston on "The Carnation in Scotland" will be read. National Carnation and Picotee Society (Southern Section).— I beg leave to remind your leaders that the eighteenth annual exhibition of the above society will be held at the Crystal Palace on Wednesday, the 24th inst. Upwards of £150 are oBered in prizes. Amongst special prizes may be mentioned the Martin R. Smith prizes for border Carnations, the flowers " to be cut from plants which have been wintered without protection in the open border, and staged without dressing exactly as they are cut from the plants.'' The Turner Memorial trustees give a very hand- some silver cup, value £5, for the best stand of Carnations, bizarres and flakes, distinct, and twelve Picotees, distinct (amateurs only). Another special prize— not in the schedule of prizes— will be given by M. Ernest Benary, of Erfurt, Germany. The Ernest Benary memorial prize — a large silver-gilt medal— is given by the firm in memory of the late much-regretted founder of the firm (M. Ernest Benary) for the most meritorious exhibit, cither of plants or cut flowers, by an _amateur.— J. Doluljvs, Hon. Sec. Notes of the Week. CytisuB capitatus is a pretty and late flower- ing species, of which handsome bushes are now in bloom in the University Park at Oxford. It bears its flowers, which are yellow, tipped with bronze, in a clustered head at the top of the shoots. The growth is decidedly erect and profusely clothed with trifoliate hairy leaves. Tropical Water Lilies are well grown by Mr. Baker at the Oxford Botanic Garden, and at the present time they are very beautiful. The forms of N. Lotus are very good, and the new N. Sturtevanti does well here. It flowered last year. Sagittaria montevidensis is represented by a great mass luxuriant in leaf growth, and flowering freely as well. Cnrnpanula pumila. — This little tufted Hare- bell is a popular plant about Banbury, and we were pleased to see masses of it in gardens on the outskirts of the town. In one place it was a spe- cial feature, forming a broad edging about a foot wide to a long narrow border extending from the road to the house. It made a perfect edging of pale blue. Michauxia campanuloides. — This fine biennial is worthy of more attention by those who have deep warm soils that suit it. We have lately seen some noble specimens that reminded us of its stately character and noble beautj'. Some of the finest were nearly 8 feet high, much branched, and clothed with lovely flowers from bottom to top. The scarlet-berried Elder.-This beautiful sub alpine shrub has berried freely in my garden this year. As it has a bad habit of seldom doing so in these islands, I should like to hear whether any of your readers have observed the same thing. One would like to know whether the drought and heat have any effect that can be directly traced. I had no berries in 1893. — J. C. L., Kfiit. This is one of the most brilliant berry bearing shrubs we have, but, unfortunately, not often seen in gardens. At Eynsham Hall, near Oxford, it is now magnificent, several large bushes being laden with berries, which hang in thick clusters all along the shoots, weigh- ing them down in a graceful arching manner. The situation is partially shaded and perhaps favourable, but we have never seen this shrub finer. Oxfordshire wild flowers. — With all the country round parched and bare the beauty of the water flowers is doubly welcome. The streams that intersect the meadows in Oxfordshire are now in many places very gay with a tangled, but lovely mass of flowering Rush, Arrowhead, Water Plantain, giant Buttercups, Loosestrife and Mea- dowsweet rising out of carpets of Forget-me not and white Bedstraw. Campanula carpatica Kobert Parker. — This fine white-flowered dwarf Bellflower deserves to be better known. Mr. G. Paul says it was the last plant that he received from the late Mr. Robert Parker, whose name it fittingly com- memorates. Although Campanula carpatica is easily raised from seed and gives much variety in this way, a form so fine as this, with its large expanded bells, is not likely to occur very fre- ([uently. Clematis Davidiana has now established its reputation as a hardy species, and it is one of the sweetest and most beautiful of the herbaceous kinds. At Broxbourne it is already in bloom, and the plants, though quite in open quarters, are as strong and healthy as in previous years. Although it does not make a mass of bright colour, its clusters of flowers are very pretty, last a long time, coming in succession for many weeks, and their scent is delightful. Rubus odoratus is a fine-flowering species to associate with the Rocky Mountain and Nootka Brambles. It most resembles the latter in habit of growth and broad, handsome leafage. We noticed a fine group of it flowering in the Botanic Gaidens at Oxford, the flowers of a deeper shade of rceepurple than usual, although this may have been the result of the shaded position in which the plants were gro^^ing. As the name implies, the flowers have a delightful scent. Physostegia virginica alba. — A pure white form of Physostegia virginica we saw at Cheshunt is a good hardy flower that many should grow. The type itself is very pretty, lasts long in flower, and is most useful for cutting, and this v\hite va- riety should be even more valuable. The large open-mouthed flowers are thickly disposed on a long spike, which grows nearly 1 yard high. The type itself is in cultivation under a number of names. Verbascum Blattaria, a pretty Mullein not often seen, is at present in flower in the Oxford Botanic Garden. At a casual glance one might mistake it for V. phroniceum, to which it bears a striking resemblance, especially in its delicate blush and pale tinted forms. The yellow-flowered variety, however, is specially distinct and charm- ing, and serves to distinguish it from V. phceni- ceum, as we do not get this colour in that vari- able species. Spiisea flagelliformis. — A bush of this Spira-a 6 feet through, growing on a bank, has been a fine sight during the latter part of June, the long curving shoots, which give it its name, simply smothered from end to end with rosettes of white Hawthorn-like flowers, having a very unique efl'ect. Though not possessing the grace- ful beauty of S. ari.tfolia and S. Lindleyana, it is when of large size a very striking shrub, which is less grown than its merits deserve. — S. W. F. I Lathy rus latifolius. — The common Ever- lasting Pea is a familiar garden flower, but we never before saw it so picturesque as it is at Broughton, in Oxfordshire, where beside the village school and on a high bank a number of plants are growing in a perfectly natural way. They creep over the ground, which is hidden beneath mounds of blossom, whilst here and there a few shoots have climbed into shrubs near at hand. The picture is a delightful one and suggestive to all who have gardens. I Eryngium amethystinum. — Sea Hollies are lovers of the sun, and the present season must have been very congenial to them. A large break of this kind we lately saw in Messrs. Paul and : Son's nursery at Broxbourne was very fine, and we have rarely seen it so fine in colour. A charm- ing feature might be made by planting a group of this in association with the silvery white E. giganteum. The picture would only be for one season, as unfortunately this latter kind perishes after flowering. I Eryngium Oliverianum. — This Sea Holly is at the present time a valuable plant in the her- I baceous border, possessing as it does a colour ! almost unique in the flower world. Its light electric blue shows out in striking contrast to the green foliage of the Phloxes and the many- tinted flowers of the Alstr(fmerias by which it is ' growing. As a subject for indoor decoration it is much in request, a few sprays rising out of a bowl ■ of Love-in-a mist (Nigella) forming an extremely attractive combination. E. Oliverianum is some- times confounded with E. amethystinum, but the latter is dwarfer growing and much less vigorous. — S. W. F. Cypripedium Andronicus (C. Rothschildi- anumxC. superbiens). — This hybrid was raised in the nursery at St. Albans. The flowers are remark- ably bold and richly coloured. To a certain ex- tent they appear intermediate between those of the two parents, but the petals are as large as in Morgania?, of a rich olive-green, spotted with chocolate. The dorsal sepal is a decided improve- ment on that of C. Rothschildianum, the bright chocolate lines being much more intense on an olive-green ground shading into white. The pouch is of a very dark, almost black chocolate, shading into a clear claret purple. This fine cross, which appears to possess a vigorous con- 52 THE GARDEN [Jdlt 20, 1895. stitution, is now in bloom in The Woodlands collection at Streatham. Cypripedium Princess Mary (C. callosum x C. Sanderianum) is another beautiful addition to the Cypripedium hybrids, in shape resembling a fine C. Morganiif and surpassing the very best forms of even that grand hybrid in colour. The dorsal sepal has the rich chocolate lines of C. Rothschildianum, but rendered still more vivid by the influence of C. Sanderianum ; in fact, the colours throughout the whole flower are wonder- fully dark and rich. The .splendid purplish red pouch is very prominent, while the Morganiaj-like petals add a peculiar charm to this handsome cross. It was raised by Messrs. Sander and Co., and is now in flower in the collection of Mr. R. H. Measures, The Woodlands, Streatham. Flowers from Winchmore Hill. — I am sending you a flower of Geum Heldreichi ; it is not so good as the first blooms. Hedysarum multi- jugum is covered with flowers and is really very pretty. Haplocarpa Leichtlini has stood the winter well and has been flowering all the sum- mer, now almost over. H. scaposa is showing bloom. I have also sent you flowers of Linaria repens alba, which is very pretty in a house. Prunella Webbiana, a small spike from cuttings, is also a very pretty plant and remarkably free. The following Lilies are also in bloom in the open : Browni, Colohesteri, Lowi, canadense rubrum, Humboldti, Parryi, Krameri, Van Houttei (Thun- bergianum), Wallichianum and Washingtonianum. — Amos Perry. Notes from Chester. — The Spirteas are in splendid condition and are conspicuous about the bordeis and shrubberies everywhere. Spiraea Bumalda ruberrima has, as you see, bright pink flowers that are very pretty and showy. S. arias- folia, popular — we had almost written common — as it is, deserves even a wider field of admirers, for it could scarcely be surpassed for beauty. Its dense heads of creamy plumes wave about in the summer wind, and when the glare of the day is past the distant eff'ect of these masses of subdued colour is charming in the extreme. Cytisus capitatus is a distinct type, and amongst the Veronicas few are prettier than Blue Gem, a sprig of which we send on to you. This particular variety is a great favourite in nearly all the gardens of our sea-coast towns in North Wales. It thrives splendidly, flowers freely, and is constantly bright and full of bloom amid the dingy surroundings of sea sand and shrubs struggling against the adverse circumstances and improper selection which may often enough rightly describe the seaside garden. — DiCKSONS. New Delphiniums. — Few classes of plants have come to the front more rapidly than the Delphiniums. Some twenty years since Messrs. Kelway and Son, of Langport, Somerset, collected from every source all the varieties in commerce and commenced fertilising them with the view of working up some new varieties. Many of these have been exhibited at the metropolitan and other shows during the past ten years. In 1885 they observed amongst a large quantity of seedlings a single sulphur-coloured variety ; this was fer- tilised with its own pollen and seed was produced. Some hundreds of seedlings were raised from this batch ; two only came of a sulphur colour, the others being of various shades of blue and purple. The best of these. Princess of Wales (flowers of which we have received), was retained, and from seed of this variety others were raised. No. 2 (Beauty of Langport) was exhibited at the Royal Horticulturiil Society's meeting, June 11 this year, and was awarded a certificate of merit. All the sulphur-coloured kinds come true from cuttings, but from seed they invariably revert to the jjurple varieties. These sulphur-coloured varieties grow from 2 feet to 3 feet high, are of a very hardy, robust habit, with shining foliage, much resembling that of Aconitum japonicum, and very difl'erent from that of the purple varieties of Del- phinium grandiflorum. "Water Liliee. — No flowers are more lovely, nd the question is often asked, "How can I grow such charming flowers ? " In parks, on large estates and pleasure grounds, lakes and ponds abound that could be judiciously converted into a water garden, producing a grand effect in the landscape. With so many colours, ranging from the purest white through various shades of pink, crimson, sulphur to chrome - yellow, beautiful effects can be had on lake or pond. Here on the lake (where ice reigned supreme for two months) we have now a lovely picture, the fol- lowing varieties being in blcom : Nympha?a alba candidissima, the large variety of the native Water Lily, flowers 6 inches in diameter, pure white, with broad petals, the earliest of all, and continuing till late ; N. Marliacea albida, the best of hardy white Lilies, flowers large, dazzling white and fragrant, a vigorous grower, with fine bold foliage ; N. Marliacea Chromatella, a grand variety, a vigorous grower, the foliage in a young state mottled with brown ; its fragrant flowers fully as large as those of the common N. alba, with broad, waxy petals of a beautiful canary colour, and bright orange stamens ; N. odorata rosea, splendid flowers, cup-shaped, of a lovely pink colour, with delicious fragrance. N. rosacea and N. Laydekeri rosea, together with N. Laydekeri lilacea, are all so much alike in the distance that one is inclined to say they are one and the same, nevertheless they are all grand additions ; the flowers on opening are a delicate pink, assuming a deep rose the second and third day. N. Marliacea rosea is one of the choicest of hardy pink Lilies, flowers cup-shaped, very freely produced, colour richest pink, the plant vigorous, with dark-coloured foliage. N. Marliacea carnea, a superb variety, very robust and free-flowering, has large flowers of a flesh colour, each 8 inches in diameter, and standing well out of ihe water. The whole of the above are now in full bloom, edged with large clumps of the yellow Nuphar. The effect in the noonday sun is very fine. — M. J. Obituary. THE LATE MR. JOHN WILLS. Mr. Wills, to whose death we briefly referred in our last issue, was born at Chard, Somerset, in 1832. He first went into the gardens of Cricket St. Thomas, Chard, the seat of Viscount Bridport. As far as particulars can be gleaned of his early life, he went from here to St. John's Wood, Lon- don, as gardener to a Mr. Woodcock ; later he was at work under Sir Joseph Paxton at the Crystal Palace and at the Pine-apple Nur- series of Messrs. A. Henderson and Son at Maida Vale. Subsequently he was gardener to Sir Edward Bowring, of Clapham Park ; to Mr. Ken- nard, of Harrow Weald ; for a time in the South Kensington Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society, under Mr. George Eyles ; and thence to Oulton Park, Tarporley, Cheshire, as head gar- dener to Sir Philip de Grey-Egerton, Bart, where he remained five years. While at Oulton Park he raised several fine new varieties of bicolor Pelargoniums, such as Her Majesty, Beauty of Calderdale, Beauty of Oulton, Beauty of Ribbes- dale, Gaiety, Golden Queen, &c., which were put into commerce by Mr. William Bull, together with such tricolor-leaved varieties as Florence, Lizzie, and Unique. It was while at Oulton Park that Mr. Wills brought into such prominence the value of Viola cornuta as a bedding plant. After leaving Oulton Park he went as head gardener to Capt. Le G. N. Starkio, Huntroyde Park, Burn- ley, where he raised Willsi and Willsi rosea Ivy- leaved Pelargoniums, &c. Leaving here he came to London in 1870, and established himself in business as a nurseryman and floral decorator at Sussex Place, Old Brompton, and later on at Onslow Crescent, acquiring plant nurseries at Fulham and Anerley. As a floral decorator Mr. Wills became widely known, and his work was always characterised by great originality and high-class execution. He carried out extensive decorations at Buckingham Palace, Marlborough House, the Government offices, the Mansion House, and several private residences with a boldness that gained him high praise. On the opening of the Royal Aquarium at Westminster as a summer and winter garden he designed and planted the same, maintain- ing it for a considerable period and carrying out a series of important exhibitions. On the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to Sheffield many years ago he decorated the Midland Railway Station and the Queen's Hotel in a very elaborate manner ; he also organ- ised a large flower show at Sandown Park, and in the seventies superintended some extensive altera- tions at the Royal Palace at Laeken for the King of the Belgians. When the botanical con- gress was held in 1866 in connection with the International Horticultural Exhibition of London in that year he contributed a paper on " The Sporting of Pelargoniums and Other Plants," which was published in the Report of Proceed- ings. He also published papers on the " Origin of Variegated Pelargoniums " and kindred sub- jects. He leaves a widow, who carries on the business at Onslow Crescent in conjunction with Mr. S. M. Segar. By his death the Royal Gar- deners' Orphan Fund loses an able member of the committee and a generous supporter. The weather in 'West Herts. — During the past week the weather has been somewhat cooler and less forcing to vegetation ; in fact, on four days the highest shade temperatures were below the average for the time of year. The ground temperatures still remain high, but not quite so high as in the previous week. At 1 foot deep the reiding is at the present time 3° above the July mean for that depth and 6° higher than on the same date last year. On the 11th inst. nearly two- tenths of an inch of rain fell, but a few hours afterwards the ground was as dry as ever. It is now seven weeks since any rain-water at all has come through the 24 feet of soil in either of the percolation gauges. — E. M., Berkhamsted. lac acts on Dahlias. — Herewith I send you living specimens of an insect wholly unknown to me which two or three days ago made its appear, ance on some Dahlias, Celery, Asters, &c., and I enclose a few affected leaves for your in- spection. I should like to know its name and the best means of getting rid of it. I am informed that last year, previous to my taking charge hero, the insects afl'ected Melons in a like manner, rendering them quite useless. — E. J. C. *^* The insects you sent are small weevils be- longing to the genus Apion. The members of this genus feed on the leaves of various plants. Many of them might be shaken into a bowl of water, or the plants might be syringed with 3 lbs. of soft soap, the extract from 4 lbs. of quassia chips and 50 gallons of water, or some other good insecticide. — G. S. S. Insects on Vanda coerulea. — I have found the enclosed insects to-day on a plant of Vanda CI erulea ; I also send a piece of leaf eaten by some- thing. I have not been able to find any other insects on the Vanda. If you can give me any information respecting them through The Gar- den I should feel greatly obliged. The Vanda is one of a batch imported last February. — G. H. B. *," The insects you found on your Vanda cccrulea were specimens of an exotic plant bug. They were in an immature condition, consequently it is difficult to name them. The injuries were, I expect, caused by these insects. Should you find any more a little later on and would kindly send them to the office, I should probably be able to name them. By all means destroy all you can find.— G. S. S. Vames of plants. — E. Piddeij. — Not equal to mauy forms now in cultivation. THE GARDEN 53 Ho. 7236. SATURDAY. Ju'y 27, 1895. Vol. XLVIII. "This Is an Art Which does mend Nature : change It rather ; bat The Art itbeu is if jltvili."— Shakespeare. Flower Garden. LILIES AT OAKWOOD. In a rather elevated position and well exposed L. Krameri has bloomed very well, but al- though the plants are healthy and the flowers perfect there is a vast difference in the appear- ance of those growing in another part of the garden, and which are in the enjoyment of totally opposite conditions. These latter are in a very sheltered place, where but little sun can reach them and cold winds cannot directly influence them. The foliage is as rich in colour as that of L. speciosuin, one stem carrying six blooms and running up to a height of 5 feet. It is not often that one sees this lovely Lily in thoroughly good condition, and it very seldom attains such vigour as at Oakwood. In a general way the flower- stems produce from one to three flowers only. It is one of the loveliest of the Lilies, and the pity is that the conditions, necessary to secure perennial vigour cannot easilybesecured in gardens generally. L. Browni is another Lily that one does not often meet with doisgwell in the open ground. It appears to be well established at Oakwood, throwing up stout stems several feet high, with healthy deep green foliage, and looking very difl'erent from the specimens that one sees sometimes grown in pots, and which give no idea of the true vigour of this beautiful Lily. I was much im- pressed with the tine appearance of a group of L. pardalinum, consisting of about 100 bulbs. The growth is vigorous, the plants being well set with buds and clothed almost to the soil with ample, deep green leaves. The appearance of this Lily under such conditions is remarkably pleasing. I am of opinion that L. pardalinum should get more attention than is now the case from growers of hardy flowers. From the fact that the above-mentioned group is on high ground in a rather exposed position and not a leaf shows sign of distress from heat and drought, I should imagine that it is not so hard to please as most of the finer forms of the family. It ought to do in any garden where the soil is good and a fair amount of shelter can be had. In any case I would ad- vise all who love Lilies to try a bulb or two. Another Lily that much resembles the above in the fresh rich green of the foliage is L. Hum- boldti. It is evidently quite at home at Oak- wood. A group of seedling forms of Szovitzi- anum had thrown up tall stems among the branches of a low-growing Apple tree. The flowers exhibited some little diversity in colour. This seems to be a free growing Lily that ought to succeed under fair garden culture, but it is difficult to draw definite conclusions with respect to Lilies in this matter. With them the un, expected often happens, and just where one might expect them to do well, they not unfrequently refuse to thrive and som.etimes die out. I have known both auratum and speciosum to act in this way in beds of carefully prepared soil whilst doing splendidly in an adjacent garden in ordinary ground that vegetables had been grown in for generations. Mr. Wilson's prac- tice has been to distribute each Lily aa much as possible, and it is in this way that success in the case of any particular species is most likely to be attained. It is then easy to compare re- sults and form an idea of its needs. A bulb planted at random may find the conditions ne- cessary to its welfare and which might be want- ing in other parts of the garden. J. C. B. LATHYRUS MAGELLANICUS. As I am quite as anxious as your correspondent " D."to discover and obtain a plant of the beautiful blue Pea known to botanists under the above- mentioned name and also as Lord Anson's Pea, I sincerely hope that the eminent and well-known introducer of new and interesting plants who writes from Ipswich in answer to " D.'s " question in your last issue may be mistaken as to this most lovely of perennial Peas being lost to cultivation and that we may yet one day see it brightening our w.alls and herbaceous borders. Besides the portrait cited in the answer to your correspon- dent's question, it is also figured in a much more satisfactory manner by Sweet on plate 344 of the fourth volume of the second series of his " Biitish Flower Garden," and awell-known northern plants- man assures me that for many years he grew a Pea identical with that figured by Sweet, and dis- tributed scores of plants of it to various customers, but has now run outofit. InMrs. Loudon's "Lady's Flower Garden" the name of L. Armitageanus is given asasynonym for L. magellanicus, and asl have recently received from acorrespondent in Scotland a plant of a Pea under this name which I believe he originally received from the Yorkshire nursery- man above mentioned, I am not without hopes that this when it blooms (which I fear it will not be strong enough to do this year) may turn out to be the perennial sky-blue Pea which I am so anxious to possess. On the other hand, a plant is figured in'Maund's " Botanic Garden," vol. 6, plate 526, under the name of L. Armitageanus which is said to approach nearer to magellanicus than any other that has been described, and to differ from it only in the stipules being narrower, and not broader, than the leaflets. It is said also to be perfectly hardy and almost evergreen. Again in that beautifully illustrated and exceedingly seldom-met-with work, Knowles and Westcott's "Floral Cabinet," vol. 3, plate 110, I find another good figure of liathyrus Armitageanus which in the accompanying letterpress is said to be a native of Brazil, and consequently only half hardy in Great Britain, but easily propagated by cuttings, as it but seldom ripens seed. It was introduced into the Birmingham Botanic Garden in 1834. It seems to me, after carefully comparing all these above cited coloured plates, that the flowers of L. magellanicus as figured by Mrs. Loudon and Sweet are decidedly of a more beautiful shade of ccerulean blue than those of L. Armitageanus as figured by Maund and Knowles and Westcott, the flowers of the latter variety being of a dis- tinctly purplish hue and also rather smaller. There is also a conflict of testimony between two of these authorities, as Maund says L. magel- lanicus is an annual, whereas Mrs. Loudon says it is a perennial plant. W. E. Gcmbleton. somewhere, and what I want to know is whether this is done in these islands (in warm light soils, for instance), or whether they manage these things better in France, or whether the heathen Chinee has it up his sleeve along with the rest of his tricks that are vain. The single U. sinense is itself little more than a biennial, but then this is raised from seed with the utmost ease, which, of course, does not apply to the double variety. — J. C. L. Viola Christiania.— A spray of this variety obtained the award for the best, selected from the whole exhibition, at the late Pansy show. It is a nicely formed flower of the faintest lemon -coloured white, with a conspicuous orange spot in the centre. Something may be said of the lasting qualities of the blooms in a cut state. I saw the above spray one day after the show and it was comparatively fresh. The flowers were cut the night before the exhibition, and from that time to the time I saw them they had been severed from the plant forty-eight hours, besides bearing the heat of the Crystal Palace. The plant has a tufted habit of growth and is free flowering. — H. Campanula persiclfolia.— Backhouse's form of C. p. alba grandiflora is up to the present time a decided improvement upon all others, but Mr. Ladhams, by carefully hybridising and eelecling the best forms, has obtained a plant more robust than the type itself.— E. M. Delphinium grandifl-Orum. — I see a note (p. 12) on this plant which induces me to ask whether the writer of it or any other of your readers can tell us anything about it. It is a plant greatly to be desired, but I have never been able to keep it through a winter in the open myself, nor have I ever known anybody who could, nor have I ever seen an established plant in a private or nursery garden. On the other hand, it is undeniable that the principal nurserymen who deal in these sorts of things continue to offer it at a price varying from about 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. or 5s., though it never seems to get cheaper. It is clear, therefore, that it must be grown (and to some extent multiplied ) FLOWER GARDEN NOTES. Failures.— Each year in connection with the summer bedding it is advisable to note any failures that may occur, so that if necessary one can find substitutes for those plants that have not been satisfactory. Of course one has to make allowances for special seasons ; it would hardly be fair, for in- stance, to condemn anything on trial for the first time if it failed in a season like the present, especially if there has been no chance of water- ing. Concerning those plants which in tho majority of places were once prominent favourites, but which are now seldom seen, it is fortunate that efficient substitutes have been found for them nearly what is required in the matter of colour, and immeasurably superior in adapting themselves fairly well to all soils and situations. Thoroughly good strains of Phlox Drummondi and Petunias for Verbenas and Marigolds, Violas and yellow Tropfeolum for Calceolarias, are cases in point. So far as Verbenas are con- cerned, it is somewhat strange that whilst m a few places they still do remarkably well, in others it is practically impossible to do anythmg with them. I remember a place where they were bedded in thousands, and were the finest feature in the flower garden until a disease in the shape of a kind of black mildew made its appearance, and after a couple of years the culture of Verbenas was reluctantly abandoned. It seized on the tips of young shoots, and although it yielded to dust- ings with flowers of sulphur, the growth was checked, and new growth so soon as it appeared was again attacked it the applications of sulphur were not followed up. It was before either Phlox Drummondi or Petunias were represented by such fine bedding strains, and efficient substitutes for the Verbenas were rather hard to find. I fancy the decline of Verbenas gave the first strong incentive to the cultivation of tufted Pansies so far as the summer flower garden is concerned. Still more common than the failure of Verbenas is that of bedding Calceolarias ; few gardeners at- tempt the cultivation of these mifty subjects, and a thoroughly good display is very seldom seen. I have sometimes been fairly successful with them by taking out a good portion of the natural soil and working in leaf soil and moist red sand in the proportion of three to one, but such a compost would have to be practically flooded every second or third day in a season like the present if the plants were to do any good. Yellow Antirrhinums and Calendula Orange King are the best fairly large substitutes for Calceolarias, but to have the Marigold last out the season, decaying flowers must be promptly removed, and the plants get plenty of water if the weather is hot and dry. Tufted Pansies Bullion, Sovereign and Lord Elcho, and Mrs. Clibran Tropajolum are good dwarf yellows. In the lighter shades there is no plant makes a more beautiful bed than the prim- 54 THE GARDEN [July 27, 1895. rosccolourcd Chrysanthemum or Paris Daisv, if one can keep the maggot from the foliage. This '^^"Pe.fative, as the plants when bored all over by this objectionable insect have a very rubbishy ap- P?*'"^'>ce. I can do very little with Begonia worthiana, and shall be glad to know if any readers have a similar experience. Both in 189.3 and 1!>94 two directly opposite seasons from a climatic standpoint, itfailed to give satisfaction , and I have therefore been obliged to discard it reluctantly because where it does well it makes a very hand- some bed, and if planted thinly on a dwarf carpet, individual plants grow to a large size. Hardy flowers.— This is the first time since planting Alstnomerias twelve years ago that I have to chronicle a failure. The growth is only about half the usual height and flower-spikes are tew and far between. Hemerocallis in variety are plentiful, but although somewhat similar in colour, they lack the delicate beauty of the Alstra-merias. lossibly there are few more beautiful hardy plants just at present than the red and white terms of Everlasting Pea. I saw them to per- tection the other day in a cottage garden, very large clumps growing on either side of a path and forming a delightful arch overhead. Both va- rieties might be planted largely more fretiuently than they are in nearly all places where hardy flowers are extensively used ; they possess the merit of standing well in a cut state, and the white variety is especially valuable. They have the reputation of moving badly, but, in common with many other hardy plants, it is more a ques- tion of well-prepared ground, careful lifting and re-planting, a good surface mulching and, if neces- sary, one thorough soaking of water. Very vigorous growth or a great profusion of flower must not be expected the first season, but if a sturdy healthy vine that keeps the foliage well 18 secured, the ultimate success of the shifting IS undoubted. Nearly the same remarks are applicable to all herbaceous plants which, although all the better if not disturbed when once esta- blished, may yet be moved with impunity if the operation is carefully performed. Annuals.— Owing to the comparative failure of several families of herbaceous plants there is rather a dearth of flowers for cutting, except from the Carnation beds, and the value of good batches ot those annuals that stand well in water, as Codetias, Cornflowers, Stocks, Malope and Sweet i'eas, IS thereby considerably enhanced. It seems rather strange to advocate the mulching of beds of annuals, but where they have been sown mainly to secure cut flowers such treatment will be found advisable, if not imperative, if a long sustained season is required. The best things we have at present are Sweet Peas, the two varieties ot Malope, Iceland Poppies and the small-flowered single Hehanthus, and last, although not least, the varieties of Sweet Sultan. Where the ground was not thoroughly well done the annuals are a decided failure, the prolonged drought having brought them to a premature end. Plants raised somewhat late for autumn cutting, as Scabious, or for .autumn transplanting, as Wallflowers, had to receive special treatment. The borders had a good dressing of -j „ - manure, and were dug up deeply they received a slight treading to settle them down, and, drills being drawn, a good soak ing of water was given an hour or two before the seed was sown. E. Burrkll. Glaremonl. Hemerocallis Kwanso foliis variegatis.— This handsome Day Lily is now in bloom. Its flowers are very similar in colour to those of H fulva, the petals being of rather greater consistency and oftentimes striped with a lighter tint. Its chief beauty, however, lies undeniably in its foliage, which is beautifully variegated in longi- tudinal stripes. One clump that I have possesses leaves almost perfectly whit«, lined with thin stripes of green. In another clump the colours alternate in e(|ual proportions, while in a third tiio green predominates. By some this pl.-uit is re- commended for greenhouse culture, it being iudced by them to be of doubtful hardiness. Thou<.^h specimens are undoubtedly extremely decorative in the conservatory, my experience points to H. Kwanso f. v. being equally hardy with H. fulva and H. flava, my plants having withstood 22'' of frost and the late protracted winter alike without injury, and having grown in size and beauty year by year. It is a plant which is, unfortunately, but little known in gardens, but, owing to its ex- tended season of attractiveness, there are few occupants of the herbaceous border that surpass it in value.— S. W. F. alstr(i:merias from seed. I RWE raised plants of a white Alstrccmeria from seed for the greenhouse, and wish to know whether the plants should be plunged in fibre like bulbs. The pots are at present standing in the open. — Inquirer. *«* " Inquirer " would have materially assisted us in our desire to furnish information by stating the age of the plants and also the variety grown. The many species and forms of this beautiful genus are as varied in their requirements as they are in hardiness and time of flowering. In the absence of precise information, however, we may reasonably assume that the white Alstrtemeria referred to is A. pelegrina alba (the Lily of the Inoas), probably the most chaste and beautiful of this useful group. It is, however, a tender kind, and must always be grown secure from frost, preferably in a cool greenhouse. Seedlings of this charming plant require very liberal treatment in their earlier stages, and if sown thickly in pots or pans should be transplanted as soon as large enough, four in a 5- inch pot or five in a 6inch pot being quite enough to permit of the full develop- ment of the tubers. The soil best suited is loam, peat, leaf soil, together with some well rotted manure, about one-sixth, and a little sharp sand. The plants should be grown on till they exhibit signs of decay naturally, at which time water should be gradually withheld. When the growths are fully ripened off, the pots containing them may be plunged in ashes or cocoa-nut fibre in the open. With young seedling plants extremes of dryness should be avoided, and therefore sufficient water must be given to keep the tubers comparatively plump. Plungedin theopen in their pots, water once a week will be sufiicient to secure this condition. If the seedlings have been transplanted several in a pot, as suggested above, it will be best to transfer them to 8-inch or 9-inch pots, with as little dis- turbance as possible when re-starting into growth. But should the young plants be in any way crowded in their present pots, the best results will be secured by shaking them out early in the ensuing autumn, replanting the largest tubers five or six into pots 8 inches or 9 inches across. The soil above named will suit them well, afford- ing a fair amount of drainage, and when in full growth liberal supplies of water at the root. A little clear soot water twice a week will colour to the foliage. — E. J. give DISEASE IN LILIUM CANDIDUM. Now that the flowering season of the Madonna Lily has arrived it may be well to draw attention to the disease which has decimated its ranks for the last few years. A careful perusal of vols. 4.') and 46 of The Garden can but lead one to the conclusion that, widespread though the de- struction seems to have been, no definite opinion .as to the cause of the visitation has as yet been arrived at. I find that fourteen notes on this subject are con- tained in the two volumes mentioned, and that the causes assigned for the epidemic are almost as numerous. One writer ascribes it to the heavy rainfall and the sodden state of the earth, another points out th.at the disease appears in dry as well as during wet summers, a third puts it down to poverty of soil, a fourth to injury of the foliage by storms, while a fifth disproves this contention by (juoting the fact that bulbs grown entirely tmder glass are likewise liable to failure from the same cause. My own theory is, that the disease is mostly, if not entirely, confined to imported bulbs. I gave (vol. 46, p. 123) an account of a row of one hundred bulbs that had succumbed, whilst a bulb that came from a cottager's garden and which was growing not 3 yards distant from the affected imported bulbs showed no sign of disease. This year the single bulb has thrown up three stems, each about 4 feet high which are bloom- ing grandly, while the hundred that after their failure were relegated to the kitchen garden have produced but one flowering spike, the remainder of their foliage being much spotted by disease and some of the foot-high stems rotten, as are many of the bulbs which I have just examined. In the cottagegardens around, L. candidum flourishes in perfection and has apparently done so for ages. Even in years when disease has been rife among the French bulbs I have never seen a sign of it on the cottagers' Lilies, which appear to grow with ecjual vigour in light and in heavy soil, in dry and damp situations, in the sun and in the shade. The other day I came across a Madonna Lily 5 feet 8 inches high with a head consisting of thirty-one flowers, the finest specimen that I had ever seen. In a neighbouring nursery out of a large plot of imported bulbs not a single flowering stem has been produced, and another garden that I know of where similar bulbs were procured has fared equally badly. The conclusion that is forced upon me is that had we trusted to home-grown bulbs, the disease would never have appeared. I shall be glad to elicit the opinions of others on this subject, as I hope that it we can but fathom the cause, we may be able to stamp out the plague spot that works such havoc in our Lily beds. S. W. F. EVERLASTING PEAS. I SHALL be glad to be informed why it is that in some districts the common Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) comes so much larger and deeper in colour than in others. I cannot think that it shows any real distinctness, because I have seen in old farmhouse gardens in Kent very fine forms of it, and on bringing rooted plants to the neighbourhood of London have found them to assume an inferior form. I have also raised many seedlings from a fine type only to find not one reproduce the fine parental character. Cases have been known where an unusually fine development has occurred, but the progeny has rarely, if ever, developed unusual c[uality. When at Boston a few days ago I saw grow- ing against the entrance to Burton Hall, the residence of Mr. Alfred Johnson, a huge bush, the flowers large in size and brilliant in colour, unlike what one can find in the neighbour- hood of London, but which can yet be met with in various parts of the country, the colouring superb, the size and substance remarkable. I seem forced to the conclusion that it is very much a question of cultivation, and that some property in the soil governs this striking fineness of de- velopment. At Ealing I cannot induce the white form of L. latifolius to grow with anything like satisfac- tion. I have made the ground specially for it, mulched it, watered it in dry weather, and then only to find it fail. But the variety known as delicatus, the blush flowers delicately tinted and striped with pink, does remarkably well, and blooms with great freedom. It is a beautiful variety, an excellent companion to the purple and wliite forms. The difficulty of getting seeds saved from the white variety to produce white flowering types is well known, as so many of the plants bear purple flowers. In the case of deli- catus the proportion of plants true to the type is a good one. With me the last named appears to bloom much more freely than the common form. Thelargerdwarf-growing perennial Pea, commonly known as L. grandiflorus — its flowers of great size, the colours purple, crimson and rose — appears to do well anywhere when once established and let alone. It is the earliest of the perennial Peas to July 27 1895.J THE GARDEN 55 bloom, and very rarely produces eeedg, though I have known a very few put in an appearance in the course of a hot, dry summer, and in such a season as this some seeds may be discovered. Next in order of blooming is the form of L. rotundi- fohus, grown under the name of L. Drummondi. This is the name under which I received it from Mr. Charles Green. There is enough difference between the two to justify its being classed as a variety, and I find it comes quite true from seed. It is a vigorous grower and blooms most pro- fusely, the flowers of a lively salmon- carmine tint. A well-established plant of it forms a dense bush. I find all these perennial Peas are greatly helped by a mulching of good manure in early spring, and during dry weather they will take full supplies of water. If thus liberally treated, clumps will stand for years and be objects of great beauty if carefully staked and the branches kept firmly tied to them. Previous to sowing seeds of Everlasting Peas it is well to soak them in water for a few hours, especially so if the seeds are a year or so old. This is .a wrinkle I learned from Mr. Charles Green. I allow the seeds to soak in the water for eight or ten hours, and then four or five hours after I take them out, sow them, and they soon germinate. I sow in pots and pot off as soon as large enough. R. D. Sweet-scented Verbena hardy. — In the autumn of 1S94 I plunged a number of stools of Chrysanthemums of various kinds in their pots when flowering was completed. The whole of the plants occupied a position against the wall of a greenhouse, where they would receive consider- able protection. Coal ashes was the material used, and with this the stools were covered quite 3 inches deep. But quite by accident a plant of the above Verbena, which must have been stand- ing near, was included with the Chrysanthemums, receiving the same covering. It was no surprise that the excessive and long-continued frost early this year was sufficient to kill the Chrysanthe- mums, and having abundance in reserve, I did not hesitate to discard them. In doing this the plant of Verbena was discovered just breaking into growth quite freely. It has since continued to grow and is now nicel}' in flower. In warm, sheltered positions in the Isle of Wight I have seen large examples of this plant, with a stem of considerable size, which at first surprised me greatly ; but I was not prepared to witness the same plant enduring from 20° to .32° of frost in the county of Middlesex with impunity. After such an experience one is led to inquire whether, by affording slight protection in winter at the base, this plant may not be usefully employed in our shrubberies. At any rate, on warm soils it is worth a trial. — E. J. Orchids. NOTES ON DENDROBIUMS. Many of these are now approaching the end of their season's growth, while others are still a long way behind. The evergreen short-bulbed species and varieties are many of them very quick in growth, and it is not uncommon for them to make two sets of growth in a season, especially if grown in the same house as the deciduous kinds. D. aggregatum is one of the smallest growing, and takes only a few weeks from the time it starts until the little pseudo- bulbs are complete, and with this it is inadvis- able to let them grow away again. In fact, with all Dendrobes it is much better to keep them to their annual routine as far as practic- able, nothing being gained by tlie extra growth. D. heterocarpum usually finishes up early, and is better for a few weeks' rest before the flower- buds appear. The earliest plants of D. nobile should as soon as the last leaves make their appearance be placed in the full sun and well watered untU the stems are quite ^complete, when less heat and moisture are necessary to induce a thorough rest. D. maorophyllum and D. Dalhousianuni are two sorts that are often late in growth, the latter especially rarely finishing much before the end of the year. As it does not, however, flower until the growths are at least two years old, this does not matter, for one set of stems is ripening and forming flower- buds while the other set is growing. D. thyrsiflorum and allied kinds are rather erratic in their manner of growth, several plants not yet having any sign of breaking. With this, as the last-named, there is not time now to get flowers upon this season's bulbs, though if started early and well ripened in autumn, the plants usually flower on the last year's pseudo-bulbs. The tiny-growing D. pulcheUum requires a good rest before flowering, and so does D. Falconeri, but neither must be dried sufficiently to cause the pseudo- bulbs to shrivel. If these small-growing kinds were given less heat during the winter and more judiciously watered, there would be less cause for complaint as to their not thriving satisfactorily. What they all like is to be very firmly fixed to their adopted home, be it basket, block, or what not, duly excited into growth in spring and kept cool afterwards. There are few Orchids, as a matter of fact, that require less heat during winter than Den- drobiums, many of them standing a few degrees of frost with impunity. Of course, no one would think of allowing the temperature to drop so low as this if it can be avoided, but anything above 48° is too high for the majority of these during the long winter nights. There are several of the genus that will not stand so low a temperature, and among these may be mentioned the Australian species, as D. bigib- bum, D. Phalffinopsis, and other.% also the lata autumn-flowering D. chrysanthum, which is frequently in full growth during the winter months. Besides the difference in their manner of growth, careful growers will note also the varying kinds of roots, and endeavour to give each a suitable kind of rooting medium and receptacle to grow in. Many of the long-stemmed deciduous group with their small twining and interlacing roots, such as D. BensoniiB and D. crassinode, delight in a rather close root-run, and are well adapted for the small shallow pans now so much in vogue for Orchids. Then we have such deep- rooting kinds, as D. nobile or D. superbum, that quickly adapt themselves to any style of pot or basket, but preferably those with plenty of depth. These, too, like rougher, more open compost, one allowing free passage for air amongst them. Another kind of root is that of D. inf undibulum and several of the nigro-hirsjute group, that though strong and robust-looking cannot endure to be covered with peat or moss to such a depth as in the kinds mentioned above. These like a shallow compost, the pots varying in width according to the liking of the several kinds and the strength of individual plants. Some may be inclined to think that this ob- servation of the likes and dislikes of such easily grown plants is needless, and consequently pot all alike, keeping up the temperature tliey think most suited to the majority and leaving the rest to chance. This may do for a time, but sooner or later the time of reckoning is sure to come, and such haphazard modes of culture will only have the eti'ect of keeping the hardier and more easily grown kinds in health, while the more fastidious and weakly species will gradually become weaker, and it is then only a question of time before they cease to be of any real value. I would, therefore, again urge amateurs to throw over what may be termed the collective mode of treating their plants, studying closely the wants of such species as are not usually satisfactory with them, and per- severing in the treatment that their observations point to. •"■■ ORCHIDS AT LONG MELFORD. The amount of success achieved by interested amateurs in Orchid culture is remarkable, and I was forcibly reminded of this recently when call- ing upon Dr. Turner, of Long Melford, Sufl'olk. This gentleman's collection is not large, but each plant in it bears the impress of careful and attentive culture. Two small lean-to houses are all that are given up entirely to Orchids, though there are several others devoted to stove and greenhouse plants, the better class of fine-foliaged plants and Palms apparently coming in for a large share of attention. In the cool house a compact and excellently grown specimen of Epidendrum vitellinum majus was flowering freely, bearing six spikes unusually large and brilliant in colour. Odontoglossum Harryanum was in strong force, one plant having exceedingly large flowers, the sepals measuring considerably over an inch across, and of that deep maroon colour so much admired in this species. O. crispum, O. Pescatorei and others of this section are here well grown, those in flower showing a careful selection, whilst all are in the most robust health. Passing to the warmer division, the same robust health in the plants is observable. Several fine pieces of Cat- tleya Gaskelliana were in flower, the colours very rich and varied, while C. labiata autumnalis gives promise of great things in the near future. A large and well-flowered plant of a good variety of Brassia verrucosa deserves note. The plant referred to was growing in a 6-inch pot, and the head of bloom must have been nearly 3 feet across, six long arching spikes crowded with the elegant singularly-formed flowers, with less of the greenish tint on the sepals and petals than is usual with this kind. Dendrobes are well grown, but not many were in flower. A finely-flowered D. Falconeri, however, deserves note not only on account of the number of blooms, but the health and vigour of the plant. Odontoglossum Roezli album is also quite at home and flowering freely. Several others that usually flower at this season were represented, and doubtless there might have been many more, but Dr. Turner wisely considers it best to have the plants left to bloom another year and cuts the flowers after they have been a reasonable time upon the plants. R. ZYGOPETALUM MAXILLARE. It is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule to see this beautiful old species thriving under cultivation, but one occasionally meets with it in good condition. The habit of the plant is rather peculiar ; it produces a creeping rhizome upon which the small ovate leafy pseudo-bulbs occur. The blossoms, produced on erect scapes from ' the base of the matured pseudo-bulbs, are each about U inches across. The sepals are greenish with laree blotches of chocolate, the lip rounded, blue with a deep purple crest. The flowers last a long time in perfection, but should not be allowed to remain on the plant too long. This Zygopetalum is usually kept too hot, the temperature of the Cattleya house being quite high enough at all seasons, and much better than that of the East India house. The habit of the plant is the cue to its requirements as to compost, all these creeping species abhorring a close, heavy mass of material about their roots. It is fre- quently found growing naturally on Tree Fern stems, and this mode of culture is also adopted under cultivation. Where these are growing in a temperature as described above they are the best of homes for thi*' Orchid, but to wire the plants to the stems in a dry conservatory, as I have seen on 56 THE GARDEN [July 27, 1895. more than one occasion, is quite as bad for the Orchids as the Ferns. If suitable lengths of Fern stems can be procured and these sunk into pots, the bottom of each being surrounded with crocks and a little Sphagnum, the plants often thrive for many years, or they may be wired to cork blocks with a little Sphagnum, not all over the block, but in places, so that the roots have the choice of Moss or cork, the Sphagnum keeping a little moisture near them. Baskets are sometimes used, and if the plants are sufficiently vigorous to take to the com- post they do very well, but small or weak plants do best as described above ; the roots are then dry for an hour or two in the day, which is very conducive to the health of all epiphytal kinds if there is a sufficiency of moisture in the atmosphere. A great deal of care is necessary in ventilating a house where such plants as these are growing, especially if a steep pitched narrow structure. These part with the atmospheric moisture very readily, and while plants growing immediately above a moist stage may be adequately supplied in this respect, those near the roof will be parched from want of moisture. An important point in the culture of this Orchid is keeping the atmosphere well supplied with ammonia by the usual means. I have frequently observed that the nearer a plant comes to a true epiphyte the greater the advan- tage accruing to it from this source, Cypripediums and other terrestrial Orchids not benefiting in a like degree. In most houses there are places where a little soot and lime may be sprinkled about, this being a capital agent for supplying the ammonia and also distasteful to slugs. Z. maxil- lare requires an abundance of water at the root if growing as described above and must never be dried off even in winter. It was introduced from Brazil in 1844. R. L^LIAS. This splendid genus contains some of the most popular and beautiful Orchids in cultivation, and no collection can be worthy of the name unless some of them are included. The larger growing species are gorgeous, while the smaller kinds are surpassingly beautiful and useful for cutting for almost every purpose for which cut flowers are likely to be required. As regards their structure botanically, L;elias closely re- semble Cattleyas — indeed, some botanists have included them with that genus. Some of the species, too, greatly resemble Cattleyas in habit, and this section thrives under similar conditions as to compost and temperature. The dwarfer-habited kinds, such as L. anceps, require usually less heat than Cattleyas and rather different treatment. They are, in fact, rather more difficult to grow unless certain de- tails of culture are carefully attended to. None of them like a great amount of rooting space, and if grown in pots the compost layer must only be superficial and the drainage must have special attention. Possibly the best of all modes of growing them is on trellised rafts, so that the roots have always plenty of air moving about them, and are not hampered by closeness of material. L. autumnalis, for instance, de- lights in this treatment, and will in this way be more satisfactory than if grown in pots or pans. During the growing season they must have abundance of air and sunlight, otherwise it is useless to expect flowers. If this is carefully attended to the temperature is really of second- ary importance, but all of them will thrive in a maximum summer heat of 75° by day, 00 by night. This will induce a solid growth, the foliage taking on a bronzy or russety hue that is a sure sign of health, much preferable to the light green colour of plants kept in a strong, moist heat. Owing to the amount of sunlight they need and the freedom with which the air currents must play over the roots, they need very frequent examination for water, twice or even thrice daily when growing freely. When the pseudo-bulbs are quite finished, such of these as do not produce the flower-scapes at once may be kept nearly, if not quite dry at the roots. A few weeks' exposure to the open air is also very desirable, the plants being arranged in a pit from which the lights have been taken off or in any other sheltered position. Here they may remain until early frosts are impending, when they must again be placed under glass. Many of the Lselias flower during the autumn and early winter months, and on this account are valuable, as this is the time when good Orchids are scarcest. Among these may be noted L. AUTUMNALIS, which greatly resembles the spring-flowering L. anceps. The flower-spikes spring from the apex of the newly-formed pseudo- bulbs, and attain a height of 1 foot to 18 inches, bearing eight or ten large flowers. In the type these are rosy purple in ground colour, the lip be- ing very attractive ; the front of this is streaked with purple, the side lobes white and the centre bright yellow. It is a variable kind, several va- rieties having been named. All are fragrant, and the flowering season extends from July until November. The type was introduced from Mexico in 18.36. L. DiGBYANA is a very remarkable Orchid, known perhaps better as a Brassavola. The labellum of this is deeply fringed, the colour being sometimes pale purple on the sepals and petals, the lip creamy white. This plant delights in plenty of heat and sunlight, being a native of Honduras, whence it was introduced before 1846, this being the year in which it first flowered at Minterne, in Dorsetshire. L. FLAVA is a pretty late autumn-flowering kind, a native of Brazil. The pseudo-bulbs are rounded and bear erect spikes of flower about 18 inches in length from the apex. The flowers are wholly yellow and last well. Though introduced as far back as 1839, this kind is not common even now. It requires Cattleya house treatment and is easily grown. Another Mexican kind, somewhat similar to L. autumnalis, is L. FURFURACE.v, which was introduced from the neighbourhood of Oaxaca in 1838. The outdoor treatment after flowering suits this kind well, provided there is time, but it must not be left out after the middle of September. The colour of the flowers is deep rose, the lip purple in front with a white base. L. Perrini is a fine species in its best forms and well worth growing. This has the habit of a Cattleya and produces a four to six-flowered scape, the individual blossoms being from 5 inches to 6 inches across, light rose on the sepals and petals, the lip similar m ground colour with a deep purple blotch on the front lobe, the throat white, with a yellow marking. This species comes from Brazil and is very variable, the pure white form being much prized and very rare. H. NOTES FROM A NEW ZEALAND GARDEN. An Echinopsis. February 16. — One cannot always have one's favourite flower in bloom unless, indeed, the favourite happens to be Primula obeonica, when, with a little care, the thing might be managed. Speaking for myself, however, I am virtuously conscious of a catholic taste in pLants, nothing that grows coming much amiss provided only it keeps within reasonable bounds, so that when I cannot have Daffodils I can put up, in default of better, with a Rose or something of that kind second best. There is, fortunately, no lack of beautiful flowers to bridge the six months' interval between Daffodil and Daffodil. F'or tholast three weeks the Romneya has been producing its exquisite pop- pies. I see that, like others of its tribe, it prefers the night season for bursting its chrysalis case and spreading its wings. If there is anything amongst flowers more exquisite than this, even amongst Daffodils, I should be glad to know it. By the way, it is noticeable that the Romneya does not appear in the list of plant names in Miller's dictionary. We call it here the Cali- fornian Poppy, to which name from its affinities it seems to have a good title. I see, however, that this English name is given by Miller to Esch- scholtzia. But the flower which stimulates me to dip my pen this morning is a Cactus, some kind of Echi- nopsis. I never meet a dealer in plants here who knows a Cereus from a prickly Pear, the Cactus, I suppose, not being a good trade commodity ; so that I got this plant of mine with the vague in- formation that it was "white flowered." It is, however, I think, Echinopsis Eyresi-at any rate an Echinopsis, and this morning I see it in flower for the first time. I grow a tolerably large and varied collection of Cactuses, but I confess that if I did not find great interest and beauty in their quaint form of growth and in the infinite va- riety of their spine arrangements, I should not see in their flowers sufficient inducement to grow them, this partly because many of the kinds — much the greater number, it seems to me — are so shy-flowering, and partly because the flowers when they appear are so evanescent. One of the most abiding impressions ever made upon me by a flower was that caused by seeing some years ago a Cereus in bloom in a Sydney garden. It was Cereus triangularis, I believe, and the plant was so large that it covered the outside of a garden bush-house. From day to day I watched the upright swelling bud-knobs, dotted here and there over the plant, like the cones on a Nordmann Pitch Pine. At last one evening, in the dusk, the great things opened. A ladder was brought and some of the blossoms were gathered. What their dimensions were exactly I did not ascer- tain, but the flowers were very large and splendid, soft cream-white in colour and exquisitely tas- selled inside the cup. The Echinopsis I have before me now has no'' such an imposing blossom as that of the Sydney Cereus, but it is still one of the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. It presents in a marked degree that piquancy of contrast between ex- quisite flower and rough stem (if stem it be) that is characteristic of most Cactuses. Shapeless you cannot properly call the regularly ridged and spiny cushion that stands for the whole apparatus of stem, branches, and leaves, for it is mathe- matically exact in its ridges and valleys, which run north and south to the respective poles with a curvature as regular as the meridian lines on a globe. From the side of this globular hedgehog, apparently at haphazard, projects, at an angle of 45" or so, the cornucopia of the flower to a height of something over 5 inches. The stalk of the funnel is greenish white, dotted at intervals like ermine with tufts of dark hairs. The mouth of the flower is 3 inches across from petal tip to tip. The petals in three rows are white, faintly tinged with green like a Devoniensis Rose, and the whole is (in literal truth) a horn of plenty, for the inside is quite full of stamens encircling a conspicuous ten-rayed stigma, which rises in the centre, well above their reach, in silent protest, I suppose, against any attempt at self-fertilisation. Echinocactus sinuatus, also in bloom with me, has not the great beauty of the Echinopsis I have just mentioned, but its straw-coloured satin flower, with a warm crimson stain at the base of the petals, is not to be despised. This Cactus has the merit of growing fast and flowering freely. My plant has been in bloom off and on for three months, as there are still three unopened buds that will take a month at least to come to per- fection. E. sinuatus it was called by the American firm that sent it to me, but wrongly, I believe. If it is correctly named, then Mr. Watson, of Kew, is wrong in his description, which is not likely. A. Wilson. Dunedin. July 27, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 57 STONELANDS, SUSSEX. It is pleasant to get out of the conventional in gardening, and there are manj^ ways of efFecting this. Generally gardens are cut off from all sympathy -with the surrounding country — that is to say, the usual arrangement of our gardens is so stereotyped, that it is rare to find anything which is suggestive of the' country and surroundings as gardens might well be. Among gardens we have seen in the southern country, this place is very character- istic of the woodland district of Sussex, and very pretty with its groups of Scotch Firs be hind the house and in intimate connection with the farm buildings near. The house is pretty and of the best Sussex order —bright, Books. TRAITE DE CULTURE POTAGERE.* This is an excellent little book, and deserves an English translation. The author is a mem- ] ber of the teaching stafl'of the Grignon National School of Agriculture. His style is simple and concise. The pleasure of growing one's own ' vegetables is one which scarcely any amount of partial failure can destroy. The amateur should feel consoled for repeated disappointments, since, according to this author, he is a powerful factor in the world of horticulture, because it often happens that failures through inexperi- ence and imperfect knowledge only incite him to renewed attempts, until in the end he feels strong enough to forsake the beaten paths and strike out a way of his own among new and untried species. In this he has an advantage he devotes to his business place him in the first rank. For him the seasons do not exist ; he is busy at all times in his garden, from which he sends out a continuous supply of fresh vegetables to our markets. To all classes engaged in the cultivation of vegetables this book may be recommended. The ditt'erent vegetables are treated in alphabetical order ; their uses, varieties, mode or ways of culture are then described in a lucid manner, and the student is greatly assisted by the numerous excellent engravings with which (through the kindness of MM. Vilmorin) the author enhances the practical value of his book. We take the following chapter, page 148, on Wild Chicoky. Wild Chicory (Cichorium Intybus) is found growing wild in France as well as in England. Uses. — Cultivation has singularly rtodified the characteristics of the plant. The leaves, whilst titonelands (south, side), Siisse.r. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph. sunny windows, pretty stone, big chimneys, simple, direct and right in all ways as regards the building. As will be seen from the little engraving, there is a terrace, rendered necessary by the slope of the ground, the wall of which terrace also cuts off the house from the road to the farm buildings near. The effect near or far is very pretty. Stonelands is a fifteenth century house, of the history of which nothing can be gleaned. It is probably of about the same period as Wakehurst and other houses in the neighbourhood, and occupied by yeomen till of recent years, when it was purchased by Mr. Franks, repaired and in various ways much improved by him. over the professional grower, who cannot afford to spend his time and capital except in under- takings known to be profitable to him. Thus, according to M. Dybowski, the amateur pre- pares the way for the professional, and so, with- out taking into account the benefit which he personally derives from the exercise of his in- telligence and perseverance, the amateur's part in horticulture is an important one. Of the two classes of professionals — the market gar- dener and the cultivator — the former is the artist. His operations may be limited in area, but the scientific nature of his methods, the capital he invests, and the trained intelligence * "Traite de Culture Potngere (Petite et GrauJe Culture)." By J. Dybowski. Illustrated with 113 engravings ; 2nd edition. G. JIasson, 120, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris. increasing in size, have become less hairy and their bitter flavour, too, has diminished. With these modifications the plant lends itself to a va- riety of uses for cooking. In a young state it is eaten raw as a salad, and one way of preparing it is to cover it over with earth in order to blanch the leaves as they grow ; but, as a rule, this blanched appearance is got by growing the plants in cellars, and it is generally after having under- gone this process that it reaches the consumer. V/IRIETIES. Besides the type several distinct varieties are cultivated. Vakieoated wild Chicory.— The leaves of this variety are much spotted with red. It is used for obtaining the Barbe de Capucin, and the red stains remain on parts in spite of the blanching process which the plant has undergone. Improved wild Chicory. — This variety is characterised by the breadth of its leaves, which 58 THE GARDEN" [July 27, 1895. by their undulating and crisp appearance im- part to it the semblance of a Lettuce. The wild lakge-kooted Chicory, or Coffee Chicory. — This variety, the tap roots of which attain to a very large size, is used, as its name implies, in the preparation of coffee, in which state it is widely consumed. Its leaves also are used in the production of Barbe de Capucin. There are two types of the plant, viz. : — The large-rooted Brussels Chicory or Wit- LOOF Chicory. — This plant, which resembles the Magdeburg Chicory, has this in particular, that the leaves form a heart which imparts to it something of the appearance of a small-sized Let- tuce. At a later stage we will describe the method of cultivation employed in respect to this variety. B.\rbe de Cai'DCIs. — The cultivation of wild Chicory for Barbe de Capucin is limited to the neighbourhood of Paris, the communes of Mon- treuil-sur-Seine, Rosny and Bobigny. Cultivators who devote their energies to its production rarely sow Chicory on their own lands, one reason of this being that oftentimes they do not possess the requisite amount of space, bat chieHy it is owing to the exhausting eft'ect of this cultivation which makes it impracticable to employ the same plot of ground for two consecutive years. The ground which is set apart for this purpose is limited to one crop, that is to say, from spring until the end of autumn. A plot is given over to the cultivator in April and is manured, ploughed over, and then harrowed. The lease of each plot ceases in November or December. The price of each tenancy varies very little, ground which is set apart to this crop being always of good cjuality, and the average price is 750 francs the hectare. Sowing. The ground having been properly prepared, the seeds are sown at the end of April or be- ginning of May. They are sown in lines in order to enable the ground to be kept clean, which is done all through the summer. The lines are 0 30m. apart and the cjuantity of seed which is required per hectare is about 150 litres, at an average price of 1 franc the litre. The sowing, which is done by hand, employs one man from nine to ten days. In ofjerationa on a large scale it is better to sow with a drill. Shortly after the appearance of the young plants, which generally takes place eight or ten days after sowing, it is advisable to hoe between the lines, which means eleven daj's' labour for one man. A month after- wards it is necessary to get rid of the weeds which may have made their appearance between the lines, or it may be in the lines themselves among the roots of the young Chicory. This weeding, which is done by hand, occupies one man about fifty days if it is properly done. The leaves when they have attained to a considerable development are either gathered by hand and sold as young Chicory for salad, or they are reaped with the scythe as food for cattle. This latter as a sup- plementary crop is sometimes not to be despised. Lifting the Plants. At length comes the time of blanching, an opera- tion which necessitates constant care throughout. The first step is the lifting of the plants. This is done either with the spade or by means of a flat- pronged fork. Having loosened the earth by means of either tool, the plants are easily lifted by laying hold of the leaves that remain. This is either done from time to time as the plants are required for con- sumption, or all at once, in which latter case the roots are placed in a basket close to the place where it is intended to make use of them. In any case it is a long and costly operation. It takes one man not less than a day and a- half to clear 4 poles of Chicory, since he has to tie the roots with willow into small bundles. In this way about 1.350 bundles ])er hectare are obtained, and these, so scon as the lifting is over, are conveyed to the place where the forcing is done. At Montreuil, cultivators who have not their own means of transport are accustomed to employ carriers at the rate of 12 francs for each fifty bundles. When the bundles have reached their destination near the blanching places, the next step is to trim the roots, and this is done by taking each plant separately and nipping off all the leaves which still remain with the finger and thumb, as the use of a knife might injure the heart or centre, and thereby retard the appearance of leaves. This work is usually done by women and is paid for at the rate of 1 franc the bundle. After each bundle is made up it is again tied with willow in such a way that the plant tops are level with one another. Forcing. This takes place in a cellar or store-room, the apertures of which have all been closely sealed, and upon the floor of which a bed has been made, covering it wholly or in part, accord- ing to requirements. The bed ought to be of fresh stable manure and have a depth of 0 30m. to 0'35m. When, after having been carefully pressed down and watered, the bed has attained to a fixed temperature of about 20" to 25°, the bundles of Chicory are placed side by side upon its surface and as close together as possible, with a view to economy of space. Some producers fill up the spaces between the bundles with smaller bundles. It is seldom that the beds are com- pletely covered the same day, and, in fact, the custom is to commence one side and follow up with the others, in order that all the plants may not reach maturity at one and the same time. When all the Chicory is bedded, care is taken to close every door and stop up every aperture, in order to prevent the least ray of light from pene- trating to the plants, as that would have the effect of " greening " the leaves. As soon as it is placed on the bed the Chicory begins to sprout with such rapidity, that one may, so to speak, almost see the sprouts coming. At the end of eleven days, if the bed is hot enough, the leaves will have attained a length of about 0'30m. Whilst the forcing is going on care will be taken to water the plants once or twice a day, having regard to the heat of the bed, and only perfectly pure water should be used, as the least impurity would induce rottenness in the leaves. Preparation for the market. — As soon as the leaves have attained the length above mentioned the forcing process is at an end. The bundles are then removed from the cellar with great care, so as not to break the leaves, and are then untied. A small handful of the plants is then spread on a table, and on the roots is placed a layer of damp potter's clay of about half the size, of one's fist, and upon it another layer of Chicory is spread. Thus is constituted the bottillon, which is tied round the roots with a slender band of Willow and placed among others in large baskets large enough to hold about 200 bottillons. Care will have been taken to line eacli basket with linen and to keep it covered, so as to avoid bruising the leaves and in order to exclude the light, as the least ray of light easily turns them gieen. So prepared, the baskets are despatched to the markets. Here, again, growers who have no means of transport of their own have recourse to carriers who, at Mon- treuil, charge at the rate of 5 francs for every four or five baskets. To the cost of carriage must be added the half-days of the salesman, amounting to 3 francs, which makes the cost of delivering 800 to 1000 bottillons about S francs. The yield fer hectare. — Such are the opera- tions and the cost of cultivation, forcing and de- livery. It is easy, therefore, to calculate the yield per hectare. Our computation is that in an average year it amounts to 1350 bundles, giving after the forcing 50 bottillons the bundle, or a total of 67,500 bottillons. These are sold in the Paris markets at prices which vary according to tlie severity of the winter and the competition they meet with from other salad stuff's. In years when the sale of Chicory is quiet it is sold at the rate of 8 francs to 12 francs the hundred bottillons. On the other hand, in years when the demand is great this price is doubled. From these facts we may set the minimum price down as 12 francs the hundred bottillons. The expenses of cfltivation, &c. — This may be calculated per hectare as follows, it being re- membered that the price of a day's labour of one man is 6 francs at Montreuil. The hire of 1 hectare of ground, ploughing, manure, &c 7."iO francs. 150 litres of seed at 1 fr 150 ,, Sowing, 10 days' labour of one man at 6 f rs 60 , , Hoeing, 12 days at 6 frs 72 ,, Weeding, 50 days ,, .SOI) ,, Harvesting, 150 days ,, 'JUO ,, Transport of bundles at the rate 5 frs. per 50, on a total 1350 bundles 324 ,, Cleaning, at 1 fr. the bundle ... 1350 ,, 16 metres of manure for forcing, at 5 frs SO ,, Willow for tying bundles and bottillons 411 ,, 4 metres of cubes potter's clay . 20 ,, Carriage to market, 1 fr. for the 100 bottillons G70 „ Total 4716 francs. Profits. — Roughly speaking, the profit from 1350 bundles the hectare and fifty bottillons the bundle, or a total of 67,500 bottillons, at the rate of 12 francs the 100, may be set down as 8100 francs. If from this sum we deduct the expenses, the net profit per hectare will be 3384 francs. All the above details have been furnished us by M. Clement Guyot, cultivator, of Montreuil- sous-Bois (Seine). The figures may vary much accordingly as the work is done with more or less care, and the fact is that under different condi- tions, the totals above given may be very appre- ciably diminished. Another grower in the same locality puts the yield per hectare as not more than 36,000 bottillons. It is true that in his case the expenses of cultivation are much less, their total not being above 3270 francs. Consequently under like conditions the profit is not above 10.50 francs on the same calculation of an average of 12 francs the 100 bundles. The daily consumption in Paris alone is about 80,000 bundles of 50 bottillons dur- ing the winter. In the production of Barbe de Capucin, the large-rooted Chicory is used as well as the wild Chicory proper. The (3CLTIV.ITI0N of Chicory for cutting. — A practice which is carried on more or less con- tinuously In kitchen gardens, as well as by culti- vators for the markets, consists in sowing Chicory in March, sometimes in rows 0'25m. to 0'30m. apart and sometimes broadcast. Weeding and hoeing go on during the summer when the leaves are cut for the consumer, and in winter the ground is cleared to the extent of removing the dead leaves. In February and March the Chicory is covered over with leaf-mould or with mould simply when the seeds have been set in lines. The thickness of the cover ought to be at least from 2 inches to 3| inches. At the end of two or three weeks the Chicory will make its appearance, and then is the time to gather the leaves. The plants are laid bare and the leaves are cut, but avoid removing the heart, which is covered up anew. Thus two or three crops may be had in the spring of a salad which is per- ceptibly bitter, but is generally liked. The same operation may take place in the following year with the same plants, after which they should be rooted up. The varieties which are found suc- cessful In producing Barbe de Capucin may also be used for this purpose, but in any case it should be with the addition of the improved Chicory. The cultivation of Witloof. — This is a vegetable much used in Belgium, and promises to have an equal {popularity in France. Its cultiva- tion, however, is attended with difficulties, not in the manner of growing it, but owing to the difficulty there is in obtaining seed which is abso- lutely pure and carefully selected. The result of cultivating an inferior kind is to produce a vege- table resembling Barbe de Capucin, a variety which is wanting in stability and has a tendency to go back to the type. So far the results ob- tained In France have not been so successful as those which come to us from Belgium. The sow- JuLT 27, 1895,J THE GARDEN 59 ing is done as in the case of the wild Chicory. In the autumn the roots are pulled up in the pre- scribed manner, and choice is made of all those the diameter of ^¥hich is at least 3 or -1 centi- metres in the upper part ; all others are cast aside, as well as those which instead of only one centre shoot have several. The selected roots are trimmed as in the case of the Barbe, and then they may be dealt with in two different ways. One way consists in adopting the same system of forcing as is applied to the Barbe in the manner described above. The other consists in first reduc- ing the roots to an equal length of 0'20m. to 0 2om. by cutting off the thin ends. This done, a trench is made 0'40m. in depth in which the roots are placed upright side by side, the spaces between being filled with earth and the trench filled up again In this way the plant is covered with a depth of earth of about O'iOm. Where it is desired to force the growth, the surface of the trench is covered with a warm layer of horse ma- nure, varying in depth according to the quickness tings, after which the roots are pulled up and thrown aside. After this first crop a second may be grown on the same bed after turning up in order to renew the heat. It is better to make two successive sowings rather than cut too long from the same plants, since the older these are allowed to grow, the harder and more bitter the leaves will become. The seed of the wild Chicory retains its ger- minative power for six or seven years. It is got from plants sown in the spring and which have stood the winter in the open air. For obtaining the improved varieties and for Witloof Chicory, the best plants should be selected and replanted at 0 30m. in the spring of the second year. THE KEW HERBACEOUS CATALOGUE.* In this handy shilling volume we find arranged in alphabetical order a catalogue of about 6000 kinds of herbaceous, alpine and bulbous plants which are cultivated in the open air in the Royal Apple Newtown Pippin. From a photograph sent hy Mr. H. Hendricks, Kingston, New York. of growth required. With a layer 0-50m. deep, it will take on an average a month in February to give us a vegetable fit for the table. The roots having been withdrawn from the trench, the leaves are detached, and either eaten raw as a salad o; cooked. Cultivation in beds.— Sometimes the wild Chicory or its variegated variety is sown in beds and under frames. If so, the sowing is done from January to March. For that purpose a bed is formed 0-40m. in thickne.ss, which, after being dressed with mould, is enclosed in a frame. The sowing is done broadcast, without lines ; water is then sprinkled on the bed, which is afterwards covered with straw matting. The seed germinates in two or three days, and fifteen days afterwards the young Chicory is ripe for cutting and being eaten as salad. It will furnish two or three cut- Gardens at Kew. In the first place such a list is a record of which the managers of Kew may fairly pride themselves. The soil of that part of the Thames valley is not very good for most herba- ceous plants, but it is in the rock garden that the difiiculties to be encountered are the greatest. Instead of the pure and light air of a mountain side, where the atmosphere is in summer often saturated with healthy moisture, and evaporation from the soil — a condition hateful to most alpine plants — is hardly perceptible, and where in winter the plants rest for several months preserved in a constant temperature by a covering of snow — in- stead of this we have at Kew an atmosphere within the baneful influence of smoke-laden fogs, a climate where the plants are all through winter liable to be excited into premature growth by spring temperature, again to be checked by the parching east winds of March, which carry, in addition to their own withering powers, a load of impurities gathered as they pass over London. It is but fair that these disadvantages should be borne in mind, and that those who know how diffi- cult it is to grow alpines in any lowland situation will appreciate the success with which so large a collection is maintained in the gardens at Kew. The plan of the catalogue should be briefly noticed. The names of the plants are arranged in four rows. That which begins nearest to the left hand margin of the page contains in full the generic name of the plant, followed by that of the first species. In the next row from the left are the rest of the same genus. In the third row are well-known botanical varieties classed under the species to which they belong, whilst in the fourth are added in a few cases synonyms. If all the synonyms were added the volume would be three or four times as large as it is, and would be very confusing. The few which are given are in cases where the priority of name is in dispute. The specific names of all the plants are followed by the abbreviated names of the botanists who first described them and of the country of which each kind is a native. It is to be hoped that all who cultivate hardy plants will avail themselves of this volume, by which the naming of their plants may be made uniform, the spelling correct, and the mode of writing the specific name, whether with a capital letter or not, may conform to a regular rule. Let every name by which a plant is known in a nursery or a private collection be verified by this list. If it does not occur in the list, the chances are twenty to one that it is wrong, and in this way we may hope in time to eliminate the very large number of unauthorised names now prevalent. Attention may also be cilled to the account given in the preface to the catalogue of the way in which this large collection has been got to- gether, and it is hoped that all who have rare plants to spare will help to maintain and enlarge this finest show of living plants in the world. Edge Hall, Ma/jios. C. Wiilley-Dod. Orchard and Fruit Garden. * " Hand List of Herbaceous Plants Cultivated in the Eoyul Gardens, Kew." The Royal Gardens, Kew. THE NEWTOWN PIPPIN. This still stands at the head of all American Apples in flavour and quality. We read of your famous Blenheim, Cox's Orange, and Rib- ston Pippin, and your correspondent ' ' W. G. C," who in December last had been comparing our Newtown with some of those choice English Apples, said, " In justice to the Newtown Pippin it must be said that it was of excellent quality, only slightly behind Cox's Orange, Ribston Pippin, and one or two other highly flavoured varieties grown in this country." I do not like this conclusion, and therefore I believe it is unjust, although I frankly confess that no such opportunity for comparative test was ever presented to me. But in any event I want to protest against the statement that our American Newtown is "slightly behind" any other Apple for flavour and quality in general. Of course, I realise what a wide diversity of tastes and opinions there are regarding the ideal flavour of an Apple, nor do I believe it possible to settle upon any standard. But in this case, assuming that the writer had carefully selected and well-grown specimens of the New- town for his test, allow me to say that at that early stage of the winter our Newtown could not have reached its full flavour. It is rarely before the latter part of January or 1st of February, in this latitude, that its rich, sprightly juices are fully ready to delight the palate most. 60 THE GARDEN [JoLY 27, 1895. It is distinctly a late winter Apple here and a very long keeper, coming in when nearly all other Apples are gone ; and this is another im- portant element of its great value. Last October I purchased a harrel of the finest Newtowns I ever saw or heard of from an honest old farmer who grew them about ten miles from this city. I have raised many fine cmes in past years, but nothing to equal these. Every Apple was sound, well coloured, fair, smooth, and beautiful, tit for the show table. Two dollars was all he asked for this barrel of Apples, and I paid him with pleasure. I kept the fruit headed up in an ordinary cold room, with the usual fluctuation in temperature, a part of the time at freezing point, until Febru- ary, I think. But then when I opened that barrel there were indeed a sight and an aroma fit for the enjoyment of pomological savants, and I wish President Berckmanns, of the American Pomological Society, " W. G. C," and other friends of that ilk could have been there to see, smell, and taste. Every specimen sound and beautiful, and the flavour beyond compare in my estimation. From that time to this (June 15) I have been enjoying this fruit. And now, when all other Apples have disap- peared from the markets, I have yet two or three dozen of these magnificent fruits, sound as a dollar, though the mercury has been sim- mering in the nineties for days together. I herewith present an accurate outline of one of these Apples, an average specimen, and also a photograph of three other average specimens, which are shown slightly under the actual size. You will observe that these specimens are much larger than the typical outlines of the New- town shown in " Downing " and other standard pomological works. Does this look as though the Newtown Pippin had deteriorated very badly in this country in recent years, as we have been led to believe by various writers > Now, the grower of these Apples is a plain, modest farmer who has never heard that the Newtown was a poor, unprofitable Apple to grow. He does not read the horticultural papers very much, and does not farm on the most approved scientific principles. All this is pretty clear in view of the fact that he sold such magnificent Apples of this choice variety at such a low price, which was only a few cents more than other standard sorts were bringing at the time. He has several Newtown trees in his orchard here in the shadow of the Cats- kill Mountains, planted on rather high ground, and they get the same general treatment which is given to his entire orchard ; he just lets them bear fruit like the other trees. That is all. But I am going to tell him that he can just as wtrll get more money for such Apples in future, because he ought to know it, and then L some- how feel as though I owed him something. Why, when I opened those Apples every one was worth five cents in the fancy fruit markets here, and the larger ones would have sold for ten cents each from the New York stands. Twenty-five dollars would have been a small price for that barrel of Apples. Does it not pay then to grow the Newtown ? But you say, these were very carefully sorted, and I agree that they nmst have been ; it always pays to sort fruit carefully. But grant- ing all that, this man had plenty more like it : mine was only a sample of his entire crop. Now I believe the Newtown has been and continues to be very unjustly condemned as an unprofitable market Apple in this country, though it is starred in fifteen of our States, and double-starred in three of them, in the American Pomological Society's catalogue. That the tree is a rather slow grower and shy bearer while young I admit, but when it begins to bear it continues to produce its precious load and is fully as productive as other leading sorts. It is an ironclad in vigour in the severest climate and is not subject to disease. Therefore I claim, because of the superior value of the fruit, it amply repays for the extra year or two required for its maturity. All this I have said before in previous issues of The Gakden, and subsequent experience and observation have fully confirmed it. I can point to several com- paratively young orchards of the Newtown here on the bank of the Hudson River in the suburbs of this city which are not equalled any- where in vigour, productiveness, and value of their crops. From one of these fine orchards Apples are annually sent to the royal table of Her gracious and excellent Majesty the Queen, and I am proud to know that she has the best. For nine months ending September 1, 1894, Great Britain is said to have paid us about 2,500,000 dols. for American Apples. During the past year we have shipped you nearly 1,600,000 barrels of our Apples. I wish it were possible to know just how many of these were genuine Newtowns and how many more were sold as such. If yoii have choice English Apples that are really superior to our New- towns, why is it that none of them are ever imported or sent to this country, where we usually try to " get the best ? " Kingston, N. Y. H. Hendricks. and trees generally grown under glass. Thus sun and air would be able to act beneficially on each shoot and leaf, a thing impossible under the crowding system, and as the more wood a tree makes the more it is inclined to, this early pinch- ing would lessen the liability to grossness and secure a more evenly balanced condition of the tree generally. Many young fruit trees are un- doubtedly stunted and never permitted to attain their full dimensions by this unnatural raid on their constitutions from the very time they are planted. — .J. C. Preparing Strawberry plants. — In this neighbourhood Strawberries are largely grown, both in the open and under glass. The method of raising young plants that finds the most favour is that of layering them in the open ground as early as possible. Not only is the small pot system of layering Strawberries expensive, but the plants so raised do not take so readily to their altered con- dition as when lifted direct from the open ground. Directly runners can be obtained the soil under- neath them is loosened 1 inch or so deep to ensure a quick root action. A slight hollow is made in the soil to assist in giving the runners water at first when they are layered. The layers are made fast to the soil by the aid of a peg pushed into the ground immediately behmd the runner. In a few weeks the roots will have pushed sufficiently far to enable the plants to be lifted with some soil attached, so that when planted either in the open or in pots the check of removal is not felt. The roots run quickly away in the fresh c|uarters, owing to their not being entwined around each other as when the plants are in pots. — E. M. Pears and Apples. — The same treatment can- not be given these fruits as advised for other wall trees, as if the knife is used too early it does not promote fruiting wood, but a mass of weak leafy wood. Leaders should be secured to the wall and weak useless wood out out. Leave any shortening of terminals till later on when the wood is more matured. On some Pears, such as Louise Bonne of Jersey and other smaller kinds, heavy crops have set and thinning of fruits is necessary ; other kinds with a sparse crop are making much growth, and in their case the removal of breast wood will be necessary. Cordon trees should be kept well stopped, the terminal growth secured, and the crop where heavy thinned, as after the middle of this month there is little danger of dropping. The early kinds, such as Doyenne d'Ete and Jargonelle, should be thinned earlier. The trees should be well mulched and ample mois- ture given them, with occasional dampings over after hot days. Much the same remarks apply to bush trees of both Apples and Pears as to thinning, mulching and watering. Pyramids and bush trees may have gross top growth reduced, but it is well to keep the wood thin in preference to shortening it much at this season. — G. W. Summer pruning. — I have often thought that much harm is done to valuable fruit trees on walls and espaliers by removing the whole of the breast wood at one time. This always has been and is still the rule in most gardens. If, however, it is necessary to remove the young shoots from a Peach or Nectatine tree piecemeal in order to avoid a sudden check, the same rule must, I think, hold good in the matter of summer pruning. In fact, 1 have frequently noticed that the fruit on Pears which was swelling freely up to the time of removing the foreright shoots became stationary for a considerable time after the operation. Far better would it be in ray opinion to go over the crees, removing one half the shoots more from the top half than the bottom, completing the work in ten days or a fortnight's time. I am confident that some of the more delicate Pears and Plums also resent this wholesale defolialiion in a most marked manner, the fruit never afterwards .attain- ing to its normal size or developing its best flavour. I will go further and say that it would be wise not to allow varieties which are prone to make much wood to have their own way in spring, practising pinching as in the case of pot trees SOME GOOD CHERRIES. The season has not been all one could desire for Cherries, black fly having been troublesome, bub there is no cracking, which is often the case in wet seasons. In no season have Cherries been more plentiful or better. I recently paid a visit to Gunnersbury House, and there I saw the finest Cherries I have ever seen in the open. They were equal to the best fruits grown under glass. Mr. Hudson showed them before the fruit com- mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society on July 9, and was unanimously awarded a silver medal for them. The trees from which the fruits had been gathered were very old, and a few seasons ago suffered so badly from canker that Mr. Hudson feared he would lose them. To try and bring them round he laid in all the young growths at full length except the foreright shoots, with the result that the trees now are a mass of young fruiting wood ; the old, somewhat unsightly branches are well covered over and there is a wealth of fruit, thus showing the advantage of giving trees more freedom, using the knife less and getting young wood. Of course, from or- chard house trees one can expect first-class fruit, but in the open such finish cannot be expected. I am aware young trees are not to be relied upon in the open for extra large fiuit. When I exhibited Cherries some fifteen years ago I always relied upon one old tree with a few branches. This tree was near a manure tank and got food freely, bub I am not aware Mr. Hudson's trees got any special food, and they had got none too much moisture, water being scarce and diffi- cult to get at. The trees named on a west and south- west wall are very clean and free from insects. The varieties are Black Tartarian, Bigarreau de Schreken, and Bigarreau Napoleon. There were other varieties, but not such old trees. I do not think anyone who takes an interest in fruit cul- ture can make any mistake in planting the above varieties. B. Napoleon is a later fruit, but in such seasons as this it is ripe by the first week in July on a very warm wall and in light soil. In my opinion it is the very best late Bigarreau. The Black Tartarian is generally considered one of the best black varieties for growing in a cool house. The other variety, Bigarreau de Schreken, which may be termed a very fine type of Early Bigarreau, is black and with a great July 27, 1895.] THE GARDEN 61 depth of flesh, very rich and juicy. It does well either indoors or out. I find the above varieties do well in this lo- cality, and I will add one or two more which I value quite as much for quality, cropping, and earliness. Early Rivers, a large black fruit, is a splendid variety, also Governor Wood, a most reliable variety. St. Margaret, a large dark purple, is very fine and crops grandly. To these should be added Frogmore Bigarreau, Empress Eugenie, Elton, and Waterloo. These are all grown on walls and never fail to crop freely ; indeed, this season severe thinning was neces- sary. G. Wythes. Syon House Gardens. Strawberry British Queen. — I never re- member a season when the above variety has done so well and the flavour been so good. Many fail with this variety through leaving the plants too long in one place. There are none which repay annual planting better than British Queen. It is useless to plant weak runners. If a few plants are reserved for runner production, not fruiting them and planting the runners early in deeply-dug well- manured land, this old favou ite will give a good return. I do not advise north borders where the land is heavy, but in« light soils and a sheltered garden a north border suits the plants. — S. H. B. Strawberry Aberdeen Favourite. — In the race for new or large kinds we must not forget those which do well in what may be termed adverse soils. The above is one of the very best croppers I have grown. Not only is the fruit freely pro- duced, but it has that rich vinous flavour often found lacking in these fruits. This variety is much grown in the north, and i? valuable, as it prolongs the season. It does well in most soils ; in fact, I have never seen it fail in any locality, and the fruits being firm travel grandly. The fruit is bright red, conical, and of first-rate quality. With me it is in season after British Queen. Being a strong grower it reciuires ample space. The plants should not be allowed to bear more than two crops if fine fruits are desired. It is not grown in this part of the country so much as it deserves, but in my estimation it is much superior to Sir J. Paxton and others more often seen. — G. Wvthes. Currant La Conde.— In his useful notes on Currants at p. 6 " W. G. C." mentions this variety, but does not speak of La Versailles. The latter variety I have grown for many years and find nothing to approach it either for crop- ping or quality. The fruit is produced in very large bunches, the individual berries being some- times as large as small Cherries. I am wondering whether La Conde and La Versailles are identical, ae " W. G. C.'s" description of the former would seem to indicate. La Versailles is by no means a uniform LTOwer, being somewhat ungainly, but on this account may be easily layered in early spring, good rooted plants being thus obtained by the next autumn. — J. Crawford. Melon roots diseased.— I send you a piece of a root of a Melon. Whenever the Melons begin to net, the plants always flag on hot days. I keep the house at 70° by night. I grow Cucumbers and Tomatoes in the same house. I never water within 4 inches of the stem. — J. P. *^* The Melon roots are badly attacked by a small worm, which was doubtless introduced with the soil. You keep your house at the proper temperature, but doubtless to a great extent the trouble is caused by the Cucumbers, these being more liable to this disease than Melons. In your note you state it causes dropping of foliage on hot days. This is simply from want of roots to support the plants. Can you not devote a separate bed to the Melons and thus prevent contamina- tion, as it is impossible to do both plants justice quite close to each other ? Again, you grow Tomatoes in the same house. This is not advis- able, as I fail to see how justice can be done to these last-named, as they require more air, less moisture, and in a close, steamy atmosphere would make much leaf growth and fruit very sparingly. The only remedy is when the crop is cleared to thoroughly clean out the old bed, burn the soil, or mix a quantity of fresh lime and soot before using it in any way. I would advise you to obtain soil from a new source, thoroughly exposing it to frost before using, and mixing witn it some wood ashes, soot, or old lime rubble before placing indoors. — G. W. NOTES FROM WORTHING. Worthing has long been noted as a great Tomato and Grape-growing centre, and havmg recently gone to reside there, it has occurred to me that a brief account of the now extensive fruit-growing industry carried on in and around the town might be of interest to many readers of The GARDtiN. The extent of glass in the neighbourhood is very large and would surprise anyone unacquainted witn the place ; indeed, I know of no other spot, even in Kent or near London, where so much glass can be founu within a limited area. TJio nearest approach to it is, I should say, at Bexley Heath, or Swanley, in Kent, where Mr. Ladds' huge market and fruit-growing nursery is situated. Though none of the Worthing establishments equal this in extent, there are many growers pos- sessing from 500 feet to 5000 feet run of spacious glass structures within a short distance oi each other, even in and near the town itself ; while in the surrounding hamlets of Tanning, Broad- water, Patching, Lancing, &c., large nurseries de- voted to fruit growing— chiefly under glass — are also very numerous. The Worthing growers, indeed, must be counted by the score, and more houses are being erected almost daily. Now why 80 extensive an industry should have become established here and have grown to such large proportions is a question that may fairly be asked. As far as I can see, there are two reasons : first, the climate is unusually sunny, dry and warm, with a remarkable absence of storms, plenty of fresh sea air, and no fog, except a slight sea mist at times. In a season like the present, in- deed, a little more moisture would be desirable, for there has been less rain here than almost any- where else, so that an abundant supply ot water is an absolute necessity. The soil also— a sub- stantial, but not heavy loam of a rich yellow or reddish colour, and in many places 3 feet to 5 feet in depth — is admirably adapted to the growth of plants in general, and of Vines and Cucumbers in particular. I fancy it contains rather too much iron to be quite the thing for Tomatoes, but as it varies considerably, this crop also suc- ceeds admirably in certain spots, aecondly, it appears that in the good old times Tomatoes were found to succeed so well in the open air, that some of the inhabitants commenced their culture on a rather large scale, and for some years with great success and profit. But when ttie cycle of wet summers set in this was given up, and the disappointed growers then began erecting glass houses to shelter the plants, and have since added to this accommodation very largely. Both Grapes and Cuc0mbees are also largely cultivated, and with marvellous success and a considerable amount of profit also, though the low prices now obtainable have ren- dered it necessary for growers to greatly extend their accommodation and output in order to make the same amount of return. Grapes in particular are wonderfully well grown and enormous crops often obtained. Black Hamburgh is the general favourite, with a few Alicantes here and there, but Gros Colman is now being cultivated to some extent. I have never seen such grand samples of this variety as some of the Worthing growers turn out by the ton. The fruit is not only ex- ceptionally large in both bunch and berry, but the flavour is really delicious and infinitely su- perior to the poor, insipid, watery Grapes too often met with, this being due no doubt to the rich ferruginous soil and almost unlimited sun- shine. One of the best growers told me recently that he could grow (jrapes pruhtably at as low as 6d. per lb., but this is possible only by utilising the houses tor forcing Koses in pots during the winter and spring and by growing Chrysanthe- mums in the autumn, both lor cut bloom oi course. Cucumbers, again, are grown remarkably well and owing to the glorious climate (the sun beino- Olten fully as strong in February as it is in Apru near London), the plants may uc raised, planted, and cut Irom at any eeasua with almost equally good results — barring, ot course, the extra cost of nring in severe weather and the slightly diminished crop. Very little bottom heat is employed, one 4-inch pipe, covered with brickbats, in the bottom of each 4-ieet bed, sufficing tor even the earliest crops, and duiing the summer no artificial heat whatever is employed. A neighbour has been cutting continuously from one house between 200 teet and iiUU leec in length since Christmas last until now, often 100 or 15U dozen of fine fruits weekly, and the plants are still full ot vigour. Ked-spider, thrips, &c., are almost unknown. Tomatoes also are very largely cultivated. As many as 40 or 50 tons ot ripe Iruit are otcen despatched from Worthing station per week during the summer months to London and elsewhere, and more than one ot the larger growers sends away a ton or more of fruit twice, and occasionally three times a ween at this season. The variety chietly cultivated is a selection from the old Large Ked, Known locally as the Worthing Ked, but here and there a large batch ot Early Kuby, I'ertection, or some other variety may be found. The Worthing Ked is a dwart and sturdy grower, setting very lieely, and producing numerous large trusses ot fruit, which, however, are usually more or less corrugated, the colour also being by uo means tirst-rate. Some ot the more careiuUy selected strains produce fairly smooth fruit, but in most cases it is decidedly coarse. Being a hardy and sure-setting variety, even in the uepth of winter, it is, however, preferred by most 01 the growers to any other, but it does not realise the nest price. A. few years ago, when the rage for Tomatoes first set in and there were fewer growers, good prices were obtained. That troublesome dioease Known as the "flag" or "droop" causes some grow'ers a great deal of anxiety and lo»s, one large grower having had an almost total failure Irom this cause tor the last two or three years. In other nurseries it s»ldom if ever appears, but in others again it atlects Tomatoes only when planted out, not those in pots. Its obscure character renders this complaint one ot the most difficult to deal with, but I am inclined to attribute it chieQy to an excessive amount ot iron in either the soil or the water em- ployed. The disease known as mildew (Cladis- sporium) is also very destructive at times, gener- ally appearing in July or August, particularly when the weather is damp and close. It is pro- bable that if the Worthing growers provided their houses with better means ot ventilation they would experience less trouble from ihis cause. The Potato disease, or "black stripe" as it is termed by some, also causes some amount of loss among all classes of growers. This is, as a rule, more common and destructive in a moist close season than at any other time, but even in a sum- mer like this, when no rain to speak ol has fallen for several months, 1 notice that a plant here and there becomes attacked. These are at once pulled out and burnt in order to prevent, as tar as possi- ble, the afiection spreading any further. Almost the only Fi.owERiKo Plants that are cultivated in the Worthing nurseries are Chrysanthemums, Arum Lilies and Roses. These come in admirably as catch crops, and by bringing in money, more or less in dull or off times, witn little or no extra expense or trouble, add materially to the profits. Chrysanthemums are principally grown in pots and housed and bloomed in vineries and Tomato houses after the fruit is over. The climate is so mild, at any rate up to abour. Christmas, that little or no heat is required evei for the late varieties. Those most commonly grown 62 THE GAP.DEN. [July 27, 1895. are Lady Lawrence, W. H. Lincoln, Sunflower, Source d'Orandto a smaller extent L. Cannincf (a grand late white), Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon and Mme. Desgrange. A few years ago late Chrysanthemums paid well, but lately the market has been so glutted with blooms even at Christ- mas that they have become a perfect drug, and scarcely saleable at any price the last season or two, and early varieties are now the more re- munerative. Roses are forced in early vineries and Cucumber houses and often realise good prices. The plants are chiefly grown in large pots, which are turned out-of-doors as soon as the bloom is off, repotted some time during the sum- mer and brought in again when the houses are started in the winter or early spring. The varieties chiefly grown are Catherine Mermet, an old variety very similar to this called Clothilde, of which, though not quite so fine, the blooms are much more abundantly produced. Niphetos and a few Perle des Jardins, &c. , are also found in smaller numbers. Martchal Niel is not much grown, as it is of no use as a jjot plant, and the growers do not care to occupy their roof space with such things. Arum Lilies succeed wonderfully here, and even under decidedly rough treatment produce a pro- fusion of fine foliage and large blossoms almost continuously, but the price is now so low as to be scarcely remunerative. The double scarlet zonal Raspail again is grown in some nurseries for winter blooming with considerable success, but as a rule the plants are very roughly treated and do not get a chance to show their true character. B. C. R. CHERRIES. The enormous crops of these that have been grown this season both on standards and walls will no doubt convince most people that a severe winter has little or no effect on most of our hardy fruit trees. Though some varieties that are some- what tender and those growing in unfavourable situations may be injured by the frosts, those making firm wood do not often suffer much. Many were complaining that owing to the cold wet summer the wood could not ripen, therefore fruit would be scarce. This, however, is not the case, and with the exception of Plums and Damsons growing in the open, most of the hardy fruit trees are well laden. Cherries and Apples are the most abundant crops on record. The trees, too, of the former have not suffered so much from the attacks of aphides as in some seasons ; on that account the foliage is clean and healthy, many of the varieties havine produced fruit of good size and fine flavour. With me Early Rivers was the first to ripen its fruit, and though the spring was a late one, splendid dishes were gathered from trees on a south ■« all the second week in June. This fine early variety deserves to be better known, for the fruit is, in addition to its earliness, both large and of fine flavour. Adams's Crown was the next. This is a rather small, but highly flavoured variety of the Bigarreau class. Planted against a south wall it never fails to produce a crop, and being one of the first to bloom is very attractive in early spring. Bigarreau de Schreken ought certainly to find a place in all gardens on account of its fine flavour. Black Tartarian was certainly never better than it has been this year ; though the fruit is perhaps not c|uite so large, the crop is all that could be desired. To prolong its season I have it planted on various aspects, for on a hot south wall the fruit soon loses its flavour, while on one facing north or northwest it will often keep good till the middle of August. Frogmore Bigarreau and Empress Eugenie were also very fine ; while some of the later kinds, such as Peine Hortense, Florence, Bigarreau Napoleon, Bigar- reau de Hedelfinger, have very fine crops that will with care give us a supply till the end of next month. It is generally thought that Cherries do not succeed well on a north wall, and this may be the case in the northern parts of the kingdom, but here they do very well indeed ; in fact I have them planted on every aspect, where they grow most luxuriantly. Black Tartarian, Elton, May Duke, Late Duke, Florence, Duchesse de Palluau, Black Eagle, Empress Euge'nie, Butt- ner's Black Heart, and Morello all succeed well ■« hen grown thus, and by so doing the season is extended by several days. I have never had Bigarreau Napoleon or Florence so fine as they have been this year, the fruit hanging in clusters all along the branches. Morellos, too, are very good, thoufcrh I fear the fruit will not be so large as it usually is owing to the long spell of dry weather. Trees that are carrying heavy crops of fruit will be greatly benefited if a thorough soak- ing of li(]uid manure could be afforded them, or, failing this, some artificial food sprinkled over the surface and washed into the soil. It is not wise to encourage the trees to make a too sappy growth, but when the trees are carrying heavy crops of fruit they will need all the support that can be afforded them, otherwise they will soon become sickly and fail to make sufficient wood to produce a crop of fruit. The foliage and fruit should a'sohavea thorough washing before it ripens, particularly that which it is intended should hang till the end of September, as this will rid the trees of any cobwebs or other d:rt that may have accumulated. Netting the trees should be attended to at once, as birds are very trouble- some this season. Wasps also are becoming very numerous, and if the present dry weather con- tinues will be a source of much trouble to the fruit grower. H. C. P. Buxted Pari; Udikhl. Garden Flora. PruniEg Black Currants. — The somewhat novel method of pruning Black Currants as described by " D. T. F. ," p. 17, will not commend itself to all cultivators cf this fruit. In some gardens Black Currants do not grow sufficiently fast to bear such drastic cutting down as sug- gested. We all know that Black Currants of the finest quality are produced upon the young and vigorous sucker-like growths that annually spring from the base of the bushes, but the difficulty is to get the trees so vigorous as to warrant all the fruiting branches being cut clean away yearly. — E. M. I was pleased to see "D. T. F." (p. 17) ad- vocating the early pruning of Black Currants, and though I have not advanced so far as his fellow juror in removing the branches with the fruit on, picking the fruit therefrom in a shed, I can fully recognise the advantages of doing so. For the past fifteen years I have pruned immediately the fruit has been all picked, cutting away most of the old wood that has borne a crop, and en- couraged in every way the production of young wood or suckers from the base. During the whole of the period named I have never failed to have excellent crops of Black Currants .and the berries of more than average size, that have been equally valuable for home use or maiket. Some time ago I went round a large fruitgrowing place where Black Currants are admirably grown, and the manager attributed their success in a great measure to the annual removal of as much old fruiting wood as could be spared without undulj' reducing the dimensions of the bushes. Many other instances could be quoted to prove the great value of early pruning, but, as " D. T. F. " truly remarks, the single stem style of training is utterly unsuited for the production of young wood from the bottom. Another advantage of the system advocated is the reduced attack of the Black Currant mite. Such bushes are not only more vigorous and healthy, but the wood is so well matured that the insect appears somewhat loth to infest the buds. In all fruit-bearing trees we find those that are crowded with imperfectly ripened wood, and also weak, certain to become infested with hosts of enemies, whereas those full of strength escape in a great measure. In addition to the early removal of exhausted wood, I burn the same when the pruning is finished, returning the ashes to the soil, thus replacing to some extent the elements taken therefrom and preventing the accumulation of insects that are so apt to get into the heaps of prunings. — W. G. C. PLATE 1024. SELF-COLOURED CINERARIAS. (with a coloueei) plate.*) Cinerarias remain, as they have for many years past, amongst the most popular of greenhouse plants. They are formal in no small degree, but the flowers are so splendid in colour, broad, full and massive, that we welcome them for the brilliant display created by a bold group in the late spring months. The coloured plate represents three varieties selected from those in bloom last spring in the nvirsery of Mr. James at Farnham Royal. He has brought, by careful and successful hybridisa- tion, the flower to great perfection, and the several houses of plants in full beauty are a picture we enjoy, because harsh and poor colours are rigidly eliminated. Only flowers are retained that give such beautiful self tones as those represented in the plate. One house will be tilled with an intense crimson, another with royal blue, theu pure white, and so on through a delightful series of shades, either purely self or set off by a margin of some dis- tinct colour on a ground of white. Last spring one large house was filled with nothing but forms with flowers of shades of blue, some light, some dark, some entirely self, others agaiu white, touched with perhaps a sky-blue shade or the reverse. It is this purifying of the colours that deserves hearty encouragement, and we would wish that in other florists' flowers a sifting out of the magenta shades could be quickly accomplished rather than encouraging colours that spoil utterly what would be a charming race. Once get a family .spoilt by a wretched mudcy or unpleasantly harsh colour, and it is the work of years to drive out the dross. Visitors to the spring displays of the Royal Horticultural and Royal Botanic Societies will remember the groups from Farnham Royal, in which one gets a plant, dwarf perhaps almost to a fault, but sturdy, dense, with a wealth of robust foliag-^ almost hidden by a crown of blossom, packeil well together, yet not hiding the true form of the individual flower, broad, massive, and not coarse. Size in this instance does not mean coarseness, but we rejoice in bold flowers of splendid and diversified colouring. Perhaps we may in time extend the flower colouring, ar, least there is room for other shades, and they will be welcomed if pleasing and a departure from those we are familiar with. We need say little more about the flowers seen in our coloured plate. The culture of the Cineraria has been described so often in The Garden, that it is a weary, be- cause oft-repeated, task to travel over gr^iund al- ready well trodden, but we may mention that the plants at Farnham Royal are grown in low span- roofed houses provided with ample ventilation. It is possible by hybridisation to almost alter the entire character of a plant. Look at the modern Cineraria compared to the species from which the race has sprung— C. cruenta, in- troduced from the Canary Islands in 1777. This Cineraria is a beautiful plant, as the groups in the Royal Gardens, Kew, show, an informal, branching and charming plant growing several feet high and laden with soft purplish coloured flowers that stud the shoi ts like the stars of a Michaelmas Daisy. It only wants green- house treatment, and is worth growing not only • Drawn for The Garden hy H. G. Sloon in Mr. James's nursery at Farnham Royal. Lithographed and printed by Guillaume Severeyns. JuLT 27, 1895.] THE GARDEN 63 for its telling effect in a mass, but for the value of the graceful bending sprays in the house. Another plant sometimes called C. auiita, but correctly named Seuecio lauata, is too much in the background. Its beauty is of a different kind to that of C. cruenta, but quite as precious. It blooms in the summer months, continuing for many weeks, and ^rows from 2 feet to 3 feet high, the leaves being con.spicuous for the silvery down on the underside. The fragrant flower-heads are several inches across and com- posed of white ray petals charmingly tipped with bright purple, the disc of a purple shade also and forming a charming association. As each flower is Ij inches broad, one can see that a plant in bloom is full of soft colour. Its culture is quite simple if cuttings are taken in May be- fore the plant blooms, selecting the shoots at the base. Place them singly in pots 2| inches in size and stand in a propagating frame. Pot on when rooted and thence onwards until G-inch pots are reached, a size sufhciently large to produce good flovrering specimens. Pinch the ehoots once or twice to induce a bushy habit, and when the plants are in full growth yive liquid manure. Like C. cruenta, this is also a native of the Canary Islands. The Week's Work. FRUIT HOUSES. Figs in pots — The trees which fruited early in the spring should now be thoroughly exposed to mature the wood, and thus prepare them for hard forcing. In advising exposure I do not mean that the pots should be exposed, as this will cause much drying and loss of roots. Plunging in larger pots or in soil is a good plan, the latter pre- ferable, as less moisture is needed and the roots are kept ([uiet. In whatever way the plants are treated it is well to keep the surface roots active by a good mulch and ample moisture. Such kinds as Pingo de Mel, St. John's or other early varieties will have ceased to grow and will be showing the embryo fruits at the points of this year's wood and on spurs. These must be kept as quiet as possible, just damping over in the even- ing to keep the wood plump, and should scale have got a ioothold, now is the best time to cleanse, using soapy tepid water and a soft brush, as when the fruits get larger they are easily injured. I am a great advocate for repotting just as the trees lose their leaves, and with early forced pot trees there is no better time to do this work than during the next few weeks, getting the Compost prepared at an early date. If at all dry it can be turned frequent!}- and watered. Such aids as bone meal, old mortar rubble and sound loam should be pre- ferred to manure and light sandy soil. Plants that have become large and which it is difficult to give a larger shift to may be turned out, the drain- age removed, strong roots cut away, and say 2 inches of the old ball removed with a pointed stick, cutting clean away some of the oldest roots, repot- ting firmly into the same sized pot, and damping freely overhead for a short time till new root action is active. Plants that do not need repotting should be top-dressed and treated as advised for plants just turned out to mature their growth. Young plants potted on should be shut up early, not allowed to carry fruit, and stopped when the new growth is from 4 inches to 6 inches long. If the pots are well filled with roots, liquid manure and top dressing will be beneficial. Fi(!S PLAN'TED OUT. — Trees in the earliest house will now have nearly perfected the second crop, and should not be allowed to carry more fruit, as if overcropped now, next season's first crop will be poor. Free exposure and thinning out of useless wood will now be all that are required, not omitting to freely syringe the trees in the evening. Main- tain a free circulation of warmth in the pipes to assist in the ripening of the new wood, and do not fail to remove fruits now showing, as these will not remain on the trees. The first crop for next season will greatly depend upon the new growth, which should be as hard and brown as possible. Now is a good time to cut away any useless wood and thus give that left free exposure. The roots should not be neglected, and if previous mulch- ings have been washed away give another now. In light soils I have found cow manure a splendid mulch at this season. If a dressing is given when the manure is partially dried and well watered afterwards, the surface roots soon go freely into it. Later trees will now be furnishing a second crop of fruit and showing many more than is good fnr the trees. A large portion should be removed, espe cially those on the upper branches, and no time should be lost in doing the thinning to prevent the fruit being small. A genial temperature should be maintained, shutting up early and damping all parts of the house. Every oppor- tunity should be taken to syringe the trees both above and below the trellis if the fruits are not ripe to prevent red spider doing mischief. With so much sunshine the crop is more advanced than usual, but I do not advise retarding, as the rest- ing period is none too long, and only a good second crop should be taken. Late houses not forced should have plenty of air, and in sunless dp.ys or damp nights a little warmth in the pipes, at the same time giving air on the top ven- tilators. Thin the fruit freely, as also the wood, removing any late-formed fruits, as these will not ripen and will prevent the formation of good fruiting wood for next season. Bamanas will at this season repay for extra attention in the way of plenty of rich food. Plants showing fruit should now bo induced to throw up, as the fruits formed during the next few weeks will ripen next spring and be most acceptable. Plants likely to fruit should be kept cooler and not fed till they throw up. By giving a slight check the formation of the fruit is hastened, and liberal supplies of food may then be given in the form of liquid manure. Plants at what may be termed the succe.«sional stage should be kept moving, but not checked, gradually reducing the temperature as the days shorten. Should red spider be troublesome, sponge the leaves with soapy water, syringe freely, and maintain a moist growing temperature. Sucker growths from fruit- ing plants should be potted up when large enough. Orchard HoasE. — Trees that have been cleared of fruit and have perfected their growth should now be removed to an open sunny quarter, plunging the pots, covering the surface with short litter or spent manure, and supplying the roots with plenty of water. A good syringing overhead in the evenings after hot sunshine will do much good and keep the new foliage clean and healthy. Late fruiting trees will be much benefited by mulching. The same remarks apply to earlier trees ; if the mulch is spent or washed away it should be renewed and the trees given copious supplies of water both overhead and at the roots. Apples, Pears and Plums in pots require rich food. Thinning should be vigorously carried out, fine fruits being the chief points required in pot trees. Remove any growths shading the fruit. Strawberries in pots. — If the plants were layered as advised, no time should be lost in de- taching them from the parent plants and placing for a few days under a tree or north wall where partial shade may be afforded them, watering overhead lightly two or three times daily to pre- vent flagging. Previous to potting up, no matter how the plants are secured, it is well to prepare a good heap of compost, selecting a good sound or retentive loam, and adding a liberal portion of old Mushroom bed manure with a sprinkling of bone-meal or wood ashes. Many good growers advise the u.se of soot, but care is required not to use it in large quantities, as the small tender roots are liable to suffer. I prefer to water later on with clear soot water. If soot is used it is best laid over the crocks under the layer of large pieces of soil usually placed in the pots when potting. The required number of pots should be got together, and if new, soaked tor a short time in a tank before using to prevent them absorbing moisture from the soil. Pot firmly, and in placing the small ball in the fruiting pot take care not to bruise the roots with the potting stick. Keep the collar of the plant just under the surface after the pot is filled, and in all cases leave plenty of space tor water and food. After potting, stand the plants on a hard coal ash bottom, water sparingly till new roots reach the sides of the pots, and lightly dew overhead with the syringe in the afternoon when the sun declines. G. Wvthes. THE KITCHEN GARDEN. Gherkins. — These are still grown by some gar- deners, and are most useful in autumn. They also come in well for pickling associated with other vegetables. If the plants were favoured with a sheltered situation and duly protected from cutting winds and late frosts, growth will now be vigorous. Uo not allow many fruits to re- main on the plants for the present, as there is yet plenty of time for a good long fruiting season before the plants are cut down by frost. Before more growth is made mulch well for some dis- tance round the main stems with short manure, and give a soaking of farmyard liquid once in three weeks. Keep all weak and deformed laterals in the inside of the plant thinned out, and all small blooms removed as soon as they appear. If in an extra warm, dry situation, the foliage will be liable to the attacks of red spider, which if not destroyed quickly weakens and de- stroys the general vigour. To check it apply the hose or the garden engine once a week at even- tide, plying it as much as possible on the under- side of the foliage. Late Vegetable Marrows. — Seed of this esteemed vegetable sown now will produce plants which, grown on with care, will yield fruit at a date when the bulk of the Pea and Bean crops is exhausted. Place the seed pots in a cool frame or greenhouse, and bring the plants on as hardy as possible. 'This will give them a wiry constitu- tion, and one not easily affected by moderate frosts, should such occur in early autumn. As soon as the roots have well filled a 4|-inch pot, transfer the plants to their final quarters, letting this be as warm and as sheltered as possible, and where rough protection can with ease be given as soon as the cool nights of October approach. For this batch there is no better variety than Pen-y- byd, as this is a short-jointed, moderate grower, and more easily protected by stakes and canvas or mats than are some of the more rampant growers. When planting always leave a small basin round each stem, so that the balls may be kept well moistened until the plants are well established and better able to take care of them- selves. Although planted late, mulching will be advisable, as, provided there is ample drainage. Marrows cannot well be too moist at the roots. Old Seakale beds. — Where these have been forced from year to year with pots and leaves the plants will, on account of early growth, now be covered with flower-stems. These must all be cut off, and if more aide growths have emanated from the old stools since the thinning out advised some time ago was given, the whole of these also must be cut away. Now is the time to apply stimu- lants, either in the form of liquid of fair strength, or artificial manure sown broadcast and watered home. Spring Parsley. — There is often a great scarcity of this commodity during March, April and May, and indeed until the spring-sown batches are fit for gathering. There is usually such a call for it tor garnishing during the winter, that all full-grown plants, even if protected by frames and pits, get severely punished, these coming away into new growth slowly in spring. In order, therefore, to meet this emergency I always sow seed on a well-worked rich piece of land about July 20. This, if well looked after and duly thinned, will make capital strong stuff for standing the winter with frame protection. Some- times it makes sufficient growth by autumn to 64 THE GARDEN f July 27, 1895. allow of a little being picked from it in winter, but it is not advisable to take away any but the very strongest fronds. In February this bed will rush into growth and furnish abundance of capital Parsley through the months above named. Earlier in the summer I advised the preparation of the plot for this crop, incorporating a fair quantity of gaslime and burnt earth, and if this was done, further precautions may be taken at sowing time by strewing wood -ashes in the drills after sowing the seed. Thin out the seedlings as soon as fit to handle, this being doubly important with Parsley that has to stand the winter. Endive — MAIN fRoi'. — I sow my main crop of broad-leaved Endive from July 1.5 to 20, selecting a somewhat cool moist border from which Pota- toes or Peas have been cleared off. Sow broad- cast, not in drills, using only a moderate quantity of seed and netting over at once, as chaffinches are very partial to Endive seed. Eraser's Improved Broad-leaved is about the best variety for winter and spring use, not being so liable to bolt as the or- dinary strains of Batavian. Sow also Moss Curled for earlier use, this not keeping with any degree of certainty after the fogs of November and Decem- ber set in. Another sowing of the Broad-leaved should be made at the end of the month. One of the chief points in the succesfful culture of this salad is early and liberal thinning of the seedlings and final transplanting into good rich land, with frequent after- waterings should the weather prove dry. For early use a percentage of the young plants of Moss Curled may be left at regular distances on the seed bed ; these receiving no check will go away rapidly and be fit for use dur- ing October, being blanched by placing large slates over them. Endive always pays for extra good treatment, as if grown on poor shallow land It becomes tough and bitter, spoiling the salad bowl. J. Crawford. Kitchen Garden. ENDIVE. While good Lettuce is forthcoming there is nrnch less demand for Endive. If the former either fails or is only little better than green leaves it is then when the winter substitute is most appreciated, though for my own part I consider Lettuce and perfectly blanched Endive go remarkably well together, one improving the other. Green Curled, of which there are two or three forms more or less distinct, is usually grown for the earlier, the Broad-leaved Batavian being a little later in attaining its full size, though by far the more valuable type. The value of the latter fine Endive is scarcely appreciated by those in charge of small gardens, and for their especial benefit I would add that it can be grown to such perfection as to almost rival tlie most perfect Ccs Lettuce that can be produced, and might with advantage be more largely eaten as grown, that is to say, without being cut up and without dres.sing. Ground newly cleared of early and second early Potatoes ought, without much labour being expended on it, to be in excellent condition for a crop of Endive. The preference should be given to the higher well-drained positions, more especially in the colder low-lying districts, as it sometimes happens that a severe frost is ex- perienced before the crop can be properly stored, and it is in the lower quarters of a garden that it is most felt. It is quite time too that a start was made, and if a batch of plants has been already raised, so much the better. In the latter case there should be no delaying trans- planting till the plants have pressed against and spoilt each other, sturdy Endive moving in the hottest weather without experiencing a severe check. Supposing the ground has lieen levelled, trampled if very loose, and generally firmed down, drills may be drawn 12 inches apart ready for the plants and, if need be, watered. Before drawing or raising the latter give the seed beds a good watering, and this will save more of the roots. For the earlier crops or those that are to attain their full size, a dis- tance of 12 inches apart may be allowed from plant to plant, but rather less space is sufficient for the later crops. Water when planted, and if the weather keeps dry occasionally afterwards. Instead of wholly clearing a seed bed the better plan would be to thin out the plants to a dis- tance of C inches apart each way, and without much further trouble a serviceable early supply of well-blanched Endive will be had. As the plants in the thinned seed-bed increase in size they press against each other, and in time the outer leaves effectually enclose the hearts, blanching taking place accordingly. I have cut a surprising quantity of really good Endive from seed-beds 12 feet by 8 feet, and it does not keep so very badly either if duly protected with a rough frame and mats. If no seed has been sown, then there ought to be no further delay in getting some in. Seeing that there is now a fair amount of ground clear or which may be cleared of other crops, and also that transplanting acts as a check to the growth of the plants, the plan of sowing the seed where many of the plants are to remain should be adopted. Prepare the drills much as advised for planting, not omitting the important detail of giving enough water or liquid manure to well moisten them, then sow rather thinly, cover with fine dry sfil or level over, and do not resort to watering till the plants resulting show signs of needing such assistance. Where the seedlings come up rather thickly thin out lightly and timely. When large enough to move, other rows may be planted with the thinnings, these affording a good succession, and, I need hardly add, any blanks in the rows should be filled up. Finally, leave the plants from 10 inches to 12 inches apart, the greater distance proving none too much where the soil suits Endive. In order to have a late supply, or plants that can be kept till the spring, sow more seed, principally of the Broad-leaved Batavian, during the first fortnight in August, and the transplanted or smaller plants, if located on a rather dry border, will stand a fair amount of frost, though they would naturally be safer in pits and frames. Those who already grow Endive extensively ought also to bear iu mind that well-grown plants of the Broad-leaved Batavian are well worthy of being used as a vegetable, forming a very acceptable addition to the none too ex- tended list of winter vegetables. Mere drib- lets, however, are of httle service, and enough ought to be planted now on good ground to fill a great rough frame or pit next autumn. The earlier batches of Endive — or say any already established where they are to grow — will not generally require to be protected, as these should be ready for use during the latter half of September and onwards. Much in each and every case depends upon the blanching being perfect, and it mu.st also be remembered that well-blanched produce does not keep long. Not till the plants are nearly or quite fully grown are they in the best condition for blanch- ing, and this should be done a few at a time. The earliest in the open may be tied up Cos Lettuce fashion, the outer leaves well enclosing the hearts, and if wanted particularly quick, be further enclosed in inverted flower-pots with their drainage holes stopped. One good old plan is to plant the earlier Endive in rather deep drills, or such as might be drawn for Peas, and later on to lay boards, slates or tiles over the rows. Extra good beautifully blanched hearts can be had by adopting the plan of gathering the outer leaves around the hearts, not unduly confining the latter, and then covering with benders and mats, this in preference to mould- ing them up. Nearly or quite fully-grown Endive is far from being hardy. A moderately severe frost will damage the tips of the leaves and a rather rapid spread of decay results. It cannot, therefore, be said to be safe after the third week in September, though in the more southern districts it is frequently left out un- protected weeks later. Transplanting is a simple matter, and there should be no undue delay in moving the plants to where they can be protected. Storing where fire-heat is given is a mistake, as this causes Endive to run to seed quickly. Hundreds of plants might be stored in rough frames and protected with shutters, mats or litter, and glazed pits or frames may be similarly utilised. So also might the fronts of Peach cases, houses and vineries, and when hard pressed I have stored a quantity of Endive in open-fronted sheds, extra protection in the shape of mats, old canvas and news- papers being afforded as often as need be in each instance. Too often the roots of newly-lifted plants are surrounded with poor, dry soil ; whereas they ought to have the benefit of some rich moist soil. They will root strongly into this and the quality of the hearts be improved accordingly, those formed by plants dry at the roots proving tough and bitter in flavour. Select a dry time for moving the plants, and tie lip each with a strip of raffia prior to lifting with a fork or spade. Save a fairly good ball of soil about the roots, and carry on hand- barrows or in flat baskets rather than jolting wheelbarrows to their destination. They may be packed moderately closely together, making the soil firm about the roots, and the greater part have the ties loosened or wholly removed. Never let the soil become dry. It only re- mains to be added that, failing rough frames, large numbers of plants might be massed to- gether on a warm border and there be pro- tected with a framework of wood or benders supporting mats and such like. The Mushroom house and also warm, dark cellars are capital places for blanching Endive, batches of plants being transferred to these every week or so during the late autumn and winter months. Even in this case the plants should have their roots surrounded by moist, good soil. W. Cutting herbs. — Before such things as Mint, Basil and summer Savory get too far advanced or lose much of their foliage it will be wise to cut a sufficient stock of each, and after e.>posing them in a dry vinery at rest for a week or ten days, to suspend them from the ceiling of a fruit or herb room ; there will then be no fear of scarcity dur- ing the winter months. When harvesting is left till the autumn there is frequently in the case of those subjects named nothing but stalks left. — J. Crawford. Sal- aly and Scorzonera. — The protracted drought of early summer has caused some of the earlier sown rows of these two roots to run to seed, or has produced a growth that will ulti- mately do so. The value of secondary sowings will therefore be apparent, these not at present being past the thinning stage. Give plenty of room, mulch if possible, and soak with liquid manure. Large roots of good quality may sometimes be secured by sowing moderately early on a north border and feeding the plants at intervals. Thus shielded from the scorching sun, running to seed is less frequent. Latest French Beans. — From sowings mado as late as July '20 it is quite possible to get useful pickings, provided the site is a sheltered one and protection be given to the crop after the middle July 27, 1895.] THE GARDEN 65 of October. Sometimes several three-light frames can be spared at that date, but if not, posts, cross-rails, and mats or canvas are good substitutes. Sion House, Newington Wonder, and Sutton's Dwarf Forcing are all admirably adapted for this late sowing, being less vigorous and sappy than many of the taller varieties, and therefore less susceptible to injury from rough winds which often prevail in autumn. Allow each plant plenty of room, so as to ensure a stocky and robust growth, the only guarantee for productiveness at a season when days are shortening and sun heat is less abundant. Lettuce for autumn.— A sowing may now be made of suitable sorts of Lettuce for heartine in during September and October. Daniels' Con- tinuity and All the Year Round are the best sorts in the Cabbage section, Hicks' Hardy being a capital Cos variety. Where late Celery is grown, the Lettuce plants may, as soon as fit to handle, be put out in well-moistened, shallow drills on the ridges between the rows; they will then all be cut before the last portion of soil from the ridges is required for earthing up. The sowing for winter supply may be postponed until ne-xt month. Varieties of winter Spinach. — Few vege- tables were so valuable last winter as Spinach ; indeed in some gardens it was the only green vegetable left after the severe frost. There is no gain whatever in sowing the old well-known Prickly variety, as in the early spring it bolts quickly. There is another form of Spinach known as Long Standing Prickly, but I do not think it is superior to the round-leaved varieties. I should say it is a selection from the old type, and is re- commended for its long standing before running. The best winter Spinach I have grown is the Victoria, and last season I do not think fifty plants failed out of thousands. The Viroflay is another very fine type of winter Spinach, and a valuable addition to the list. It is by some thought to be identical with Victoria. The Long Standing Round is also very similar to the Vic- toria. The three varieties of round-leaved I have noticed may all be relied upon for winter sowing, and will be found a great gain on the older types both in hardiness and bearing.— G. W. WINTER TURNIPS. Those who had a good store of Turnips last winter were fortunate, as the green crops were so much injured by frost that Turnips made a useful addition to the meagre supply when sown specially for winter use. Now is a good time to take into consideration the winter crop. I usually make two sowings— one the last fortnight in July, another early in August. The roots from the latter sowing remain in the soil to supply green tops, and if necessary fresh roots early in the year. By sowing at the season named a hardy kind, such as Yellow Petrowski, Golden Ball, or Chirk Castle, good roots may be had. For storing, Veitch's Red Globe is, I think, the finest type of autumn Turnip grown, being solid, of splendid quality, and a good kee()er. This variety sown now will be of just the size required for keeping through the winter, stored in a cool shed or cellar, with plenty of soil, sand, or ashes to keep the roots firm. The Red Globe is a white-fleshed variety, with a band of crimson round the top, and in shape much Uke the early Snowball. Turnips may often follow second early Potatoes, but should the ground be dry it is well to saturate the rows before sowing and afterwards. To get good flavour, quick growth is essential. To secure this I have found a small portion of bone meal mixed with wood ashes and placed in the bottom of the drills very eflective. Wood ashes is a good fertiliser, and superior to large quantities of animal manure. iMany persons object to the yellow-fleshed Turnips, such as those recom- mended for early spring use, when the winter store is exhausted, but it is an objection that may soon be removed, as the flavour is superior if the roots are well grown. In the north these yellow, fleshed kinds are much liked, and a white Turnip would stand but a small chance against the golden section both for keeping and flavour. The Chirk Castle Blackstone is white-fleshed and as hardy as the yellow kinds, but inferior in quality. In sowing winter Turnips it is well to give ample space, as the plants if too thick do not bulb freely. A space of 15 inches between the rows is none too much, and by giving the plants room, firmer and better keeping roots are secured. To keep these roots sound many shifts may be employed. A warm store soon causes the roots to grow out badly and shrivel. Turnips do well pitted like Potatoes, but they must be well thatched over to prevent wet going through the covering. Roots stored in this way are of much better flavour than when housed in a dry or warm place. Turnips to stand the winter should be sown on an open quarter, and be frequently dressed with soot in showery weather if slugs are troublesome. G. Wythes. PEAS. So far as the tables of the rich are concerned, large Peas are each year becoming more and more unpopular. For ordinary Pea eaters and those who want to make the most of their land, it matters not how large the variety so long as it is tender, sweet and of good colour, but private gardeners having to study their employers' tastes will, it is evident, have to confine them- selves for the most part to small and medium- sized Peas. Of course, all must grow the small round section for first early use, none of the larger sorts doing their work in anything like so short a time ; and for following Chelsea Gem I think William I. is still the best, the new Oxonian, although doubtless a good Pea, not being in my opinion equal to that sterling va- riety. At one time I thought it a more con- tinuous cropper, but after another trial under exactly the same conditions, I see no dift'erence in that respect, and William I. is of far better colour — a great consideration in private gardens. That well-known Pea, Wordsley Wonder, is a capital variety, being all that can be desired both as regards cropping qualities, colour and flavour. It is of a most convenient height for amateurs and all who have difficulty in pro- curing tall Pea rods. Although, of course, the yield per single row is less from these medium growers than from the taller section, this deficiency is made up by allowing far less space than is practicable with tall Peas ; or if ordinary room is left, Cauliflowers, Potatoes or Lettuces may be grown in the spaces. That grand old Pea, Laxton's Fillbasket, is still to be had true from various seedsmen, and I intend in future to grow plenty of it, as it would be hard to beat by any of the newer medium-sized Peas. The best crops of this delicious Pea I ever .saw were grown on a lightish soil in shallow trenches, mulching and watering being practised as soon as the bloom appeared. This is, I think, the best method to follow in the culture of all the medium growing varieties, except on soils that are naturally very moist. Perhaps the very best all-round summer Pea is Criterion, it being the nearest approach to Ne Plus Ultra of any Pea we have, though not growing quite so tall. It may be sown for suc- cession close on the heels of William I., and right on till the June sowings of Ne Plus Ultra, British Queen, and other late Peas are made, and although too tall for ordinary field culture, it would, I am certain, pay well in market gardens, even though stakes had to be used for its support. Veitch's Perfection must be in- cluded in the list of first-class Peas. True, it requires good culture, but this it well repays. Omega, another old Pea of somewhat short growth, may still be regarded as one of the very best from a quality point of view, and just the very Pea for amateurs. It crops continu- ally and well and possesses the richest flavour, while its deep green colour is very taking on the table. For this latter class of cultivators, perhaps the most useful Pea for extra late purposes is Walker's Perpetual Bearer. Its average height is 3 feet, quality first-rate for a late Pea, its great mildew-resisting powers adding greatly to its value. I had almost for- gotten Autocrat. This new Pea will surely make its mark. Its drought-resisting powers on hot, dry soils are wonderful. It yields abundantly and over an exceptionally long period, the pods, which are of a dense green colour, filling slowly, which is of great advan- tage when sown with other sorts, a succession being thereby secured. More might be added to the list, but the fore- going will be found to satisfy where large varie- ties are objected to. Raisers of medium-sized Peas may rest assured that such will in the future be almost exclusively grown in first-class private gardens. J. Ckawford. Cauliflower Pearl. — I have this season fully proved the merits of this new Cauliflower. It is indispensable for following Walcheren, to which, in my opinion, it bears a very strong resemblance. Its habit is good, the young inside leaves fold- ing well over and protecting the heads. It does not, like some varieties, come in too quickly when once the heads begin to form, and may, by timely covering with the outer leaves, be retarded for a considerable time. Altogether, I consider Pearl a valuable acquisition, which should be grown by everybody. — C. White Elephant Potato. — For a few years after the introduction of White Elephant it was largely grown both by cottagers and private gar- deners. Many of the latter, however, abandoned it on account of its liability to grow too large on good soils. Many cottagers still cling to it prin- cipally on account of its tremendous yielding powers. In this neighbourhood it seems to be a favourite, and large breadths of it may be easily picked out in allotments by the bold, handsome trusses of white flowers which characterise White Elephant. The slightly pinkish colour sometimes discernible in this Potato proves, I think, its re- lationship with Early Rose, and both these Po- tatoes, together with many others that are liable to eat soapy from good, rich land, become mealy and excellent if grown on comparatively poor soil. — C. H. Intermediate Lettuce. — This is a distinct type suitable for such seasons as this when good solid Lettuces are difficult to obtain on account of their running so quickly. I recently saw this variety in splendid condition at Gunnersbury House, Mr. Hudson being much pleased with it. I was much surprised to see such a small firm Lettuce have so much heart. There is no waste whatever, as the outer leaves fold quite close, readily blanching all portions of the plant. In habit it is between the Cos and the Cabbage, and in colour it much resembles the old Bath Cos, the flavour excellent and superior to that of the loose, large growing type of Cos or Cabbage. I should think it would be a very good variety for frame culture for the autumn or early spring. I intend to give it a trial for this purpose. — G. Wythes. Cottagers' exhibitions. - When inspecting the various exhibits at one of these exhibitions the other day I could not help thinking what a mis- take it was to hold such in the month of July. This is far too early in the year for the bulk of cottagers' produce. The only vegetables that are then well represented are Peas, I'otatoes, Broad Beans and Tripoli Onions. Spring Onions have by that date only reached half their normal size, while the same may be said of Carrots, Par- snips and Beets. Beans of the French or runner section are either absent or very poorly repre- sented, while a good display of Leeks, Celery and various other things is quite out of the question. 66 THE GARDEN [July 1895. Cottagers who exhibit roots at this early date have often to spoil their beds in order to iind a dozen of the best specimens it contains, and the same might be said of Potatoes. When the shows are held, say, at the end of September, far better all- round results attend them, and all Potatoes, except the latest varieties, may then be lifted and stored for future use, the best being selected for the show. As for fruit, Currants of all kinds, and even Gooseberries, if protected from birds will hang well till the later date and be the riper and better for it. I think it is a capital plan at these rural gatherings to include farmers' produce in the schedule, this making the show far more in- teresting and securing a larger number of visitors. This, of course, cannot be done during July or the early part of August. — J. C. Spinacli.— The crop of this vegetable resulting from the sowing advised a fortnight since must now be seen to, as although growing on a shady north border it may be none too moist at the roots, especially if another crop preceded it. Thin out the seedlings, well mulch with old Mushroom manure, and give a good soaking with farmyard liquid ; this will probably carry it on to the gathering stage. This may appear troublesome, but unless this precaution is taken, Spinach is very apt to run to seed prematurely at this late date, even when growing on a north border. The next sowing should be at the beginning of August, choosing an east border ; this will come in well at the close of September and throughout October. The winter sowings must be deferred until the third week in August and first week in September. Pea Hundredfold. — About twenty years ago this Pea was much in favour, and 1 never saw heavier crops than were grown by a friend who relied to a great extent on this variety. I lately saw it growing side by side with Fortyfold, Duke of Albany and other standard kinds, and it seemed to be yielding more abundantly than any of them. I remember once seeing some rows of this Pea grown on rather heavy loam, and looking down the rows there seemed to be more pods than leave-i. Fortyfold is, in spite of the numerous varieties that one can now choose from, one of the surest cropping Peas, and seems to be well adapted for culture on light .soils. In this district some still grow the Pea that was once widely known as Jeyes' Conqueror, but which does not seem to differ appreciably from Ne Plus Ultra. — J. 0. B. Radishes. — Radishes cannot be grown at this season of the year without special pains being taken, as in sunny positions and in ordinary soil they become hot and stringy even in spite of regular waterings. A north border is the best position, and the ground must be prepared by the addition of burnt refuse, potting shed soil and a portion of old Mushroom manure ; this should be well worked into the border and a good soaking given, the seed being sown a day or two after. Even in this cool aspect watering must not be neglected, and free thinning of the crop must bp practised as soon as the plants can be handled. The quick-growing Olive-shaped sorts are the best for this date, and a sowing every three weeks will be advisable where a constant supply is expected. - N. Watering: Carrots.--! have heard that water- ing Onions will induce an attack of the fly, and I have now come to the conclusion there may be some ground for such a belief. I was lately shown two lots of Carrots one of which had been well watered, the other remaining dry through the past dry weather. The watered ones were imme- diately attacked by grubs and were totally ruined. Kvery Carrot was eaten away at the point, and on opening a root a little white maggot was found in it. This is very different from the brown grub that attacks the roots near the surface. This can be checked by hand-picking, but in the case of the maggot above mentioned it is impossible to get rid of it in that way. It was curious to note that the plants that had remained dry had not in the least suffered, and yet they were growing within a few feet of those that were totally destroyed.— J. C. B. ARRANGING CUT FLOWERS. For arranging cut flowers in a bold and natural way large simple glasses or bowls are the best. We have mechanical inventions wherein to arrange cut blooms, so that, as we are told, each leaf and flower can show its individuality, but fine flowers can only be enjoyed when simply arranged much as they grow in the open air. The illustration of sprays of the common white Jessamine will convey our meaning far better than words. During the greater part of the year there should be no scarcity of cut flowers, and when we can cut bunches of Roses, Carnations, and Irises, these surely should suffice of themselves, care be- ing taken in every case if possible to use their own foliage as a foil. When arranged loosely, as in the case of the Jessamine, the quantity required is far less, while the effect is heightened in every way. I5y filling each bowl or vase with one thing, we can, when the flowers shade. It is curious that, whilst scarlet and crim- son selfs were abundant, every yellow kind sent out was thickly spotted or streaked with red. The flowers of the variety under notice are of a most delightful shade of pure canary-yellow, the flowers being of fine size with good broad petals. WORCESTERSHIRE ORCHARDS.* WoRCESTERSHiKE orchards have long been famous in the annals of this country, for although records are fragmentary and incomplete, it is fairly certain orchards have existed and flourished in this county for a very long period. In the year 1633 we find Gerard writing upon fruit trees and existing orchards, and he states what was at that time considered the proper func- tions of the orchard, viz., for the production of cider and perry. He particularly mentions a cer- tain Master Bodonome, who lived on the borders, but in a neighbouring county, "who cultivated so many Apples and Pears that no other drink was Floioers of the whUe Jessamine in a vase. From a photograph sent by Miss Marker, Comhe, Honiton, fade, clear them out and replace with others of a different form. At the shows prizes are often ofi'ered for the best arranged epergne of flowers for table de- coration, and although the arrangement may appear effective when done, the labour required is very great. Prizes for such arrangements only foster a false taste and give no idea of the beauty of flowers boldly used in a cut state, and cannot be accepted as examples of how they are to be arranged in the house, as they often associate badly, their lasting properties, too, varying considerably and necessitating much touching up to keep them in a presentable con- dition. An arrangement which we lately saw was very pleasing, and consisted of the common Cornflower cut with long stalks and arranged with the airy Gypsophila paniculata. Canna Miss Elsie Perkins.— At the Cheshunt Nurseries the new Gladiolus-flowered Cannas are largely grown, and Mr. G. Paul hag raised several very good kinds. That which bears the above name is distinct and charming in colour. There are now so many named varieties that the number is confusing, but one cannot question the wisdom of naming this kind, which gives us what was wanted, a pure yellow self free from spots of any other used beyond that made from these fruits. More- over, the quantity made was so great that the parson had for tithe many hogsheads thereof." Gerard further enjoins landowners of that day to "go forward in the name of God, to graft, set, plant and nourish up trees in every corner of your ground. The labour is small, the cost little, the commodity is great. Your fellows shall have plenty, the poor shall have somewhat in time of want to relieve their necessities, and God shall re- ward your good minds and diligence." It is quite possible that the few patriarchal old trees yet to be seen (Pears especially) are the surviving relics of this logical advice. Mention is also made of Pear orchards in the time of Henry V. At Agincourt, also, the men of Worcestershire (according to Drayton) had for their device upon their banners a Pear tree laden with its fruit. Again, there is that famous old variety of Pear, the Black Pear of Worcestershire — although seldom met with nowadays, said by tradition to be the Pear represented on the city arms — the date of which is uncertain, but in all probability coincides with that of the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Worcester. It is also beyond dispute that orchards flourished in conjunction with the monasteries, for we read that the monks * Paper lead at Worcester Shire Hall before a conference of fruit growers of the county of Worcester. July 27, 1895 ] THE GARDEN 67 had a special object in establishing themselves in situations favourable to fruit growing. Enough has been paid to prove how Worcester- shire orchards flourished in bygone days ; there- fore it will be more interesting for this conference to trace out The Cause of the Declise as well as to suggest a remedy. Two hundred years ago it was the necessities of isolation that caused orchards to be looked at as a source of profit by the manufacture of cider and perry, but to-day it is a world-wide competition that makes a similar demand. Thus it happens by a curious revolution in the cycle of commerce that the care- ful and skilful cultivation of our orchards has again become a necessity, and every effort must be made to improve the condition and to make them, as undoubtedly they can be made by proper application of skill and industry, one of the main sources of profit from the land. Orchards in those days were in the hands of the ordinary farmers, and it is more than probable that the decline of fruit growing arose partly from the prosperity of the country, and partly owing to a vexatious tax upon the beverages, combined with the introduction of cheap foreign but unwhole- some wines. Agriculture was then prosperous, and it became more profitable to produce corn and cattle; consequently knowledge of orchaid cultivation diminished and was neglected, whilst practical experience completely died out, facts which will take a generation to restore, for cer- tain it is that at the present day there can scarcely be found a single workman whose em- ployment is chiefly agricultural who possesses the slightest rudimentary knowledge of the require- ments of a fruit tree's roots or branches. With a few exceptions, practical, sound knowledge is very little advanced in the ordinary farmer, and, as a rule, he belongs to rather a difiicult class to in- struct, as he does not take kindly to fruit growing. Whilst on this treacherous and divided part of my subject, I feel convinced that very great injury is frequently done to fruit growing by men who call themselves gardeners and represent themselves qualified to give advice and to undertake the management of fruit trees, but whose real know- ledge of planting, pruning, the nature of soils, the selection of varieties and the many other details necessary is about as remote as the North Pole. It will thus be plain that before we can restore the prosperity of our orchards, able to produce with a certainty (occasional bad seasons excepted) im- mense quantities of fruit of the highest standard of excellence, fit to compete openly with our foreign rivals, very considerable knowledge will have to be extended to occupiers of the land. The increasing demands for fresh fruit from the growing populations of our large towns and the great discoveries of the present century have com- pletely revolutionised all former experience. The forces of steam and electricity by land and sea en- able space to be overcome by rapidity in transit, and lessen expenditure by gain on time and cheap- ness of convej'ance, opening out wider markets for all articles of trade. We have to meet a world-wide competition in which, according to the inevitable laws of Nature, the best and cheapest must prevail. The benefit to the community at large is unques- tionable, but to class interests and localities the results are sometimes disastrous. Agriculture, we know, is now sorely tried to contend with these changes, and the struggle increases in intensity. The result cannot be otherwise than to compel every district to produce those articles for which it is specially adapted in the very best possible form by the very highest system of cultivation. If free trade in corn, with its free freight and indirect bounty and the introduction of foreign live and dead meat, make the home production of these articles unprofitable and ruinous to the agricul- turist, then why should not those living in the districts in every way suitable for fruit growing, as Worcestershire undoubtedly is, expend their capital upon orchard planting? In order to be a financial success this must be done in no half-hearted way. I wish to see capitalists with sufficient enterprise planting their 50 acres of Cox's Orange Pippin, another 50 of Lord Suffield, another 50 of Dumelow's Seedling and so on. In conjunction with Apples, Pears, and Plums, Cherries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Currants, (Tooseberries, &c., should be planted and the whole of the land attempted given over to fruit growing. For a county like Worcester to import foreign Apples is considerably worse than carry- ing coals to Newcastle, and I repeat that it is a standing disgrace to county fruit growers to quietly stand by and see the in every way inferior (colour excepted) American Baldwins and other kinds of Apples that have travelled thousands of miles by road and sea sold at our very doors for 3d. or 4d. per lb., whilst our own home orchards remain in the most deplorable plight. To continue grumbling at this sad state of things, and to wait for protection or some other salvator to turn up, is unworthy of true British pluck and indomit- able enterprise. There can be no mistake, fruit growing is not played out and will pay, if set about in a proper skilful manner, but depend upon it the only way to beat the foreigner is to put better fruit than his on the market. I willingly admit France and the Channel Islands with their superior climate will always beat us for Pears ; still even this is not hopeless ; but as regards all our soft fruits we have nothing to fear from the importations except jam, which in time will right itself by legislation. There is also the cider and perry industry ; properly manufactured on im- proved scientific lines both wholesome and good as well as economising the use of the small or inferior fruit, would assist the financial re- sources of the orchard. In order to compare the style of Foreign Feuit Growing with our own, I would mention the experience of a friend whose business relations have taken him through the United States and Canada annually for the last eighteen years. He says, "Twenty years ago a fruit orchard of 50 acres was then a wonder, but now in numerous States Apple, Pear and Peach orchards, 100 acres, 200 acres and ,300 acres in extent, are common enough, and plant- ing continues. In the State of Colorado, for instance, the first Apple tree was planted in 1863 ; now there are 30,000 acres in full bearing." He instances one planter who has SO acres of Bart- let Pears — a Pear similar to our William's, the most risky and treacherous of all Pears as regards its ripening and early decay. Evidently there is a demand for this Pear somewhere. My quon- dam friend further assures me that systematical cultivation worthy the name is carried out there thoroughly, as taught by practical experience ; also considerable knowledge in the early ap- plication of insecticides and fungicides to the trees, by spraying or washing. The fruit is honestly graded and carefully packed, with the grower's brand upon each package. Possibly there may be slight advantages in climate, virgin soil, &c., but it we contrast all this with the system pursued in our own Worcestershire orchards, we shall have little difficulty in arriving at the conclusion why foreign Apples are so often preferred to home-grown ones. There is an old saying that "comparisons are odious," and I feel sure that the truth of that old saying will be realised and exposed if I venture to describe the Condition' of our Orchards. Some farmers think they have done every- thing when they have planted the trees — stuffed the roots into small holes would be the proper description — they do not imagine there is any art in fruit cultivation, pruning, dealing with insects, grading or packing. Frequently the trees are unskilfully staked and injured by wind chafing. Cattle, rabbits and other depredators obtain access to the trees, and irreparable damage is often done. What few trees survive such reprehensible treatment in time become profitless examples of bad usage, and demonstrate as clearly as pos- sible how not to do it, whilst as regards our older orchards nearly every tree is a living picture of sheer neglect. Its branches are a thicket of dead and decaying wood, languishing from want of light by a little systematic thinning out and attention. The trunks and limbs are overgrown with Moss and Lichen, becoming practically the undisturbed breeding quarters of mischievous insects, which in due season sally forth in myriads to make raids upon all trees in the land, whether belonging lo the careful or to the careless culti- vator alike— a very bitter experience to some of us. It will be found that in the struggle for life these wretched old trees occasionally bear a few specked and ill-conditioned fruit at the extremities of their branches, which are generally sold for a lump sum as they stand on the trees to some promiscuous fruit dealer, who, of course, has no scruples for the trees at gathering time, for he roughly shakes them or beats the Apples off, col- lects them into pot hampers, and rushes them into market — good, bad and indifferent, bruised or unbruised alike — there to represent Worcestershire orchard-grown fruit, whilst the price realised is pointed out to us by our pessimistic friends as the unprofitableness of fruit growing. It is but a very few years ago since the growers of Grapes for market were in a similar predicament to Apple growers of the present day. The Channel Islanders then monopolised the Grape market, very much the same as the Yankees and colonials now do the Apple market, and very much to their own advantage, no doubt ; but here, again, neces- sity became the mother of invention, for it was discovered by shrewd, practical men with brains and possessing true British enterprise that equal or superior Grapes could be produced in prodigi- ous quantities with the help of cheap glass-houses close to the world's market, without the dis- advantages of long transit by road and sea, at a cost that completely placed the foreigner hors de cotnhat. It remains to be proved why we cannot repeat the process (less the glass houses) as regards the foreign Apple trade, at all events for a large portion of the year. I firmly believe we shall do so ultimately, but we have to first take decided steps by placing our orchards in a position capable of producing first-class fruit; the climate and soil will do that, provided the necessary skill and capital are forthcoming. There are men constantly telling us fruit growing will not' pay until the land each man holds or occupies must be as good as his own ; but surely at the present time there is no difficulty in that direction, for seeing the many acres of land going out of cultivation, much of which would be suit- able for fruit growing, landlords would gladly en- courage the object and be very glad to give the necessary security of tenure with all the advan- tages of recent legislation, such as small holdings, compensation for unexhausted improvements, and the like ; indeed, in some cases they are prepared to supply trees gratuitously to competent tenants at fair rents. This system of gratuitous distri- bution of trees has been in operation on the Madresfield estate for about twelve years, by means of a home nursery set apart for this special purpose, and upwards of 1000 trees have been dispensed annually. The results so tar have been very fluctuating, generally in accordance with the capabilities of the recipient ; here and there splendid samples of orchard fruit have been and are now produced, and the trees well cared for, but in the greater number of cases opposite re- sults are noticeable, and discouraging too. Of course, it is only well-proved varieties that are distributed, whether new or old, whilst my own ■modesty prevents me saying more than to simply mention that the few specimens I have to-day staged in this hall are fair samples of fruit grown under ordinary cultivation on bush trees, and not taken from trees set apart for show purposes, which sometimes spend part of their time under glass, showing for competition being prohibited at Madresfield. I have al- ready pointed out that before we can succeed, as we all desire, we must first improve our methods of cultivation ; therefore I presume it will be expected of me to give some description 68 THE UARDEX. [July 27, 1895. how this can best be accomplished and what kinds of trees I consider best adapted for that purpose. There can be no doubt that the old-fashioned standard is capable of producing perhaps the greatest quantity of fruit, but, on the other hand, the fruit produced is certainly inferior in quality, size and appearance to that given by the more easily managed dwarf, or loose, open, bush kind of tree ; by this, and to be explicit, I do not mean the little pigmy bushes grafted on Paradise or other dwarfing stocks, but the large, open, bush form trees on free stocks that have been carefully prepared in their youthful days, and now possess an abundance of healthy fibrous roots that work and feed near the surface, whose branches are each a perfect cordon of fruiting wood throughout, from the stem of the tree right out to the ex- tremity of each branch. Surely we must admit each tree is worthy of the ground it occupies, although I fear many of us act differently, and I never could see the object of sticking our trees up on stilts, as it were, whereas better results could be obtained, greater access and convenience gained in pruning, spraying, gathering or thinning, and the numerous other attentions necessary would be facilitated without the stilts. Moreover, the aforesaid fibrous roots' requirements could be better dealt with, the necessary manures or plant foods could be more efficiently applied, and with the absolute certainty that the right parties appropriated it. The land for at least the diameter of the tree's branches should, therefore, always be held sacred to the roots, for we have no right to try for or to expect Grass or other crop upon this space. Curiously, it seems to be generally over- looked that attention to the roots is equal or of more importance than the branches, and it is this encouragement of this network of fibrous close-to-surface roots that demands our most ear- nest consideration, for, depend upon it, unless properly cared for, the trees cannot ripen their wood and perfectly develop their embryo fruit buds for next year's service. This failure to ripen up in the autumn is aggravated by the absence of sunshine during the summer, and is usually followed by the imperfectly formed flowers in the next spring, wholesale dropping off occurs and the inevitable failure of crop. It will, therefore, be conceded this most important detail cannot be too strongly impressed. Trees of this character may be planted at from 6 feet to 8 feet apart, or more, and alternate trees removed to a fresh plantation later on, for trees with good fibrous roots are always fruitful and can be easily removed with perfect safety and comparatively little check. We do not increase the area nor gain any other advantage by the old and, I hope, obsolete system of perching our trees on stilts, and I con- scientiously maintain that an acre of before-des- cribed bush trees will give far and away better results than the old-fashioned standards ; more- over, they fruit earlier and are better from every point of view. I am hopeful, nay, sanguine, that the millennium of all this is in the near future, that is, when the small holdings become more perfect and general, such orchards will rise and spring up like Mush- rooms, which if combined with large depots for the distribution of the produce and conducted on joint stock principles, or an extended system of CO operation, where a quantity of these plodding small growers could concentrate and husband their resources, so as to place their products with a degree of certainty and reliability constantly within touch of the public retiuirements of the day. These depots, or under-ground cellars, being best for storing, should be arranged for as near as practicable to competitive railways, for obvious reasons, with a central office in London or else- where, thus in direct communication with all re- tailers of fruit, and ready to supply 1 cwt. or 100 tons of any special variety of hardy fruit to order. To further speculate upon the all-round advan- tages of such a system and the huge home indus- try it would create would, I fear, be encroaching upon matters which will, I trust, be far more ably dealt with by the writers of other papers promised at this conference. Nothing has yet been men- tioned as to the properties of soils, situations, shelter, natural drainage or otherwise, which are most suitable for the various crops of fruit attempted, all questions of supreme importance to the cultivator, but I fear my paper is already too long to allow me to enter into in detail. Take care that the land is clean, in good heart and deeply cultivated before planting, for land that has been sub-soiled and deeply ploughed or trenched, if spade husbandry is pursued, has the advantage of becoming warmer by atmospheric influences of sun and air. The rain also finds its way more readily into Nature's storehouse, there held in suspension, ready to be drawn upon in times of drought. If possible choose a site other than a low valley, for although the best soils are usually found there, fatal spring frosts are worst in such positions. Shelter from high winds has obvious advantages, but is of less importance. Let the trees be clean, healthy and good, avoiding those which have been grown thickly together in rows, consequently cheap, and do not lose sight of the fact that it is good, all-round trees only that produce good, clean, well-coloured and large-sized fruit fit to compete openly with and, I sincerely hope, ultimately oust the foreign importations by the next generation probably. Anyhow, the wish is father to the thought, personally, and it is an encouraging sign of the times (for which we are all very grateful) to see the subject appreciated and helped on by the County Council, through the horticultural section of technical education ; whilst I sincerely hope both they and this con- ference of fruit growers may ultimately feel amply justified by results, direct or indirect, actions not words, of this their first meeting, thereby becoming a great power in restoring the balance of our agri- cultural population by opening out a new indus- try on a large scale, and if this is accomplished (as I predict it will be) no one will rejoice more than myself to see fruit culture extended and our Worcestershire orchards permanently improved. Rose Garden. ROSES AT BATH. Messrs. Cooling The Rose nurseries of situated on a pleasant slope not far out of Bath, and though not so extensive as those about Colchester, they are well worth a visit, espe- cially from those who grow or love to see the Rose in all its varied types of beauty. The garden or nursery that only contains show Roses represents but one class of flower, but we are pleased to see abundant evidence of the growing popularity of those that are termed garden Roses, varieties whose charms are great. A host of these old and new kinds and, in fact, all that are worth growing find a home in these nurseries and there is a growing demand for them. It is strange that they should ever have been neglected, since no cultural skill is re- quired to bring them to perfection, and in their season no flowering shrub can compare with them in sweetness and gay display of colour. Unfortunately, our visit was too late to enable us to see the picture they must have made but a short time previously, for there were Roses of all ages, kinds and sizes, from the little De Meaux and Spong up to great bushy pyramids of such strong growers as Mme. d'Arblay and Fclicit(5-Perp6tue. Some, however, were still in full bloom and demanding notice. Among these is Mnie. Alfred Carriere, a Rose by no means new, but one that for some reason has not found many admirers. It is a robust grower, making a huge bush or covering a wall rapidly, and flowering long and abundantly, the blooms pale flesh and deliciously scented. Bardou J ob would make a brilliant group in the garden, the plants bearing a long succession of crimson buds and blooms. A very charming single scarlet Rose raised by Messrs. Cooling will shortly be sent out, named Glare of the Garden. It has the habit of growth of the Hybrid Perpetuals, free and robust, not climbing in habit, though doubtless with age it would grow into a large bush. The flowers are cjuite single, very large, borne in clusters, and of a glowing crimson colour. The new Sweet Briers are largely grown here, but Mr. Cooling thinks, as many more do, that there are far too many of them with distinctive names, although Lady Penzance is a welcome acquisition for its distinct colour. Janet's Pride, one of the older kinds, is also good, and we saw immense bushes of it. Mme . Trochon, very pretty here, with white buds in clusters, might be de- scribed as a white W. A. Richardson. Mme. Pernet-Ducher, Mme. Pierre Cochet, and Gus- tave Regis, all recent varieties of the most free- flowering character, are bound to become popu- lar garden Roses of the future. The good and sweet old Celine Forestier we saw in quantity. Two varieties that the year has favoured and which were covered with many tinted flowers are Jaune Desprez and Ophirie. We have so many really first-rate Roses as free as these two kinds and more to be depended upon in the average season, that they have not the value they once had and, if dispensed with, would scarcely be missed. Two new Roses raised here impressed us much more favourably than when we saw them at the Crystal Palace recently, especially that named Bladud. A row of plants of this variety was very striking, every shoot standing erect, crowned with a large flower of wonderful sub- stance. Although extra full and double, the flowers have expanded well ; they are of globu- lar form, high in the centre, blush-white in colour. The other variety, named Lawrence Allen, is equally free and robust, its flowers full, large, and of a light pink colour. The heat and drought have suited certain Roses, and among these is Horace Vernet, which had num- bers of perfect richly-coloured flowers. A. K. Williams, Ulrich Brunner and Mrs. John Laing were also in fine form. Tba Roses were numerous in all the best varieties. A recent variety, Beaute Inconstante, was spe- cially good, most distinct and charming in colour, but essentially a garden Rose, the flowers of that peculiar indescribable copper- yellow and bronzy red hue that attracts notice by reason of its novelty as well as its striking beauty. Adrienne Christophle rejoicing in the sunshine bore flowers of the brightest hues characteristic of this many-tinted Rose ; great blooms of Jean Ducher were conspicuous ; whilst Ethel Brownlow and Mme. Cusin were cer- tainly brighter and better for the tropical sun that had brought them out. The dry summer following the severe cold has had a fatal efi'ect upon stocks for this year's budding in many places. Messrs. Cooling are fortunate, how- ever, in possessing the best lot we have seen anywhere this season, and the reason is not far to seek, for what at the time threatened to be a grave disaster has doubtless been a blessing. Bath suffered greatly from last winter's floods, and the stock quarters were inundated with water several feet deep. This left the ground so saturated, that water has not been so essen- tial as it would otherwise have been. July 27, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 69 Societies and Exhibitions. ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. July 23. The meeting on Tuesday last was an interesting one although the exhibits were fewer, considerably less space being occupied than for some time past. Orchids showed the greatest falling off, but hardy flowers were well represented, and Sweet Peas in three comprehensive groups were a feature in themselves. Among fruits. Gooseberries largely predominated, grand Madresfield Court Grapes were shown, and the large exhibit of Duke of York Tomato testified to the high merits of this new variety. Orcliid Committee. First-class certificates were awarded to the following : — Phal.bnopsis Luddeviolacea, a hybrid raised by Mr. Seden from P. Luddemanniana x P. vio- lacea. The plant had six strong leaves and partook more of the habit of P. Luddemanniana than the other parent. The flower also resembled that of P. Luddemj.nniana to a great extent, the sepals and petals rose-purple barred with a darker shade ; lip dark crimson with a yellow disc. From Messrs. Veitch and Sons. L.ELiA (Brassavola) DiGBY-iSA. — An old and well-known plant, but no record exists in the society's list of its having been previously cer- tificated. The sepals and petals are greenish yellow, lip of the same colour, having a heavy woolly fringe in front. Awards of merit were adjudged to the follow- ing :— Dendrobium speciosissimdm. — This species was awarded a botanical certificate at the previous meeting, but being shown now in better condition it received the above award. In habit of growth and in the shape of the flowers it resembles D. Jamesianum, the sepals and petals pure white, lip white with a yellow disc, changing to pink in the throat. From Messrs. F. Sander and Co. and Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. ANGR.ECUM EiCHLERiANtiM. — A distinct and beautiful addition to the genus ; sepals and petals each H inches long, pale green ; lip white in front, with a pea-green centre. From Messrs. F. Sander and Co. Dendrobium porphykogastrum. — A hybrid between D. Dalhousianum and D. Huttoni ; sepals and petals lilac, veined with a darker shade ; lip rose-lilac in front, with a large dark purple disc. From Messrs. Veitch and Sons. Botanical certificates were awarded to — Mormodes pardinum, an old well-known species, with yellow flowers, thickly spotted with brown. From Mr. F. W. Mcore, Botanic Gardens, Glas- nevin. Maxillaria Hubschi, a distinct species, sepals and petals white, tipped with purple, lip yellow in front, side lobes brownish purple. From Mr. F. W. Moore. Habenaria rhodocheila, a new species, sepals and petals green, lip vermilion- scarlet ; a distinct and beautiful addition. From Sir T. Lawrence, Bart. Eria latibracta, a dis- tinct form of this somewhat despised genus, with creamy yellow sepals and petals, lip yellow, with brown side lobes. From Messrs. Sander and Co. Messrs. T. Cripps and Sons, Tunbridge Wells, exhibited a fine group of Disa grandiflora, finely grown and well flowered. A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. sent a group, prominent among which were C'at- tleya Leopoldi in variety, C. Rex, C. Schofieldiana, several plants of C. Eldorado, a fine variety of C. Warscewiczi, Lajlia tenebrosa, L.-Cattleya elegans, Dendrobium speciosissimum, Cypripe- dium Curtisi, C. callosum, C. javanico-superbum, said to have been imported with C. callosum, and Lycaste Rossiana. Messrs. F. Sander and Co. showed a small, but eflectively arranged group, comprising Dendrobium Phalajnopsis in variety, Stanhopea Mastersi, Cypripedium Aspasiaand the supposed natural hybrid C. Kimballianum, Cirrho petalum picturatum, a large mass, carrying seven tine spikes of flower, Brassia Lewisi, Dendrobium bracteosum and its variety album, Grammato- pliyllum Measuresianum, a fine dark-spotted va- riety, Cattleya Gaskelliana (Cook's variety), with pale rose-coloured flowers, C. Warscewiczi in va- riety, a fine dark variety of Sobralia xantholeuca, Odontoglossum bictonense album, O. purum, Mil- tonia vexillaria, and Batemannia Burti. Messrs. Veitch and Sons exhibited Dendrobium glomera- tum and a very fine variety of Miltonia vexillaria superba. Sir T. Lawrence, Bart., Burford, Dork- ing, sent Epidendrum alatum. Mr. W. C. Parkes, Lower Tooting, sent a cut spike of Cattleya Warscewiczi carrying five large flowers. Mr. R. I. Measures sent Maxillaria ochroleuca, Bulbophyl- lum Sanderianum, and a three-flowered spike of Cypripedium Godefroy*. Mr. J. Foster Alcock sent LkjHo - Cattleya elegans Schilleriana. Mr. F. Hardy exhibited a fine made-up specimen of Miltonia vexillaria superba, also M. v. ru- bella and Cypripedium leucochilum var. Mr. J. Gabriel, Streatham, sent a four-flowered spike of Cattleya Rex. Mr. Walter C. Walker, Winch- more Hill, sent a well-grown plant of Cypripedium Godefroya' carrying six flowers. Mr. F. W. Moore sent Epidendrum paniculatum, a fine variety of Bulbophyllum Lobbi, and Aerides Lobbi. Mr. E. H. Woodall sent Lielia crispa superba, a cut spike with two fine flowers. Mr. A. Witt, Maida Vale, sent a Dendrobium species in the way of D. clavatum. Floral Committee. First-class certificates were granted to the follow- ing:— Campanula Vidali. — A shrubby greenhouse species and an old garden plant, but never probably seen so well grown and flowered as were the plants shown. From Mr. J. T. Bennett-Poe, Holmwood, Cheshunt. Davallia tenuifcilia Bubkei. — This is a recent introduction from New Guinea, and will make a lovely stove Fern for growing in baskets or in any position that will show off its graceful drooping fronds, which are long, of a light green and hang down most gracefully, even when the plants are young and small. Shown by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea. Liliu:m jAPiiNicuM CoLfHESTERi. — This is the true Lilium odorum, and differs appreciably from L. Browni, which is too often substituted for it. It is a grand Lily with a delicious scent. A note pointing out how these two kinds differ appears on another page. From Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., Colchester. NYMi'H.iiA Marliacea Chkomatella. — This is the first of M. Marliac's fine series of hardy hybrid Water Lilies, and is now tolerably well known to our readers, as a coloured plate of it was given in The Garden as far back as March 31, 1S8S. Shown by Messrs. Veitch. Awards of merit were granted to the follow- ing:— Nvjn'H.*:A Laydekeri rosea. — Poor flowers of this lovely variety were shown, and few would re- cognise it to be the same as that figured in The Garden of February 2-t, 1894. The flowers were in the pale stage of early expansion, and showed no trace of the brilliant colour they develop later. From Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons. Nv5iph.*:a odorata rosea. — This is the rosy- flowered form of the North American Sweet Water Lily, by no means new or rare, being plentiful wild in the Cape Cod district, and known in gardens as the Cape Cod Water Lily. This also came from Messrs. Veitch. CiRsiUM eriophorum. — This is a handsome plant of the Thistle tribe, of biennial duration, and not of much importance for gardens. It grows about 6 feet high, the flower-heads being densely covered with a woolly substance, the blooms when expanded of a reddish - purple colour. It was shown by Mr. C. Herrin, The Gardens, Dropmore. GLADKiLrs DuTRiEUL DE Rhins. — One of M. Lemoine's fine hj brid varieties of the G. Nancei- anus section, having large bold flowers with great breadth of petal, in colour light scarlet, slightly feathered with white, a brilliant and striking kind. From Mr. Bain, gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence. PeNTSTEMON HVBr.IDUS GBANDIFLORCS. — The award in this case was made to the entire strain, about a dozen distinct varieties being shown, the flowers of fine size and bright colour, some of the reds being very good and practically self coloured. Also shown by Mr. Bain. Sweet Pea Lady Grisel Hamilton.— This is a lovely self-coloured kind of a pale lavender-blue shade, the wings deepening into a heliotrope tint. From Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, Salop. Sweet Pea Blanche Burpee.- A very fine pure white-flowered variety of American origin, and already popular in gardens. From Mr. Eckford. Sweet Pea Mars.— This also is self coloured, and we are glad to see these distinct kinds singled out for award in preference to the bicolor and tricolor varieties, which are wanting in dis- tinctiveness and efl'ect. Mars has fine flowers of a deep and brilliant shade of carmine-red, a telling colour in the garden or the house. This also came from Mr. Eckford. A silver Flora medal was granted to Mr. Eck- ford for a very fine display of Sweet Peas in all his best varieties, each arranged separately in a tall glass vase. In addition to the kinds already mentioned, we noted Royal Rose, soft pink ; Stanley, dark maroon ; Ovid, rosy crimson ; Emily Eckford, a decided blue self ; Duchess of Sutherland, blush ; Mrs. Eckford, cream ; Mon- arch, purple-blue ; and Countess of Radnor, pale mauve. Mr. W. E. Tidy, Brockhampton Nur- series, Havant, also made a fine display with these sweet flowers, arranging them in a sloping bank naturally and gracefully, the blooms being cut with their shoots. Most of the best kinds in cultivation were also to be seen here, a bronze Flora medal being awarded. A similar award went to Messrs. Dobbie and Co. for a fresh and varied lot of Sweet Peas. The group of hardy flowers from Mr. W. Prichard was noteworthy, the blooms remarkable for their freshness. The best were Coreopsis lanceolata, Chrysanthemum maximum in variety, a seedling form of Mr. Prichard's raising, extra fine ; Helianthus rigidus, Platycodon grandiflorum and P. Mariesi, Cam- panula rotundifolia alba. Genista tinctoria elata, Spirsa venusta and S. palmata alba, Physostegia virginiana, the type and its pure white form, and Asclepias tuberosa with large trusses of orange- scarlet flowers. Some goood Phloxes were p:o- minent also, especially Pantheon, of a lovely salmon-pink shade; Jean Bart, rosy crimson; Figaro, rofe-pink ; and W. Robinson, pink, with fine large flowers. A silver Banksian medal was awarded, and a similar award went to Messrs. G. Paul and Son for a group of hardy flowers, those most notable being Sea Hollies, Heliopsis patula and H. scabra, with rough stems and deeper orange flowers than those of H. pa- tula, Rudbeckia purpurea. Campanula carpatica Robert Parker, Phloxes, and Veronicas. Several fine new Cannas also came from Messrs. I'aul, one variety less than 1 foot in height, yet flowering abundantly. Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., of Colchester, again showed some fine Lilies, a quantity of L. chalcedonicum, conspicuously bright, its scarlet flowers in striking contrast to those of the others shown, which included L. aura- tum, L. longiflorum, L. japonicum Colchesteri, L. Browni and others. Their new Day Lily was again shown, and two charming Calochorti that have not been seen before this season, namely, C. PlummeriB, which has large deep lilac flowers, clothed at the base with long yellow hairs, and C. Weedi, which is yellow, with hairs distributed all over the inner surface of the petals and form- ing a characteristic fringe upon their edge as well. A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Mr. Cannell received a like award for a charming group of Carnations and Picotees, the best self being Cannell's Scarlet, very bright ; F. T. Tasker, light red ; Mephisto, dark crimson ; and Miss Mary Dyke, yellow ; whilst Picotees worthy of note were Brunette, Esther, Mrs. Sharp, Mr Dodwell, Favourite and Mrs. C. J. Shaw, new an 70 THE GAEDEN [July 27, 1895. very pretty, with a light crimson edge. Canna Queen Charlotte was also well shown by Mr. Cannell. Messrs. Peed and Sons were awarded a bronze Flora medal for a good group of Gloxinias in variety, self and spotted kinds. Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons showed a group of the Javanese Rhododendrons made up of small plants com- prising the best varieties, and sent to show that these beautiful greenhouse shrubs flower freely in quite a young state. A silver Banksian medal was awarded. Messrs. Cripps, of Tun bridge Wells, showed Mutisia decurrens and Sohubertiagrandi- flora in flower, receiving a bronze Banksian medal ; whilst similar awards went to Mr. Walker, of Percy Lodge, Winchmore Hill, for Achimenes, and to Messrs. Webb and Brand, of Saffron Walden, for a few spikes of double Hollyhocks. Salpiglossis was finely shown by Mr. Bain, gardener to Sir Trevor Lawrence ; and Cocks- combs came from Messrs. W. Cutbush and Song. Mr. F. W. Moore, of the Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, was accorded a vote of thanks for handsome flower-spikes of Crinum Powelli and its pure white form ; C. yennense, which has a lo;ig tubular pure white flower, its segments broad and bluntly pointed ; Agapanthus minor and A. Mooreanus all cut from the open ground. Mr. J. T. Poe again showed Browallia Jameeoni, the same plants as appeared in the spring, but which have since been planted out in the open ground and lifted. Mr. C. Herrin showed a fine bunch of a handsome sweet-scented Carnation named Dropmore Clove, and Mr. R. P. Brotherston sent Germania in fine form from Tyninghame, where it iocs so well. Mr. Mount, of Canterbury, showed a bunch of a scailet self named Nora. Gloxinia Holborn Gem is a spotted variety shown by Messrs. Carter, of High Eolborn. Messrs. J. Laing and Sons exhibited several of their new double- flowered Begonias and two new Caladiums, and Mr. G. Farini, of Forest Hill, showed Be- gonias. Begonia Duke of York, a fine coloured leaved variety of tall growth, was shown by Messrs. Sander, who recommend it for training up pillars, and a double-flowered variety named Marquis of Londonderry was sent by Mr. Rown- tree, of Norton, Stockton-on-Tees. Pansies, es- pecially the lovely varieties of Dr. Stuart's rais- ing, were admirably shown by Mr. W. Baxter, of Woking. Fruit Committee. There were some fine exhibits of fruit before this committee. Probably the best collection of Gooseberries ever staged w£s sent by Messrs. Veitch. There were also some excellent To- matoes and Peas. A first-class certificate was awarded to — Tomato Dcke of York.— A very handsome fruit, quite smooth, round, and of great depth, rich scarlet in colour, and a tremendous cropper. The fruits are very solid and of first-class flavour. From Mr. Ryder, Northumberland Nurseries, Orpington. Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Royal Exotic Nur- series, Chelsea, staged a very fine collection (some 1 "lU varieties) of Gooseberries, cordon growthsof the same being arranged at the back of the dishes. Currants in variety were also staged, with four boxes of Cherries. The best Gooseberries were Highlander, Speedwell, Crown Bob, Lion, Mon- arch, Wonderful, Magnet, and Washington among the red kinds. Of yellows. Candidate, Drill, Lady Houghton, Leviathan, Railway, Traveller, and Trumpeter were very fine. The best green kinds were Fearless, Green Overall, Keepsake, Lofty, Matchless, Shiner, Souter Johnny, Stockwell, Telegraph, Waggoner, and Weathercock, the best white kinds being Alma, Antagonist, Eagle, Freedom, and Overseer. The Red Currants were notable for size, the best kinds being La Versaillaise, La Constante, Cherry, and Large Grape (silver-gilt Knightian medal). Mr. J. Walker, Thame, Oxon, staged some forty dishes of Gooseberries and three of Currant, Walker's Magnum Bonum, a large red kind somewhat like the Cherry. The Gooseberries were very fine, the best being Lord Derby, Snow- drift, Drill, Fascination, Clayton, Overall, and Australia (silver Banksian medal). Mr. Peters, Given Grove Gardens, Leatherhead, staged twenty-four varieties of Gooseberries, all good and well set up, the fruits being noted for their clean appearance. The varieties in many cases were those noted in the previous collection. They well merited the award given (silver Bank- sian medal). Some very fine Madresfield Court (irapes were sent by Messrs. Wells, Hattonhurst, Hounslow, the berries large and well coloured (silver Banksian medal). Messrs. Johnson, Boston, Lincoln, sent forty varieties of Peas, mostly large kinds, their new Boston Unrivalled being among the number. This is a very fine Pea, and was requested to be sent to Chiswick for trial. Such varieties as Gradus, Goliath, Gladiator, Epicure, Duke of York, Daisy, The Queen, VVem, Stratagem and Critic were very fine. There were also good dishes of Longpod and Exhibition Broad Beans (silver Banksian medal). From Mr. Carmichael, Pitt Street, Edinburgh, were sent seedling Straw- berries, the results of crosses from Waterloo, Elton Pine and British Queen. The committee desired plants to be sent to Chiswick to test cropping qualities, the flavour being considered very good. Mr. Gilbert, Burghley Gardens, Stamford, sent very large Peaches, the variety being Late Admir- able. The same exhibitor also sent seedling Cucumbers ; these were requested to be sent for trial. From Dr. King, Spalding, Lincoln, was sent a seedling Tomato, but too much like Ded- ham Favourite. Messrs. Letellier et fils, Caen, France, sent young Gooseberry trees, ([uite spine- less, the fruit also being staged, but not noted for high quality. Messrs. Veitch sent a promising new Nectarine named Pr^coce de Croncels. It is stated to be the earliest Nectarine grown and is a nice-looking fruit. It was, however, much too ripe. The same firm sent early Pears, Doyenne d'Ete, Citron des Carmes, and Jargonelle (not ripe), and Mr. Gladstone and Red Juneating or Early Margaret Apples. New seedling Melons were sent by Mr. Thomas, Frogmore, and Mr. Wythes, Syon House. Mr. Bain, Burford Lodge Gardens, Dorking, sent a variety of edible podded Peas. From the Jadoo Fibre Co., Teignmouth, was sent a sample of Potatoes grown in the fibre. This was most interesting, there being a heavy crop of tubers and beautifully clear in the skin, showing the value of this material for forcing. Mr. Rcss, Welford Park, Newbury, sent a new seedling Cherry, but too ripe. Filberts that had been kept since the 189.3 crop were sent by Mr. Griffiths, Bilston, in a very fine state of preserva- tion. The lecture on " The Carnation in Scotland " was read by the secretary in the absence of Mr. R. P. Brotherston, who prefaced his paper by fjuotations from writers of .300 years ago, which proved that even in those days it was a popular flower, and in the estimation of those who grew it was counted next in importance to the Rose, a position it as worthily tills to- day. It was re- marked incidentally as a curious fact that certain varieties which do well in Scotland, producing full and large flowers, fail to do so in the south of England, Mrs. Muir being one of them, whilst, on the other hand, Cantab, which is a sweet and perfect kind in the south, gave in Scotland poor, loose, shapeless flowei-s. These were exceptions, however, and as a general rule most of the best kinds of the day were found to do very well indeed. In the practical details of culture" special importance was attached to the necessity of early layering and early planting. The first layers this season were put down three weeks ago .and the work w.as completed in ten days. The time for planting was the first and second week in September, as this enabled the plants to get a firm root- hold before the winter. Firm planting was most important, but after sundry experiments he had come to the conclusion that deep plantinir was wrong and opposed to the natural requirements of the ))lant, which was really of a thrubby character. The beet results came from short-stemmed layers that had the roots firm in the surface soil. As regards manure, it was doubtful if it was ever beneficial, and at any rate in a fresh state should never be appl'ed to ground shortly to be planted with Carnations. If food was needed it would be best supplied through the agency of one or other of the chemical ma- nures, but he had been very successful with Car- nations following Potatoes, and in his case it was not even necessary to dig the ground again. For yellow Carnations it was advisable to give a good dressing of good leaf-mould and, if possible, raise the bed 2 inches or 3 inches above the surrounding level. He also practised and would advocate thinning, not only of the buds, but flowering stems and grass as well. The diseases that troubled growers in the north were fewer than those that atHicted southern growers, the most trouble- some being a little eel-worm, whilst they had besides to contend with green-fly, which at times was very troublesome. As regards varieties, those of (Jerman origin were sturdy and had well-made flowers, but there were few suitable for gardens. The French kinds were lovely as garden flowers, but the tendency of most of the flowers was to droop. In the English varieties were to be found all one could desire — noble, sweet and distinct sorts that held their flowers up well. NATIONAL CARNATION SOCIETY. July 24. This show on Wednesday in interest and extent exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine supporters of the society, and quite justified the new departure that has been made in making it a special fixture. It has for many years past been held in conjunction with the R.H.S. meetings, but latterly there has been too much crowding of the exhibits in the limited space that the Drill Hall affords. Through removing it to the Palace the society was enabled to add one or two ad- ditional features, as, for example, dinner-table decorations of Carnations, which brought out a spirited competition. Altogether we do not re- member to have seen a more interesting show of Carnations, and it was all the more creditable by reason of the unfavourable season that has severely handicapped many growers. As a matter of fact, most southern growers found the date too late, and consequently there was a manifest change of places in the premier classes, most of the leading prizes going to midland growers in and about Birmingham, and among these Mr. Robert Sydenham carried all before him with his stands of magnificent flowers. For twenty-four blooms, flakes and bizarres only, in not less than twelve dissimilar varieties, Mr. R. Sydenham was a good first, the exhibit having very fine flowers of Mrs. Kingston, George Melville, Sarah Payne, Lord Salisbury, Thalia, Othello and Robert Houlgra?e. Messrs. Thomson, of Sparkhill, Birmingham, were second, and Mr. Turner, Slough, third. For twelve dissimilar flakes and bizarres, Mr. A. R. Brown, Hands- worth, Birmingham, was first, showing fine flowers of Thalia, Harmony, Lord Salisbury, Thaddeus and George Melville. The second prize was secured by Mr. C. Phillips, Bracknell, Berks. Mr. W. Spencer, junr., Barnet, was first, and Mr. J. Keen, Southampton, second, for six varieties of flakes and bizarres. Mr. R. Sydenham secured the premier place for twenty-four Picotees, white ground, in not less than twelve varieties. These, like the flakes, were a grand lot of flowers alike in size and finish. The best were Ganymede, heavily edged red ; Favourite, light red-edged ; Mrs. Kingston, purple-edged ; and Little Phil, rose-edged. Mr. C. Turner was second, and Messrs. Thomson third. Mr. Brown came to the front again with the best twelve Picotees, good flowers of Little Phil, Ne Plus Ultra, Brunette, Favourite and Emma t^eggie being prominent. Mr. M. Rowan, of Clapham, was second, with smaller, but fresh and charming flowers. The best six dissimilar Picotees came from another Birmingham grower, namely, Mr. A. W. Jones, of Handsworth ; Mr. \V. Speicer, junr., was July 27, 1895,] THE GAEDEN. 71 second. For twelve disiiinilar ye'.low ground Picotees, Mr. C. Blick, gardener to Mr. Martin Smith, Hayes, Kent, was first with a splendid lot, showing very fine flowers of Voltaire, Golden Eagle, Countess of Jersey, Mrs. R. Sydenham and President Carnot. Mr. C. Turner and Mr. J. Douglas were second and third. Mr. A. R. Brown, Handsworth, was first for six yellow ground Picoteej, and Mr. W. Spencer, junr. , second. In the large class for twenty-four self and fancy varieties, not less than twelve distinct, which usually contains some of the best flowers shown, Mr. C. Blick was a good first with large fresh flowers. The best were Waterwitch and Sea Eagle, blush selfs ; Eudoxia, rose ; Duke of Or- leans, yellow ; Mrs. Eric Hambro, white, all selfs, with Almira, Voltaire, and Eldorado in fancy kinds. Mr. C. Turner was second and Mr. J. Douglas third. Mr. R. Sydenham was again first for twelve self and fancy kinds. Cardinal Wolsey, Mrs. Audrey Campbell, yellow ; Corinna, yellow ; Uncle Tom, dark clove crimson, extra fine ; and Ruby, deep rose, being noteworthy. Mr. J. Walker, of Thame, was second, and Mr. C. Harden, Ash, Dover, third. The best six in these varieties came from Mr. Jones, of Hands- worth, a first-rate lot of flowers, the second prize falling to Mr. Ffoulkes, Northgate House, Chester. Mrs. Orr, Bedford, was first for six Carnations and Picotees amongst those who had never pre- viously taken a prize, Mr. E. Colby - Sharpin, Bedford, being second. Mr. Jones was first with Germania for the best self in any colour, and Mr. Sydenham second with Uncle Tom. In the corresponding class for fancies, Mr. C. Turner was first with Primrose Dame, and Mr. A. Spur- ling, Blackheath Park, second. For two cut flowers of any seedling raised from seed supplied by the society, and shown with their own foliage, Mr. E. Colby - Sharpin was first, with a deep apricot self, and Mr. J. F. Kew, of Southend, second. The only exhibit in the class for twelve speci- men plants carrying a good head of flowers was from Mr. C. Blick, but this lot was superb, the plants carrying from twenty to forty grand flowers, fine examples of cultural skill. For a group of Carnations arranged in a given space, Mr. 0. Blick was again first with a more striking lot still, the plants and the flowers they bore re- markably fine, all of them being varieties raised at Mr. Martin-Smith's. Mr. J. Douglas was first for a smaller group and Mr. Charrington, Chisle- hurst, second. The dinner table arranged as for twelve persons brought out six or seven com- petitors, premier honours falling to Mr. Blick, but the high quality of the flowers was the chief feature of this arrangement, and the general opinion was that it was too heavy and overdone. For lightness and beauty as well, we very much preferred the table arranged by Mr. F. Scale, of Sevenoaks, to which the second prize was awarded. The best vase of Carnations came from Mr. M. V. Charrington, Hevor, Edenbridge, and here we were glad to note that the judges had passed over the laboured arrangements of Carnations and Maiden-hair Fern in fanciful glasses and given the premier award to a vase of flowers and grass that was simplicity itself. Mr. C. Blick had the be:t sprays and button-holes, being awarded first in both classes. The Turner Memorial prize, a cup of the value of £5, open to amateurs only, was well won by Mr. M. Rowan, who reserved his strength for this class and succeeded in beating Mr. C. Blick. Twelve bizarre and flake Carnations and twelve Picotees were shown, and Mr. Rowan's were a good lot, the more creditable because grown in a London garden. Mr. Dougla? had the best crimson bizarre, and Mr. R. Sydenham the best pink and purple bizarre. The finest scarlet flaked Carnation came from Mr. Phillips, and Mr. Rowan showed the bast purple and the best rose flaked varieties. Mr. Sydenham was first for heavy rose-edged, heavy ourple-edged, light rose-edged and liglit scarlet- idged Picotees, Mr. Turner being first for a heavy carlet-edged flower. The best heavy red-edged md light red-edged varieties were shown by Mr. Jones. For twelve Carnations of any class, each with a spray of Carnation foliage, Mr. Spurling was first and Mr. Harden second, and in the cor- responding class for six the prizes went to Mr. J. F. Kew and Mr. Chaundy, Oxford. The Martin-Smith prizes again brought out some admirable varieties. Mr. Douglas was first for the best border kind, showing a fine dark crimson self. Mr. A. Spurling was second with a scarlet self named Paradox, and Mr. G. H. Sage of Ham House Gardens, was placed third with a lovely blush white variety, that perhaps merited a higher position by reason of its delightful scent, a quality all too rare in modern kinds. Mr. A. Spurling was first for six self border varieties, showing Paradox, scarlet; J. D. Pawle, yellow; Major, rose, and good seedlings. Mr. J. Douglas was second, and Mr. H. W. Weguelin, Shaldon, Teignmouth, third. The best nine garden varieties in flaked and fancy colours came from Mr. J. Douglas, Mr. A. J. Sanders, Bookham Lodge Gardens, being second, and Mr. H. W. Weguelin third. M. Ernest Benary sent from Germany a group of pot plants, embracing self and fancy kinds, but the best of them a long way behind the English varieties. Mr. T. S. Ware made a fine display with border Carnations in bunches in great variety, and Mr. Cannell also showed these well, and Begonias besides. Mr. Blick also had a very large exhibit of all the best kinds now grown in Mr. Martin-Smith's garden, and his method of arranging them might with advantage be imitated by others who bunch them up in a very stiff, formal way, and use Gypsophila to remedy the bad arrangement. Other miscellaneous contributions consisted of hardy flowers largely and well shown by Mr. B. Ladhams, of Southampton, and Mr. M. Prichard, of Christchurch, also Sweet Peas in quantity from Mr. H. Eckford, Wem, Salop, and Mr. W. E. Tidy, Havant, the best varieties in these being selected and enumerated m our report of the R.H.S. meeting. Notes of the Week. Elaeagnus edulis has fruited freely this year in moet places where it is grown. Some bushes in the Victoria Park at Bath, which were fruiting freely, have been cleared by the birds of the berries even before they were quite ripe. Koelreuteria panicalata is not usually a free-flowering tree in a young state, and we were agreeably surprised to see one in a villa garden on the outskirts of Bath. It was only about 8 feet high, but a pretty specimen, every branch crowned with an upright raceme of flowers. Telekia speciosa is very striking now in the Victoria Park at Bath, a bold mass of it being isolated on the turf. It forms a dense and luxuriant mass of leaves, surmounted by a pro- fusion of rich orange-yellow flowers, which make a fine display of colour and show well the fine efiect that can be obtained from boldly massing the stronger hardy flowering plants. Clerodendron tricliotomum is represented by a handsome specimen in the Victoria Park at Bath, and, being quite isolated, has grown into a finely-proportioned bush nearly 6 feet high and as much through. In growth and outline it may be likened to a miniature Catalpa, but there is no resemblance as regards its flowers, which have been very profuse this season, and the bush was gay with them when we saw it. Gentiana asclepiadea. — This is one of the latest flowering species, and a grand plant worthy of the best cultivation. It blooms through the latter half of summer and on into the autumn, quite half of the shoots, which grow 2 feet or more high, bearing flowers in clusters in the axils of the leaves. We noticed a fine, healthy mass of it flowering freely in the Victoria Park at Bath. G. lutea had also flowered well there. Linaria alpina albo-rosea. — This is an ex- ceedingly beautiful form of the old Linaria alpina which we saw several years ago flowering with Mr. Thompson at Ipswich, and a tuft of it is bloom- ing freely in the rock garden in the Victoria Park at Bath. The flowers of the type are of a light purple colour, but those of this variety are of an exquisite shade of pink, with the two charac- teristic bosses of rich orange at the tip of the flower. Hardiness of Incarvillea Delavayi.— To complete what has been said lately in The Garden about the hardiness of Incarvillea Dela- vayi, I may state that this beautiful plant with- stood the cold of last winter under a simple cover- ing of leaves both in my garden and in the garden of M . de Vilmorin at Verrieres, near Paris. It has flowered abundantly this summer. — M. Micheli, Gene pa, Mutisia decurrens (referred to by Mr. Wood at p. 1.3, July 13) used to flower very finely in the open air in Messrs. Backhouse's nurseries at 'i ork, in a sheltered position facing south, on a bank forming part of the rockery, where it scrambled over some small conifers, the foliage of which served as a foil to throw out the rich-coloured flowers in strong relief, with very striking effect. — W. M. Sea Hollies, though not often seen in public parks and gardens, are a pretty feature in the Victoria Park at Bath, and they attract much notice. E. amethystinum, in bold groups, was bright when we saw it, and E. giganteum, though it perishes after flowering, needs little care or culture here, seedlings springing up freely. Some of these self-sown plants, allowed to flower where they sprang up, were very fine alike in size and beautiful silvery colour. Carnations from Edmonton. — Mr. H. B. May sends us flowers of some charming seedling self Carnations. W. Robinson is a fine scarlet self, a seedling from Winter Cheer, of the same sturdy habit and good form as that kind, and good in the open, from which the flowers sent were gathered. Leonidas is a very fine crimson Malmaison variety. Mrs. S. Seager, soft pink, and Henry Gibbons, in the way of Uriah Pike, but rather more scarlet and sweetly scented, are also good. Spiraea Iiindleyana. — This is a noble shrub for warm and favoured places, and we have lately seen it frequently about Bath and its suburbs, ([uite a tree in dimensions. When of this size it is one of the most beautiful flowering shrubs that grow in English gardens. It must be large to display its fullest beauty, and no praise can be too great for such specimens as are to be seen in Bath 12 feet to 15 feet in height, throwing out long arching wands terminated by creamy panicles of bloom, some of them nearly 2 feet in length. Xanthoceras sorbifolia in fruit. — Several instances have been recorded this season of this shrub having flowered freely. A large and hand- some bush of it quite 8 feet high, growing in the Victoria Park at Bath, has not only flowered well, but is now fruiting, this not being the first time it has done so. The fruits, borne in clusters of three or four and somewhat resembling those of Pyrus japonica, are of a light green colour, the seeds when ripe somewhat resembling Chestnuts. It is at all times, apart from its flowering and fruit- ing, a distinct, graceful and pretty-leaved shrub. Apple Beauty of Bath.— The merits of this early Apple are not as yet sufficiently known, but it deserves wider popularity. In Messrs. Cool- ing's nursery at Bath we lately saw the original trees carrying heavy crops, and young trees were also bearing freely. Some of the fruits upon these last were sweet and juicy, and fast ap- proaching ripeness at the time we saw them. The flesh is firm and the flavour brisk and deli- cious— altogether a most refreshing Apple to gather and eat from the tree in the heat of summer. Pea Daisy. — This is undoubtedly an ac(iuisi- tion, and a Pea that will become popular amongst market growers as well as in private gardens. It possesses the qualities of the finest Marrow 72 THE GARDEN [July 27. 1895- varieties, is a profuse cropper, but its value to a great many lies in its sturdy growth. Although sticks would be used by those who have plenty of them, they can be dispensed with for this Pea with little or no disadvantage. We lately saw a large breadth of it in Messrs. Cooling's nursery at Bath. The haulm was unsupported, but the crop of large, well filled pods was a very heavy one. The flowers in Hyde Park. — We note with pleasure that there is much improvement here, mainly owing to the use of taller plants, which get rid of the flat, hard look of the older "bedding out." The Fuchsia is used gracefully, and chaimirg it is to see here and there beds of good Stocks. Tall plants of Heliotrope and the blue Plumbago also help very well, and the Carnations and Cape Pelargoniumsjvarythegarden, which looks frefh and cbaiming. The main drawback is the old ore of the beds being far too crowded and without relief. It would be a great gain if there was a little "air" about the spaces, which at present are too fmall, between the beds. Campanula Vidali. — This has probably never been seen in finer condition than as shown at the Drill Hall en Tuesday by Mr. Poc, who seems to take a delight in the cultivation of uncommon and beautiful plants. Three very fine examples of this were shown, each having a number of flower- spikes. These were each over a yard in height, and the stronger ones had nearly thirty flowers upon them. Their efi"ect was superb, and they attracted very much notice. When well grown, as the plants shown were, this is a really noble Bellflower. Its flowers are large, of a waxy white colour, distinctly shaped, being contracted in the centre, but widely expanded at the mouth, whilst at the base inside there is a zone of rich orange- yellow colouf. No doubt many who .=aw these noble specimens will turn their attention to the plant, and it is clearly worthy of good culture. Water liilies at the Drill Hall. — It was a ver}' great misfortune that at practically the first appearance of the new hardy Water Lilies at a London show they should be represented by such poor flowers. We fear that some visitors must have gone away disappointed, and have come hastily to the conclusion that these noble flowers have been over- praised, which is very far indeed from being the case. The flowers of N. Marliacea Chromatella were fairly good, but no one would give a moment's notice to the flower of N. odorata Bulphurea as shown and barely 2 inches across. Yet we have had this self-same kind with im- mense starry flowers quite 8 inches in diameter. Again, M. Marliacea albida was shown with flowers not so large as those of our wild Water Lily. This, too, is of great size, breadth of petal and noble form. Even N. tuberosa, long grown in this country, was shown in the same small state, and N. Laydekeri rosea, small, pale, and quite unlike it.self. It would have been far better had they not been shown at all. Bocconia cordate. — The Plume Poppy is at present very striking. Growing at the back of herbaceous borders associated with clumps of Arundo con.'picua and a handsome mass of Spirsea Lindleyana, its elTect is very picturesque and dis- tinct, the tall stems 8 feet high, with their great panicles of blossoms shaded from reddish brown, or what might be more aptly described as burnt almond colour, to creamy white, being unique both in tint and form, while the dark green of the upper surface of the lobed leaves contrasts well with the light shade of their woolly reverse. The plant is very accommodating in the matter of soil, the strongest-growing clump that I have met with being situated on a bank where the staple is light and shaly, and is persistently robbed of what good it might otherwise contain by the roots of Fir trees and shrubs, yet, notwithstanding this, the stems of this specimen exceed '.) feet in height. The Bocconia is woithy of a place in all gardens that can afford room for it. When once esta- blished it must, however, be kept within bounds, asit isaveritable land grabber, and, if unrestricted, its suckers will encroach on the surrounding ground, greatly to the disadvantage of its neigh- bours.—S. W. F. Lilium japonicum Colchesteri was well shown at the Drill Hall on Tuesday by Messrs. R. Wallace and Co., of Colchester, and worthily merited the first-class ceitificate it received, whilst the prominence now given to it will assist in clearing up the confusion that exists between it and L. Browni. Possibly they are both forms of one species, but L. japonicum Colchesteri is the true L. odorum ; whereas L. Browni has fre- quently passed under this latter name. What we recently noted at Kew as being very fine L. odorum is really L. Browni. In leaf growth they are most distinct, the leaves of L. Browni being long, narrow, and tapering to a sharp point ; whereas those of the other form are short, broad, rounded at the tip, and bluntly pointed. The flowers of L. Browni are of a more reddish brown tint externally than those of L. japonicum Colchesteri, in which the outside colouring is less extensive, of a darker chocolate hue; the opening flower is inclined to be of a pale yellow tint, but when fully expanded it is cream-white, and last, but not least, it is by far the more de- liciously scented of the two. It is easy to have one substituted for the other, but when one has both, the distinctions do not need a critical eye to perceive them. *»* L. odorum being the older and authorised name, why add to the confusion by certificating it under the name of L. jap. Colchesteri? — Ed. Some good new zonal Geraniums. — La Belle Alliance, sent out this summer by the well- known French nurseryman and hybridiser, M. Lemoine, of Nancy, is quite a new break and one of the most distinct and delicately beautiful varie- ties I have ever seen, quite unlike any other that has been distributed to the public. The flowers are of medium size and of good form, far superior to those of many sent out by foreign raisers, which are, as a rule, thin, poorly formed, and dis- tinctly inferior in flatness and roundness of petal to the fine varieties raised and sent out by our principal English growers. The ground colour of the new French variety above-named is of the most delicate shade of pale blush, and the three lower petals are thickly, and the two upper more sparingly, marked with clearly defined crimson spots, which impart a novel and cjuite unique appearance to the flower. This variety has also the additional merit of being proliferous, as, when the flowers on the ordinary truss fade and fall away, no less than five subsidiary or proliferous trusslets appear, each of them bearing from four to twelve equally perfect and pretty flowers. Altogether this new variety is a very charming acquisition to our greenhouses. Three new pure white varieties may also be mentioned ; they are named Albion, Doctor Nancen, and Snowdrop. The flowers of these are all of fine form and substance, and absolutely pure, leaving it hard to understand how anything better can be ob- tained. Two new varieties have been added to the pretty French bicolors. Lady Newton and Exposition Universelle de Lyon, but neither is so fine as Mme. Jules Chri^tien.— W. E. Gdmbleton. of blossom, and it is, as you will see, a prominent feature in the garden landscape even now. The St. John's Worts are always beautiful, and the specimen of Hypericum androssemum sent to-day is just as pretty as any of them. The berry-bearing plants are associated more or less with the wane of the year, though this is not a strictly accurate association. There is plenty of berried plants about now, though we are only just past mid- summer. A beautiful little coral-covered plant just now is the Crowberry ( Vaccinium Vitis Idiea). We send afewspraysof this dainty evergreen plant. Phloxes are gay in the wider borders filled with showy popular favourites, and the Begonias have already put a glowing beauty into the flower gar- dens, which is even brighter than Geranium effects. — DiCKSoNS. Two interesting works came under the hammer at Messrs. Sotheby s sale room, Welling- ton Street, Strand, a few days ago. The first was a fine copy of Smith and Sowerby's " English Botany," with the supplement, making together 39 volumes, in tree marbled calf, the original first edition, coloured by hand. This choice set brought £22. The second was a subscriber's copy, in the original bindirg as issued, of Hooker's "Flora Londinensis," five volumes, folio, which realised £1.3 10s. 'This copy was specially col- oured by Curtis for his friend Dr. Dickinson, of Liverpool. The weather in West Herts. — The weather has been cooler than of late during the daytime, but, on the other hand, somewhat warmer at night. Since the beginning of the week the tem- perature of the ground at 2 feet deep has fallen 1°, and at 1 foot deep 4°. On the night of the 17th inst. the long drought came to an end. This drought had lasted nearly twelve weeks, during which period rain fell on only sixteen out of the eighty-one days, mostly in light showers, and to the aggregate depth of less than U inches, or nearly .5 inches less than what may be regarded as a seasonable amount for the same three month.'-. By way of contrast it may be mentioned that dur- ing the last six days .3} inches of rain have fallen, which is more than twice the quantity deposited during the previous twelve weeks, and nearly an inch in excess of the mean for the whole of July. Of this total rather more than 2 inches, equivalent to about ten gallons of water through every s, Pjrus jiponica, fruit not edible; 1 and 3 next week. C. F. Langdoii.— 1, 'Telekia speciosa ; 2, Ceiitaurea macrocephala ; .3, send better specimen. IS. Smith. — Pyrus salicifolia.— - P. ils/unnii.— Elius Cotiiius. Collins JJros.— A'eroniia lonRifolia var. rosea. Constant Reader. — 1, Rnbus ndiiratiis ; 2, Linaria repena nlba ; 3. Sedum dasy- pliyllum ; 4, Heliopsia var. E. F. Clark.— 1 and 2, i'orms of Sedum rupettre ; 3, Sempervivum Haworthi ; 4, Sf dum rupestre ; 5, Polygala Dalmaisiana ; 6, Im- patiens Noli-mo-targere. THE GARDEN. 73 No. 7237. SA TURDA Y, A ugust 3, 1895. Ki /. XL Vlll. " This is an Art Which does mend Nature : change It rather ; bat The Abt itselt is Nature. "—fiAaJtupean. Flower Garden. NOTES FEOM THE UPPER ENGADINE. July is the time of Eoses, and even in these high altitudes Nature does not disappoint us. Here at 6000 feet above the sea, and up to the snow line, she clothes the hills with a profusion of rosy blossoms. Although not the Koses -which are now adorning English gardens, and in no way actually resembling them, the Ehododendrons of the Alps, or alpine Eoscs, are a fair substitute, if only the beauty of colour and general effect are con- sidered. Fragrance they lack, but they are ill perfect harmony with the wild .scenery that surrounds them. Here Ehododendron feriugineum is in perfection, the low-growing bushes being so thickly covered with flower that the effect in the distance is somewhat the same as of Heather in bloom on a Scotch hill ; but on a nearer inspection numbers of flowers, which would be welcome in any English rock garden, are found half concealed among the pink branches. Conspicuous among the taller varieties are the golden stars of the Arnica and pale blue spikes of the Campanula barbata. The flowers of the Upper Engadine are too well known to re- quire much comment. Every visitor to this favoured valley is struck by their beauty, and those who are lovers of rock gardens cannot fail to find ample scope for study on every hillside. The arrangement of each group of stones seems so perfect, that no gar- den rockery could be so artistically grouped, or each little crevice so successfully filled with such appropriata plants. In a walk or climb of any distance the number of species that can be found is im- mense. Every few hundred feet one ascends, fresh treasures become apparent ; those that were common below aie left behind, and the flowers which were in full bloom at 6000 feet are just coming into bud 1000 feet higher. Just now the pastures in the valley are bright with the small light blue annual Snow Gentian (G. nivalis), while the larger and deeper coloured G. acaulis and excisa and brachyphylla and bavarica are only found iit a still higher level. In the meadows in the valley one finds quantities of the sweetly scented little Orchid, the alpine Nigritella, and growing near it the common Burnet, which so much resembles it in colour. There are also thousands of spikes of the common Polygonum bistorta and a great quantity of the orange Hawkweed, alpine Tnfolium, and the Mountain Avens (Geum montanum), whose soft fluffy pinkish heads of seed are now more conspicuous than the yellow flowers. Among the taller field flowers now coming into bloom we find the two handsome yellow Gfeatians (G. lutea and punctata), the poison- ous dark blue Monkshood, the paler alpine Columbine, and here and there towering above all the showy blue alpine Sow Thistle. Among the rocks we find great patches of the little blue Campanula, and a perfect network of the Sempervivum arachnoideum and two larger varieties, all with equally brilliant red star-like blossoms, while every crevice and cranny are filled with some fascinating va- riety of Saxifrage (aspera, Aizoon, muscoides, rotundifolia, and many others). A few hours' stroll up the mountain side will soon take one into another world of flowers. The upland meads are still studded with Primulas in bloom (farinosa, longiflora, vi.scosa, and the low growing integrifolia) and quantities of the purple long-s])uired Violet, while the spaces under the rocks, which here and there crop ujj, are filled with the yellow Viola biflora and purple and white Butterworts. The grassy slopes are bright with the alpine Aster, and at still higher altitudes with the alpine and the sulphur Anemone. At this elevation, about 7500 feet, the rocks are covered with soft cushions of pink, and more rarely white, Androsace, their tiny flowers frequently so close together as completely to cover the green Moss-like leaves. In some places, as on the top of the Bernina Pass, the Androsaces are rivalled, if not surpassed, in brilliancy by the trailing Azalea (A. procumbens), which grows close to the ground and forms a carpet of coral-pink. In the same localities we also find the white Dryas, the sweet-scented pink Daphne, the blue dwarf Scorpion Grass (Eritrichium nanum), the purple alpine Toadflax (Linaria alpina), and the dainty little Bell-like flowers of the Soldanella. Higher up still, right into the snow, grows one of the prettiest of alpine flowers, the Eanunculus glacialis. This deli- cate-looking little flower, with white petals shading to red and red hairy calyx, grows at a greater height than any other flowering plant in Switzerland, having been found but a short distance from the top of the Finsteraar- horn. One plant always associated in people's minds with the Alps, the Edelweiss, also grows freely in this neighbourhood. Children pick great launches of it on the rocky slopes of the mountains between here and the Fornio glacier, and these flowers can be bought for a few pence, but the plant is protected by law and the ruthless digging up of roots by the peasants is forbidden. But the searcher for this " luck flower " need not climb to giddy heights to procure it, as in some valleys it grows within a short distance of a good car- riage road, and I have been fortunate in find- ing it on the rocks by the shores of the lake of Sils. In this short space it is impossible to men- tion one-tenth part of the flowers which Na- ture has scattered herewith such a lavish hand. Eveiy roadside, meadow or Pine wood, every mountain path, craggy height or wild moraine otl'er a world of study for the botanist, a practical lesson for the gardener, and an end- less source of delight to the amateur. Malqja. A. I\f. T. A. FLOWER GARDEN NOTES. Herbaceous Lobelias. — I was responsible for the recommendation to leave herbaceous Lobelias in the ground (see page 455), and am glad that " S. W. F." has found no ill-effects from such treatment. It is, however, strange that on a cold heavy soil no surface protection is necessary, whereas in light dry ground I find it decidedly advisable. The inference must be drawn that these inmates of the flower garden are somewhat erratic in habit, and that it is difficult to know what to do for the best so far as their winter treat- ment is concerned, unless, as " S. W. F." suggests, half a dozen different methods are tried. If I re- member rightly, one correspondent, who found annual lifting absolutely necessary, wrote from a soil very similar to that described by " S. W. F." Where these Lobelias are planted on a carpet of white Violas, it is advisable to keep the latter very hard picked, so that plenty of flower is show- ing when the spikes of the Lobelias are well de- veloped. Possibly, as elsewhere suggested, a carpet of, say, Mesembryanthemum or silvery Veronicas is more suitable for them. In common with all herbaceous plants they have welcomed the splendid rains of July 20 and 21 ; prior to this the foliage was very limp and with little of the bright colour that is so attractive. SnRjACE MULCHING. — Writing of surface mulch- ing in connection with the Lobelias reminds me to note that it plays a most important part in the cultivation of herbaceous plants, both as a pro- tective agent in winter and a great incentive to growth, and the longer preservation of flower through the summer months. I refer to the matter at this season because there are instances to hand of the neglect of the winter mulching in the weak growth in the clumps of outdoor (I was about to write hardy) Fuchsias, and in the collapse of the old stock of Antirrhinums and summer flowering Chrysanthemums. Several gardeners have had to deplore the loss of Gypsophila pani- culata, and concerning this and other things I heard the other day a very sensible remark, " Let us not depend too much on the hardiness of those things that cannot be guaranteed as perfectly hardy, but practise winter mulching by all means if there is the least suspicion of the inability to come safely through a very sharp winter." It may be added, after the experience of last year, that a heavy mulching is desirable. I have to acknowledge an error in writing two years ago of the non-hardiness of Galtonia candicans. The failure to appear in 1893 must have been due to a disturbance of the bulbs and not to severe frost, for the plants came up strong and well this year, and that despite the fact that in February, 1895, the frost penetrated the ground to a depth of 18 inches. Hardy plants for pots.— I should like to draw attention to the use that can be made of hardy plants for pot culture at this particular season, whether they may be required for home vases or grouping, or to add to the attractions of the show tent. Their value in this direction is as yet im- perfectly known, especially in those places where the amount of glass is insufficient to meet the de- mand with more tender plants. In giving the names of some particular things that will be found very useful and recommending this mode of cul- ture, it may be noted that they should in the majority of cases be potted in early autumn, choosing for each the soil found most suitable for outdoor culture, plunging the pots to their rims in coal-ashes, and avoiding anything in the shape of coddling. Sound little plants, clumps, layers or corms must in all cases be chosen. In naming half-a-dozen really good things I should choose Montbretia crocosmiajflora or Pottsi, Gypsophila paniculata. Hydrangea paniculata, Carnations Ketton Rose and White Clove, and Campanula persicifolia fl. -pi. If to these are added a few pots of the Cape Hyacinth, a group can be made that would be hard to beat even with choice inmates of the stove, especially if, in addition, a dozen of such half-hardy things as Francoa ramosa and the old, but exceptionally useful, Fuchsias as Mme. Ccrnelieseh, Abundance and Mrs. Marshall / 74 THE GARDEN [August 3, 1895. are grown. As noted above, good sound corms of the Montbretia must be selected for potting, and in the case of the hardy herbaceous plants nice little clumps selected that are showing vigorous breaks. Border Carnations required for pot work I like to layer early, choosing the most vigorous grass. Extra care must be taken in the operation, not only to see that the knife is carefully used, but in the proper placing of the soil and in due atten- tion to watering. The lifting for potting must also be carefully performed, getting well round and under the plants to prevent any injury to the roots. I think one of the most charming groups (on a small scale) I ever had was composed of a nice lot of the Gypsophila, associated with good plants of Carnation Ketton Rose and a Clove seed- ling something in the way of Raby, but much deeper in colour, more serrated and a non-splitter. Claremont. E. Burrell. PROPAGATING TUFTED PANSIES. Wherever a very early spring display of bloom is essential, it is important that a start be now made with the cuttings, for there is no season in the whole year so suitable for this purpose as the month of July. Where plants of the proper stamp exist there will cer- tainly be no scarcity of cuttings of the right sort. There are cuttings and cuttings, and I have upon more than one occasion seen gardeners inserting cuttings which were not of the right stamp, and which could scarcely be expected to produce good results. No one need ever hope for anything like a full measure of success who attempts to utilise the flowering growths of the current season for propagating. Plants raised from such cuttings as these, moreover, invari- ably produce only a sparse supply of cuttings next year. Next to this is propagating by division ; indeed, I am strongly of opinion that a great many of the losses of which we hear from time to time are the direct outcome of divided plants. I was once led to divide my plants, and the following year was the most disastrous I ever had. Plant after plant collapsed quite suddenly and in a manner which surprised me, though my treatment was in every other respect similar to that I had adopted for years with every success. And then again, when I came to look for my usual supply of cuttings for the next year they were scarce indeed ; in short, these divided plants seemed to be in a great measure bereft of the little remaining vitality during the summer flowering of the plants. Of some kinds I had hh,ppily a reserve batch from cuttings, which not only furnished me with the latter of the right quality, but also furnished an object lesson for the future. I think it is fairly obvious at a glance that a plant freshly rooted annually should be possessed of a greater natural vigour than one divided from a plant already much exhausted by the fresh demands made upon it during its flowering. If those interested in this particular style of gardening desire, they will quickly see a marked difl"erence between the mass of roots produced upon a single plant from a cutting, to say nothing of the general vigour, and the sparse and feeble rooting that characterises a divided plant. The cutting is, in fact, an individuality of its own, representing an ab.solute renewal of vigour which cannot be secured by division. It is very true that these tufted Pansies in many instances lend themselves to division, but it by no means follows that we obtain the greatest measure of success by its adoption. At page 3.5 of The Garden I notice Mr. Burrell refers to a probable scarceness of cuttings, and it would be interesting to know whether the plants on which this is so notice- able are from cuttings or division. Of course, we have experienced a long season of drought, ( which has retarded growth of all descriptions, but, apart from this, the plants, if from cuttings, should have their centres teeming with fresh young points. Every one of these points will root with the greatest ease, and drawing out the largest first and inserting them will give the remaining growths an opportunity of gain- ing strength. In a week hence the plants should be gone over again, and in this way it is quite easy to get fully 100 such growths from a single plant. Indeed, if circumstances demanded it, even more than this could be obtained. Mr. Burrell in the same note further observes, in reference to dividing the plants, that "This latter style of propagation will have to be more generally adopted than is usually the case, at any rate on all light soils." In reply I can only sincerely hope such will not be the case, as there is really no necessity for division — at least, for the majority and where a working stock exists. In this district (Hampton) the soil is exceedingly dry in such summers as the present one— in fact, dust-dry to a depth of 15 inches or 18 inches. Here I have raised many thousands with the greatest ease, and with very few losses indeed. Where large numbers of these tufted Pansies are required it is far the best plan to plant a reserve patch for the purpose of propagation By adopting this method the arrangement in the beds or borders need not be interfered with. When planting a reserve batch for stock I usually do so in nursery beds of about 5 feet wide. The soil must be previously well pre- pared by deep digging and burying abundance of cow manure fresh from the sheds. This item may be contrary to the generally accepted notion, but I attribute a great deal of my success with these plants in the exceptionally dry soil of this district to the free use of fresh cow manure. Not only does this enrich the soil, but it also provides that uniformly cool, moist rooting medium which is the greatest essential to success in very hot summers. Once the roots obtain posses- sion of this layer of cow manure I regard them as almost proof against a summer like the present one has been. Plant in deeply drawn drills or shallow trenches, which permits of a slight earthing up. Planting is done the first week in October, and as the young shoots appear the earth is closed round them. In this way by the end of the year the July cuttings will have from a dozen to a score of shoots issuing from the base. But by earthing up, all these were protected from the winter then close at hand. From this time beyond keeping free of weeds little was done to the plants till the end of June. At this time they were cut down to within about 2 inches of the earth. Then fol- lowed a good hoeing and soaking of water if the weather was dry. At the time of cutting down, the centre of the tuft was generally full of young points, and these in a fortnight or three weeks make splendid cuttings. The kind of frame I used for some dozen years or more was generally a home-made one, 9-inch boards forming the sides and ends ; a depth of 4 inches or 6 inches of soil was then prepared for the cuttings, the latter being simply drawn from the centre of the old plant, and, coming away for the mo.st jiart with a heel attached, were in- serted in the frame just noted without more ado. I always prefer cuttings with a heel, as I find these produce growth buds much more freely from the base than do cuttings made to a joint with the aid of a knife. Selecting only the strongest first, the whole collection is thus gone through again in about a iveek or ten days' time and until a sufficient number has been secured. The adoption of this method means an immense saving in labour alone, for] where thousands are required it is a long and tedious business to make these with a knife. Always insert (juite firmly, water thoroughly, and shade lightly. In a month from inserting, these will be ready for transplanting to nursery beds preparatory to going into their permanent quarters, and where the work is done promptly the resulting plants will be a source of pleasuie and surprise. Occasionally when pressure of other work has prevented the above work being done at the moment, I have, after cutting over the plants, filled up the centres lightly with finely sifted soil, extending the same over a 6- inch radius. By keeping this soil daily watered the fresh young growths quickly root into it. At the end of three or four weeks lift the entire plant and stiip these young pieces off singly, transplanting into nursery beds or lines. In doing this I always discard any old wood or roots that may chance to con.e away with the young growth, believing that greater progress and vigour are secured by the building up of an entirely new plant annually. It sometimes happens that this earthing up of the tufts causes the young growths to elongate somewhat, and to counteract this it will be found a good plan to pinch out the point of each having this tendency. E. Jenkins. Begonia Worthiana in th,e flower gardsr. — "G. W." (p. 38) considers the above the best of the small- flowered section, but has he tried L;vlia, Acme, Madame Lamarche, Paul Masurel, Message de Louvre, Charles Raes, &c. ? These nearly all made their appearance about the same time as Worthiana. All have medium sized flowers, but are far more showy than Worthiana. We have beds of all the above kinds by the side of Worthiana. Ltelia makes a fine bed, the flowers of nearly Ihe same colour as those of Henri Jacoby Pelargonium. The rage for size in the tuberous Begonia has nearly obliterated these smaller flowered sort?, but for effect the large-flowered kinds are nowhere beside their smaller flowered com[)anions ; even the old Sedeni makes a pretty bed. 1 suppose that the above kinds are now out of the trade, as I am being constantly asked where they can be had. These bedding Begonias should not be placed in pots at any time, and are far more satisfactory if they are never given glass protection. — Fredk. Bedford, Straffan House. Fuukia Sieboldi. — This handsome Plantain Lily is a valuable plant for efi'ect and the most indispensable of the species. From the time it pushes up its strong cordate leaves until they drop at the approach of winter, it is always orna- mental. The glaucous blue-green of the foliage is restful to the eye during the arid days of summer, while in the autumn the leaves assume a clear yellow tint that is almost equally charming. The flower-spikes, though pretty, are not particularly striking, being tall racemes of whitish lilac blooms that, however, harmonise delicately with the colour of the foliage. There are few places in the garden where F. Sieboldi would be out of place, but perhaps thesub-tropical portion or open spaces in the wild garden would be best suited to the display of its noble beauty. I have a fine clump, over 3 feet in diameter, growing in a shady position. This has produced over thirty flower- spikes this summer, and has been greatly admired. Snails are very fond of the succulent leaves, and must be rigorously exterminated from the neigh- bourhood of the plant if it is to attain its greatest perfection. — S. W. F., Torquay. Sweet Peas. — When any popular flower be- comes rapidly improved and increased there is alwa3'S danger that such exceeding development will soon destroy popularity. Already we hear of demands that such popular flowers as Begonias, Gloxinias, and similar things should be simply regarded as seed strains, and certificated accord- ingly. Sweet Peas have got into the same category. Mr. Eckford, the great rai?er, lists some fifty-five, and there are many others, old and new, August 3, 1895 ] THE GARDEN. 75 not included. As a result there is now, if variety, yet great sameness. But the worst feature is found in the many, not merely bicolors, but in- effective, indeed, unpleasing varieties with colours or combinations that are positively objectionable when viewed side by side with the best and most pleasing forms. It is a pity that, for the sake of making trade, so many of what seem to me and others to be so worthless, should have names and be put into commerce. They are bought and grown, they disappoint, and thus do Sweet Peas harm. Mr. Eckford had a very large collection at the Drill Hall on the 23rd ult., when a dozen of the prettiest are taken out — what was left might be discarded. What a pity it is that one half of the entire lot cannot be rejected altogether, and only the best grown and put into commerce. A dozen of the very best — as selected from the collection — are Blanche Burpee, white ; Prima Donna, flesh ; Royal Robe, pink ; Meteor, bright carmine; Lady Penzance, reddish rose; Ovid, deep rose ; Firefly, rich scarlet ; Cardinal, crim- son-scarlet ; thus giving a very gradual deepening of colour, with a very dark one in Henley, ma- roon ; then of blue tints, there are Lady Grisel Hamilton, pale mauve ; Countess of Radnor, pale blue ; and best of all, Emily Eckford, rich blue. -A. D. NOTES FROM MOUNT USHER, CO. WICKLOW. This river-side garden is becoming richer and more popular every year. Its owners evidently do not rest, but by well-directed exertions in the intervals of a busy life are continually carrying out the deep and subtle laws of evolu- tion. A gardeu, like every other natural growth, is either advancing or receding ; there is no such thing as standing still. It is this constant pro- gress, perhaps, that makes Mount Usher always new and always refreshing. Just now there is Rosa Brunonis tumbling like a silvery cascade over the dark roof of a creeper-clad outbuOding. Marliac's Nymphteas (white, sulphur, and rosy red) are garnishing the pools, fringed with elegant Bamboos ; and there, on the margin of the Water Lily pool in the wood, is Meconopsis Wallichi, of a blue soft and satisfying colour as the sky itself, each flower springing from a main stem over 6 feet in height. Nowhere else have I ever seen this exquisite blue Poppy finer or healthier than here just now. Another plant that is very beautiful is Sparaxis pendula, its 6-feet to 7-feet wands waving in every breeze, its slender stems arching as gracefully as any Bamboo, and its pale peach-tinted blossoms swinging bell-like from stems like the finest of wire. This is a hardy Cape bulb, seldom seen in all its beauty, but here it is now one of the most remarkable objects in a good garden. The new rock garden or stepping-stone bed is full of rarities, not the least being Campanula Zoysi and the dark purple Cyananthus lobatus, and here luxuriant masses and tufts of the Gentian- ella fringe every stone. But the glory of the "stepping-stones" just now isDianthus Napoleon III. (a dozen large masses or more), not the usual worn-out unhappy bit.s, but great sheaves of dark green foliage having dense crimson heads of flowers. No description could do justice to this plant as thus seen luxuriant and happy. Its colour is most intense, a rich crimson- scarlet, before, or rather beside, which the scarlet of Tropseolum majus on an adjacent paling of Ivy looks thin and poor in tone. There are Roses everywhere — China, Tea, and Hybrid Perpetuals. The great Apple Rose of Parkinson is most luxuriant, 10 feet or 12 feet high or more, its large and soft leaves Sweet IJrier scented, and every shoot gracefully laden with its great hairy fruits, nearly as large as, but quite difl'erent in shape firm, fhope of the Ramanaa Rose of Japan. Here I may allude to the above two Roses, and with them will join R. acicularis, which I lately saw at Newry, as being perhaps the finest three of all fruiting Roses ; at any rate, if there are larger fruited and more fertile Roses or any even equal to the three above-named, I shall be very glad to hear of them. Mount Usher lies in a deep and sheltered "happy valley" in Co. Wicklow, which is itself (like Kent in England) a focus spot of scenic beauty and gardening potentialities so far as soil and climate are concerned. Not only are horticultural rarities grown at Mount Usher, but even the most luxuriant of garden weeds are artistically utilised in suitable positions. The great Hemlock of Siberia (Heracleum gigan- teum). Inula Helenium, Telekia speciosa, t, however, is undoubtedly C. Mantini. It is the result of a cross between Cattleya Skinneri Bowringiana as seed parent and C. Dowiana aurea as pollen parent, and, as might have been expected, the offspring from such parents is a really handsome plant, a robust grower and a most important addition to the section of autumn-lluwering Cattleyas. The first plaTit of it was exhibited in Paris attho meet- ing cjf the Socicte Nationale d'Horticulture, when it created quite a seii.sation among Orchid amateurs and growers, and when first honours were unanimously awarded to it. A most re- markable point in connection with this beautiful seedling, and one which may be taken as a sure indication of its being a particularly free-flower- ing plant, is its comparatively rapid growth and free-flowering character, for M. Mantin tells us that the hybridisation took place in October, 1881), the seeds were sown in Novem- ber, 1890, and two plants flowered for the first time in October, 1894. Now that numerous crosses have taken place in all parts of the country we may expect many plants of distinct character, but it is doubtful whether we shall have to record many new-comers of more striking appearance and of more sterling value than are possessed by some of the hybrids above mentioned or des- cribed. S. G. Cypripedium caricimim. — This singular, but pretty species does not meet with much favour among Orchid growers, possibly on account of its shy flowering habit, and I know of cases where its culture has been given up entirely for this reason. Still, while many growers do not suc- ceed in flowering it, in other places it never fails to bloom annually and well. I believe the most frequent cause of failure in growing it is too much heat. Being a native of Peru, its natural asso- ciates are Odontoglossums and kindred Orchids, and with these it should be grown. The leaves are quite distinct from those of any other Cypri- pedium, being narrow and almost Grass-like in appearance. They are deep green and grow in tufts upon a creeping above-ground rhizome. The flower-spikes rise to a height of about 16 inches and produce the flowers successionally as soon as the first ones fade, others taking their place. These are pale green in colour, the petals being brown or crimson on the ends, with a white wavy margin ; the sepals are similar in colour, but not so much twisted as the petals. The lip is curiously formed, a tuft of black hairs ornament- ing the staminode plate and variously coloured spots the enfolding portion. The compost for this species must be holding and the drainage free and open. Good fibrous loam and peat in equal proportions with chopped Sphagnum and char- coal will grow it well. Abundance of water is required during the growing season, occa- sional sprinklings overhead being also of ser- vice. A friend of mine who is very successful with this species keeps it quite dry for a few weeks in winter, and although this seems strange practice for Cypripediums, in his case the end amply justifies the treatment. In any case a slight cessation of growth is an advantage, and if this does not occur naturally the partial drying system is to be recommended. — H. Oncidium ornitliorrliynch.um albiflorum. — This, the white - flowered form of Oncidium ornithorrhynchum, first bloomed in the collection of the late Mr. J. Day at Tottenham in 1873 from amongst an importation of the species from Guatemala. It has always been a scarce and valuable plant and is generally considered difficult to grow. The plant that was exhibited on October 23 of last year at the Drill Hall by Mr. R. I. Measures, Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell, and gained a first- class certificate, is again throwing up its flower spikes. The treatment adopted with this plant was as follows : After flowering the plant was put at the warm light end of the inter- mediate house close to the glass, and was kept a little on the dry side until the growths began to make their appearance. Then water was given more freely, but with cars during the severe weather in the winter and early spring. In the beginning of .June the flower-spikes made their appearance. The plant was allowed to remain in the same position in the house until the second week in July, when the spikes had grown to from 1'2 inches to 15 inches long, when it was re- moved to the Cattleya house. The motive in view for removing the plant into a higher temperature was to endeavour to get the flowers expanded August 3, 1895.] THE GARDEN. 19 before the fogs set in. Two years ago it was allowed to remain in the same house it had been grown in, when the buds were all destroyed by fog. Last year the warmer treatment, as stated above, proved so successful, that it has been adopted again. The plant is now showing fifteen flower-spikes, and when the flowers have ex- panded it will be removed to a cooler and drier house, where the flowers continue in perfection for several weeks. The material used in potting the plant is about two-thirds good fibrous peat and one-third Sphagnum Moss, with justasprink- treatment from that given to the Wardianum and similar types of the genus. The blossoms are produced about now upon the growths that have been made this season, often while the leaves are still green. These are of a beautiful golden yel- low with maroon spots inside the prettily fringed lip. They are also sweetly scented, but, unfor- tunately, do not last longer than a couple of weeks. After the blooms are over the plants sometimes rest awhile, but they must not be forced to do so if they seem inclined to grow. As soon as signs of growth are apparent the plants Trichopilia suavis. From a photograph sent by Mi^s Willinoft, Wat-ley Places Essex. ling of finely broken crocks. The whole surface should be covered with good living Sphagnum. — Stelis. DENDROBIUM CHRYSANTHUM. Dendkobiums will always be a favourite genus with Orchid growers, being in nearly every case useful, free-flowering and attractive Orchids. The subject of this note is no exception to the rule, and has the additional advantage of flowering after the majority of the other kinds are over. Though a deciduous species, it requires different must be placed in a nice genial temperature to in- duce them to grow strongly, and when the young shoots have attained a length of about 2 inches they must if necessary be repotted. If left longer the roots will be pushing from the base of the pseudo-bulbs, and these will be injured in the operation of potting. Fairly large pots may be used, as D. chrysanthum is a vigorous rooter, and the compost should consist of rough lumps of peat. Sphagnum Moss, and charcoal broken to the size of a Hazel nut. Care will be necessary with the watering until the roots are well through the compost. The plants should not be watered until well on the dry side, as indicated by the Sphagnum looking whitish and feeling rustling and springy to the touch. Enough must then be given to moisten it thoroughly and the plants left till they are again getting dry. The growth must be kept gently moving all through the winter and hastened on in spring by increasing the temperature. It likes a light position not far from the glass and an abundant supply of water to the roots. This Orchid frequently produces young plants upon or towards the end of the last matured pseudo-bulb, which may be taken off when they have had a season's growth and set going on their own account, nice healthy speci- mens being the result of grouping half-a-dozen or so of these in a pot or basket. D. chrysanthum was introduced from Burmah in 1828. TRICHOPILIAS. This genus contains several really good and useful species which ought to be represented in all collections. Botanically, they resemble Oncidiums somewhat, but are quite distinct from the latter genus. Pilumnas are by some authorities merged into Trichopilia, but for garden purposes this would be a mistake. Trichopilias are all natives of Central America, and thrive best in a temperature distinctly higher than that of the coolest house. If there is no compartment intermediate between this and the Cattleya house, they will be better arranged in the coolest part of this latter structure, and so placed that they receive the full benefit of the ventilation. In habit they are pseudo-bulbous, and each bears a single leaf. The roots are not so persistent or strong as in som3 other kinds, and on this account considerable care is needed in preparing the compost and in watering. The usual peat and Moss mixture is suitable, provided it is kept in good order by efiicient drainage and plenty of crocks and charcoal intermixed. While grow- ing freely, plenty of water at the root is neces- sary— in fact, much more than is required by some stronger, more gross-growing plants, but after the pseudo-bulbs are formed this must be considerably lessened, and the growth well ex- posed to light and air in order to ripen it, without which it is useless to expect a good flowering return. During winter the plants only need enough water to prevent the pseudo- bulbs shrivelling, but an unduly dry atmosphere should even now be guarded against, as they are rather subject to the attacks of red-spider and thrips. The best time to repot Trichopilias is soon after the flowers are past and before the plants have made much growth. The base of the pseudo-bulbs must be kept well above the rim of the pot and water carefully applied at first. They are all suitable plants for amateurs and beginners in Orchid culture, for they are mostly cheap and easily grown. The flowering return, moreover, is ample, and, if all the species are grown, spread over a considerable season. Newly-imported plants are quickly and easily established by potting them up in clean crocks and placing them in the warmest part of the Cattleya house, giving a little compost as soon as the roots begin to show. A few of the better- known kinds are mentioned below. T. CRiSPA is a somewhat variable kind, a native of Costa Rica, and brought to this country about 1850. Ic is possibly the most free-flowering of all, the blossoms being produced in succession from the base of the psesudo-bulbs in racemes of two and four. The sepals and petals are wavy, usually brownish crimson, frequently edged with white or pale yellow. The lip is deeper in colour than the sepals, spreading in front, the lower part enfolding the column. The throat has usually a stain of deeper colouring. It flowers at various times in the year, but usually during spring and 80 THE GARDEN [August 3, 1895. early summer. The var. marginata is a larger- Bowered variety, usually blooming later in the season. The sepals, petals and lip of this kind are more or less edged with white. T. GaJjEottiana is an inferior plant to the last- named, the flowers not beiiig so bright in colour. It flowers in autumn and has greenish yellow and brown blooms, produced on one or two-flowered scapes. This, too, is variable, some forms being much superior to others. It is a native of Mexico, introduced in 1859. T. MARGINATA is another species in the way of T. crispa, one variety (lepida) being very similar. Indeed, it is questionable whether they are really distinct species or simply seedling varieties, but that is a matter for botanists rather than gar- deners. The flowers are each upwards of i inches across, brownish purple in ground colour, the lip bold and spreading, the sepals and petals margined with yellow. T. suAvis, as will be seen by the accompany- ing illustration, is a beautiful large-flowering species deserving of the most extended culture. The pseudo-bulbs are about 2 inches high, very thin, and each bears a large deep green leaf. The flowers are very fragrant and produced from March to midsummer on short, decumbent spikes, which spring from the base of the p?eudo-bulbs. The sepals and petals are not so much twisted as in the other species, creamy white, occasionally spotted with red. The lip has a yellow throat, the side and front lobes spotted with violet-rose. The va- riety alba is wholly white, save a blotch of yellow on the throat, while grandiflora is a stronger growing, larger and brighter flowered Orchid than the type. T. suavis grows naturally at great elevations in Costa Rica, whence it was introduced m 1848. T. TORTiLis is an easily managed, free-flowering species, very ornamental if well grown. The flowers are produced in summer and are remark- able for the twisted sepals and petals. These are brownish red, margined with yellow, the lip white in front with bright red spots, the inside of the tube crimson. Introduced from Mexico in 1835. R. SCHOMBURGKIAS. Many of the .species of this genus are rather small flowering and not particularly attractive, but a few deserve a place in collections where variety is looked for. They are South American plants, epiphytes, with erect leafy pseudo-bulbs a good deal like Cattleyas in habit and appearance. The flowers, proceeding from the apex of the pseudo-bulbs, are borne on long, upright racemes mostly towards the top. Some growers have found Schomburgkias rather difti- cult to flower, but a good deal depends upon how they are treated. All of them seem to like a light sunny position in a brisk moist tempera- ture, the .shading only being let down during the middle of the day to prevent the foliage being scorched. As much air .as possible con- sistent with a high temperature should be allowed, as this conduce-i to a firm and solid growth and tends to keep the plants to their proper season. Growing under these conditions, obviously a good deal of water will be needed at the root, and this supply must not be in the least les.sened until the pseudo-bulbs are quite flnished. After this both heat and moisture must be reduce